Can’t worry, be happy!
Key verse(s)/quote(s):
“by anxiety about the present life, the more do we show our unbelief, if every thing does not happen to our wish. Many persons, accordingly, who in great prosperity appear to possess faith, or at least to have a tolerable share of it, tremble when any danger of poverty presents itself…” - John Calvin on Matthew 6:30
“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” - Matthew 6:30 – 32
Key takeaway(s):
- Why is worrying so bad?
- Defames God
- Rejects God’s sovereignty
- Denies God’s omnipotence
- Belies God’s benevolence
- Leads you away from God
- Reveals our lack of faith
- Remedies of worrying:
- Seek His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33)
- Cast your anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:6-7)
- Pray, supplicate, and give thanks (Philippians 4:6-7)
- Pervasive genuine Godly view (Philippians 4:8)
- Sanctified living (Philippians 4:9)
Overview:
One of the most common and perplexing phenomena that I observe these days in Christendom is that of worrying. I can readily accept that an atheist may worry about life’s struggles or how they will navigate much of life’s obstacles but it seems counter intuitive that a Christian who recognizes a sovereign God still can question and speculate knowingly or otherwise …
Using the book of Acts, chronicle the order and significant events in the growth of the early church in Jerusalem and beyond.
Question:
Using the book of Acts, chronicle the order and significant events in the growth of the early church in Jerusalem and beyond.
Answer:
The book of Acts is a tremendously important book as it is a historical chronology of the formation of the Christian church. Some have called it “Acts of the Apostles” but I would present that the apostles themselves would in all likelihood support a re-titling of the book to “Acts of the Holy Spirit”. Some discussions have occurred over the authorship of this book but the evidence seems to suggest that Luke was the author and as such, it is important to read this in conjunction with the gospel of Luke. This historical book is given root in the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) on which the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. It is the Holy Spirit’s work that day that serves as the great catalytic event that begets the building of the early Christian church.
When we look at Acts, we can section it into 6 parts (or panels) as Luke has seemed to leave this organizational element in the book with his brief summary statements (Acts 6:7, 9:31, 12:24, 16:5, 19:20). Let’s review the 6 panels so we can appreciate the book of Acts in a more holistic fashion:
1) The Good News in Jerusalem (Acts 1:1 – 6:7)
a. Luke continues where he left off after the prologue
b. The filling up of the twelve with the Holy Spirit marks a new beginning
c. The early life of the church …
