Steven Wales

PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY. Acts 14:22.

I once made daily trips to LA Fitness. The people-watching was entertaining—not only do some “gym-rats” develop odd physiques because they work out one part of the body to the exclusion of all others, but some have peculiar habits, such as spending three-solid hours on the stair master machine, a circular spray of sweat puddlingContinue reading “PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY. Acts 14:22.”

ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME. Acts 13:36.

“But when the fullness of time came, God sent His Son” Galatians 4:4. The Cross is the intersection, the ‘Crux’ of history (‘Crux’ is Latin for ‘cross’). All the eyes of history look either forward or backward to the Cross. The Cross is the focus of history and Israel is the focus of geography. ThisContinue reading “ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME. Acts 13:36.”

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER. Acts 10:11-16.

The 1967 film, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, tells the story of an engaged couple, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Houghton. Joanna (Houghton) takes her fiancé, Dr. Prentice (Poitier), home to meet her parents, Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. Joanna and her parents are white. Dr. Prentice is black. It is 1967. Joanna’s parents are shockedContinue reading “GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER. Acts 10:11-16.”

HOW TO BE OUTSTANDING. Galatians 1:15; Acts 9:20-22.

You know who is outstanding? The Apostle Paul. He wrote more books of the Bible than anyone. His understanding of law and grace is unmatched. He is the intellectual of intellectuals, a genius who used his gifts with total dedication. His secret? Two things. First, his passion was unrivaled. “I advanced in Judaism beyond myContinue reading “HOW TO BE OUTSTANDING. Galatians 1:15; Acts 9:20-22.”

Peter and Paul: BOTH MEN OF ACTION. Acts 10:10-16; Galatians 2:11-14.

The early church had two great leaders. Peter was the first to step up and lead. A number of years later, Paul became the leader, or perhaps a co-leader. The powerful men were close and worked together in spite of the vast differences between them. Christians have long believed they were even martyred together inContinue reading ” Peter and Paul: BOTH MEN OF ACTION. Acts 10:10-16; Galatians 2:11-14.”

CAN YOU YIELD? Acts 9:1-6.

Saul was committed. As a Pharisee, he was wholly committed to the law. He was brilliant but faith was not an academic pursuit for him—he LIVED it. When Stephen was stoned, Saul did not shy from bloody death. Saul may have felt like a benchwarmer holding everyone’s cloaks (was he the youngest?), but he “heartilyContinue reading “CAN YOU YIELD? Acts 9:1-6.”

God Sends Philip to the Ethiopian Eunuch. Acts 8:26-40.

Read Acts 8:26-40. An angel (from the Greek “angelos” meaning “messenger”) tells Philip to go to the Ethiopian eunuch who is in a chariot heading back to Africa after worshipping in Jerusalem. Philip finds the eunuch—a high ranking royal servant—reading the scroll of Isaiah and struggling to understand the prophecies in chapter 53 (“He wasContinue reading “God Sends Philip to the Ethiopian Eunuch. Acts 8:26-40.”

FORGIVENESS, GRACE, & CONSEQUENCES. Acts 5:1-11.

Some think they can sin all they want because God will always forgive. What’s the harm in a “white lie,” right? So I cheat a little on homework or taxes, so what? Well, God may forgive, but what about CONSEQUENCES? Even in this AGE OF GRACE, we reap what we sow. The worse your sin,Continue reading “FORGIVENESS, GRACE, & CONSEQUENCES. Acts 5:1-11.”

Don’t Commit Simony. Acts 8:18-24

Simony, n. The buying or selling of church positions, spiritual power, or miracles. Putting a temporal (finite) value on something spiritual (infinite) in nature. If a priest was promoted to bishop after paying a bribe, the priest committed simony. The name comes from Acts 8:18-24. A man named Simon wanted to buy a gift onlyContinue reading “Don’t Commit Simony. Acts 8:18-24”

REFRESHING. Acts 3:19.

Advertisers do violence to some of our best words. “Refreshing” is one such word. According to those who draft ad copy, you can be refreshed by snacks, drinks, soap, coffee, and a dozen more things—but the meaning is so poor, the so-called “refreshing” so brief. To be truly refreshed is to “be made fresh again.”Continue reading “REFRESHING. Acts 3:19.”