WEBCAST –

Who are your “go to” people? What I mean is this – when you are facing a really tough and uncertain situation, who do you most want around you? Who do you want to sit with you, listen to you, talk with you, pray for you? They give you comfort and hope by their presence and prayers. We all need “go to” people.

As the Apostle Paul entered the city of Corinth in Ancient Greece for the third time he hoped that those who had vigorously opposed him, his Gospel, and his apostolic authority would have already repented of their hostility toward him. Yet, he was not sure. What comforted his heart as he entered Corinth was that he was surrounded by a group of his “go to” people. If everyone in that city and Christian fellowship was against him, these brothers would be for him! Let’s all make it a priority to connect meaningfully, like Paul and his friends, so we too will become and have “go to” guys and gals.

The Acts of the Apostles, Part 52 – Outline (PDF)

WEBCAST –

As we have examined the ministries of the Apostles in Jerusalem, of other key individuals whose ministries were highlighted in The Acts of The Apostles, and then that of the Apostle Paul and his missionary companions, it is obvious that God’s people need other believers around them in order to live for Jesus and make an impact for Him. None of these leaders in the apostolic church were flying solo. The Christian life is a team event. God never intended his children to live in isolation as hermits. Like these early Christian leaders WE are to live connected at the hip to OUR sisters and brothers in Christ! We are traveling on our Christian journeys together and really do need one another’s care and friendships to keep following Jesus!

 

The Acts of the Apostles, Part 51 – Outline (PDF)

WEBCAST –

 

If you are meaningfully involved with others for a period of time, eventually there will be disagreements and tensions between you. Most often such issues are minor and do not escalate to the level of hurt feelings and open conflict. However, sometimes they do. When that happens it takes a lot of humility, goodwill, and intentional effort to repair any wrongs, heal any hurts, and reconcile with one another.

We see this in the tensions between many in the mid-first century Christian fellowship at Corinth and the Apostle Paul. While Paul was at Ephesus some Jewish critics of Paul convinced most of that fellowship to break their allegiance to him as their spiritual father. In response, Paul continued to move intentionally toward them and by doing so most within that fellowship repented and professed their submission and love toward him. Paul’s response to them evidences the love, mercy, and grace of God as he fully welcomed them back into relationship with him.

In today’s text we will see how the Apostle Paul addressed wrongs against him, yet fully reconciled with those who hurt him. As God’s beloved children we need to be honest in addressing wrongs against us, but through the power and love of Christ always aim for reconciliation.

The Acts of the Apostles, Part 50 – Outline (PDF)
rcf_actspt50_outline

 

There are people in your life with whom you have had a very “complicated relationship”. You and them may have begun as family members or acquaintances and then became close friends for a season of your lives. Then, surprisingly to you, events unfolded that brought tension into the relationship. From there the subsequent dynamics between you became steadily worse, not better, even as you tried your best to overcome and get past the issues dividing you. Sometimes the other person’s perspective of you was unfair and their attacks on you became very personal and hurtful.

That was the story between the Apostle Paul and the Christian fellowship he founded and led for two years in the city of Corinth. After he left Corinth and continued his Gospel ministry his relationship with that fellowship became very complex and went from bad to worse! Many turned against him, rejecting both his teaching and authority. As he tried to encourage and instruct them some people in the Corinthian fellowship became more hostile to him. It took nearly a year of personal anguish and effort for Paul to regain the confidence of the majority of the believers in that city.

As we will see, Paul’s tensions with the Christian fellowship at Corinth prompted the most personal of his letters to be written, and brought about some of the richest truth about God’s love and what it means to live for Jesus in a world of “complicated relationships.”