God called me to law school. I could not ignore that powerful voice: I knew it was Him and I felt His reassurance every day. I was excited but I knew it would be tough. A year later I was well into my first semester and challenges came fast and hot. A year after that,Continue reading “FOLLOWING GOD. 1 Thessalonians 5:24.”
Author Archives: Steven Wales
ENDURE. 1 Thessalonians 3:13.
On November 3, 2022, during game five of the World Series, the announcers mentioned a throwback to my childhood. The Astros’ Ryan Pressly threw a pitch that hit catcher Martin Maldonado on the knee and bounced 60 feet, all the way back to the pitcher. “That looked like a Pitch-Back,” the announcer quipped. I lovedContinue reading “ENDURE. 1 Thessalonians 3:13.”
IMITATION: THE SIMPLEST WAY TO LEARN. 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14.
What is the simplest way to learn a skill? How do children learn to walk? To talk? Imitation. Monkey-see, monkey-do, right? It’s so easy a monkey could do it. In fact, monkeys are so good at imitating people, one of the expressions for a good imitation of another person is to “ape” someone. But don’tContinue reading “IMITATION: THE SIMPLEST WAY TO LEARN. 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14.”
SHARE YOUR LIFE, NOT MERELY YOUR WORDS. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8.
There is an excellent movie about law school entitled THE PAPER CHASE. The film tells the story of James Hart, a law student at Harvard who is intimidated by one of his teachers, Professor Charles Kingsfield, a relationship made more difficult when Hart falls in love with Professor Kingsfield’s daughter. The movie opens on theContinue reading “SHARE YOUR LIFE, NOT MERELY YOUR WORDS. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8.”
HOW TO TEACH. Acts 17:22-28.
Teaching is taking hold of what a student knows and attaching something new to it. Each time Paul entered a city, he went to the synagogue. “As usual, Paul went to the synagogue… On arrival, they went to the synagogue… So he reasoned in the synagogue” Acts 17:2,10,17. Why? Because God had prepared the JewishContinue reading “HOW TO TEACH. Acts 17:22-28.”
MARS HILL: PAUL, A JEWISH INTELLECTUAL, FINDS COMMON GROUND WITH GREEKS. Acts 17:22-24.
When the Apostle Paul arrived in Athens he wandered the city, observing its altars. Eventually he saw one with the inscription, “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.” Later, when his preaching had excited the Greeks enough that they brought him to address the assembly at Mars Hill, Paul spoke of the unusual altar. He creatively used itContinue reading “MARS HILL: PAUL, A JEWISH INTELLECTUAL, FINDS COMMON GROUND WITH GREEKS. Acts 17:22-24.”
POUT. Acts 16:22-26.
Do you ever pout? Feel sorry for yourself? Think what you’re going through is unfair? You don’t deserve this, right? You were doing your best, and then something happened! It’s not fair. Maybe you feel like Paul and Silas. The two men were serving God, doing their best, when they were arrested and falsely accused:Continue reading “POUT. Acts 16:22-26.”
Your Witness is More Important than Your Freedom Because Your Witness is Your Purpose. Acts 1:8.
Life in a fallen world is tough. God could spare us a lot of pain if He were to snatch us up to heaven the minute we give our souls to Jesus. But He allows us to remain in a difficult world so we can tell others about Him. We are here to provide aContinue reading “Your Witness is More Important than Your Freedom Because Your Witness is Your Purpose. Acts 1:8.”
LEGENDARY ASSEMBLIES OF MEN. Acts 15.
The U.S. Founding Fathers hold the Continental Congress, drafting a Declaration that will plunge them deep into war. Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin meet in Yalta and decide to charge Nazi leaders with war crimes. The Roman Senate declares Julius Caesar an Enemy of the State. The Algonquin Round Table meets daily for lunch at NewContinue reading “LEGENDARY ASSEMBLIES OF MEN. Acts 15.”
YOUR FREEDOM IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR WITNESS. Acts 15:28-29; Romans 14:20-21.
The church faced a struggle when it witnessed to the Jewish people. The Jews had over 600 laws from the Old Testament. And when Jews saw followers of Jesus breaking critical rules, such as eating meat from an animal that had been sacrificed to an idol, they stumbled, rejecting Christ. So the Church called anContinue reading “YOUR FREEDOM IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR WITNESS. Acts 15:28-29; Romans 14:20-21.”
Household Words: 