Family Bible Church weekly message

* Last week we considered Paul's engagements in the metropolis of Athens - the center of the Grecian philosophical world. While there, Paul could not help but continue to tell people about Jesus. This led to his confrontation with the Stoics and Epicureans at the Areopagus. As a result, we are told, some believed. * Paul continued his travel southward to the city of Corinth - one of the major cities of Greece. * Some of the passages that we have considered during this series have spanned days or weeks. Today we will be considering the highlights which Luke records of the 18 month stay of Paul in this important city which sat at the crossroads of culture. * This message was presented on May 14, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* As we have studied the book of Acts, we have seen how God Sovereignly oversaw the expansion of the church from Jerusalem into Asia Minor (which we refer to today as Eurasia) and then specifically toward the European continent by guiding Paul into Macedonia and then down into the Ionian peninsula - to Thessalonica and Berea - toward the epicenter of the world culture of the day - Athens. * In each place that they have gone, they have met both reception of the message and rejection of the message - some believed, some did not. * Today, as we consider Paul's engagements in the metropolis of Athens we will see how he varied his evangelistic approach - in the presentation of God's redemptive plan - to each of his specific audiences. * This message was presented on May 7, 2023 by Bob Corbin.

* In Acts 9, we saw the call and conversion of Saul of Tarsus. In that account, Jesus speaks to the prophet Ananias telling him to go and heal Saul. Ananias balks and Jesus states, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." * As Paul began his ministry with Barnabas and they traveled proclaiming the gospel to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, Paul began to experience what Christ had proclaimed regarding him. Now, as he is traveling with Silas, Timothy and Luke, his suffering for the name of Jesus has continued. * The primary cause of that suffering is people's response to the gospel message. The good news of God's free gift of salvation from eternal condemnation is not always met with gladness! Rather, as Paul and his companions find out, it is many times with resistance, rejection, and persecution. * Today, we continue to see that pattern in the cities of Thessalonica

* Throughout the book of Acts - we have seen how God has Unveiled His Mystery of the Church. God has sovereignly overseen the expansion of the Church through various means of guidance. * Two weeks ago, we saw how a sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas led to the multiplication of this expansion. * Today, we will again see God's direct intervention in the continuance and expansion of His kingdom - via the ministry of Paul. * Many of us are looking for “God's Will” ... His guidance and leading ... today we want to examine the manner in which God guides us and the purpose of that guidance. * This message was presented on April 16, 2023 by Bob Corbin.