Dan Gould

Category: Bible Challenge

  • Acts 19:21-41

    “About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis.[b] He kept many craftsmen busy.” v 23-24 (NLT)

    Not everyone responds to the Gospel in a positive way.  People look at the cost, (how it impacts their life) and make choices whether to believe or not.  Demetrius was looking to protect his lively-hood.  Sadly, many times when we are presented with the Truth, we make decisions based on past experiences, people of influence, and the affect it has on our immediate future.  The truth many times goes against the grain of popular belief.  But it is in the Truth, that we find Gods eternal peace, forgiveness, and love.

    Today, what are you trying to protect?  Will you surrender it to the Lord?

  • Acts 17

    “So Paul, standing before the council,[e] addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way,  for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.” v. 22-23 (NLT)

    Paul explained the one true God to these educated men of Athens; although these men were, in general, very religious, they did not know God.  Today, we have a “Christian” society, but to most people, God is still unknown.  We need to proclaim who He is and make it clear what He did for everyone through His Son, Jesus Christ.  We cannot assume that even religious people around us truly know Jesus or understand the importance of faith in Him.

    Here are some things that might help:

    1. Be observant (Paul noticed all the idols around the town)
    2. Create a common ground (the people of Athens were very religious, but they didn’t know God)
    3. Tell them about Jesus (Paul talked about some of their religious beliefs and used it to tell them about Christ)
    4. Leave the details up to God (Paul had some believe, but others rejected the message and him)

  • Acts 16

    “Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers[a] in Lystra and Iconium, 3 so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek.” v. 1-3 (NLT)

    Paul and Silas take off on what is known as Pauls second missionary journey.  On the start of this journey we hear of a boy name Timothy.  He has a Godly mother who heard about Jesus from Paul on his first missionary journey.  She and her mother have taught Timothy these things and Paul as well as everyone else is impressed by him and asks him to go with him.  Paul has Timothy cirrcumsized because of the stigma he faced with having a Jewish mother and a Greek father.  Paul knew that this could be a hinderance later on so dealt with it then.  Timothy would learn and become very influential for the early church at a young age.  We know this because of Pauls 2 two letters to Timothy encouraging the young Pastor.

    Thought for the today:  Timothy had great encouragement from Paul and Silas, however, his relationship with Jesus started from his mothers faithfulness.  God used her to teach and model what it meant to be a believer and he responded.  What are you doing to reach your family?  If you are a parent, are you teaching your kids about Jesus?  We don’t know what God might have prepared for them, but let’s try teach and model for them what it means and looks like to have a relationship with Jesus!

  • Daily Devotional: Acts 15

    “So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.” v. 6

    Conflict!  I hate it, but the Bible does teach us how to deal with it.  We see the early church putting Jesus words into practice (Matthew 18).  There is a situation, they call together a meeting, all parties get to share their side of the story, and a conclusion is made based on the Word of God.

    Sounds simple, but in everyday life, conflict is very difficult.  Isn’t this the way it goes many times, we have disagreement, we raise our voice they raise their voice, and then we get mad and stop talking.  Or we just try to avoid the person or situation.

    Conflict is difficult and puts us in uneasy situations.  However, learning how to communicate and talk through the conflict will help find a solution.  Try this:

    1. Identify the source of the conflict
    2. Find a time to talk
    3. Share your concerns
    4. Listen to their concerns
    5. Come up with a solution together
    6. Pray and ask God for help

    The next time a conflict begins, try to see if this help resolve it or bring clarity to the situation.

  • Acts 14

    “The same thing happened in Iconium.[a] Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 2 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.” v. 1-4 (NLT)

    As the Gospel began to spread many people were coming into a relationship with Christ while others were turning away and rejecting the teachings and testimonies about Jesus.  Paul and Barnabas were resilient in telling others about the Lord.  One day they would be favored and the next they would be hated by the same people.  In either case, praise or cursing, or in their case stoning, Paul and Barnabas didn’t hold back from sharing.  They knew it was more important to please God than to be popular with the people . . . even if that cost them their life.

    These two men not only went to share the Good News, they developed leaders to take on the role of leading a church.

    “After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, 22 where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. 23 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” v. 21-23 (NLT)

    Questions: Who is the next generation of leaders in The Church?  How am we, you and I, helping them take on that leadership with passion for Christ?  How could God use us to empower the Church today and tomorrow?

    God wants to use us.  Sometimes we feel inadequate, but the reality is that He can take the ordinary and do extraordinary things with them.  That’s good news for you and me.  Today, lets ask God how we can make a difference for the Kingdom today and tomorrow, for this generation and the next!

  • Acts 13

    “One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.” v. 2-3

    In this passage we see Gods special calling for two men, Saul and Barnabas.  They were to go and share the good news!  Please understand that all of us have the same calling but God does appoint specific people for specific tasks.  The local church commissioned them by laying their hands on them and praying for them.  This was a special time dedicating them to Lord and encouraging them with prayer.  It doesn’t take long for them to run into challenges.  We see early that Paul has boldness and is not afraid to stand for the truth when confronting false teachers and/or devout Jews.  In both situation, Paul and Barnabas did their part, they went and shared the good news, and left the details, changing of the heart, to God.

    Today, think about what God has called you to do.  Are you doing it faithfully?  Are you giving %100?  How do you handle opposition or false beliefs and/or teachings?  All of these things play into your effectiveness of fulfilling that of which God has called you!

  • Acts 11

    “Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers[a] in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God.  But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers[b] criticized him.  “You entered the home of Gentiles[c] and even ate with them!” they said.  Then Peter told them exactly what had happened.” v. 1-4 (NLT)

    The power of a testimony!  Peter has been opposed by the others for his interaction with Gentiles, since it was customary for Jews not to interact with them in the manner that Peter had done.  But then Peter shared what God had laid on his heart and what he saw God do through him.  As the others heard what God had done they celebrated among each other and had a change of heart.

    The lesson for you and I is this:  Our stories of Gods work in our lives is powerful!  When we share with others what God is doing in us, it allows them to see evidence of Gods work.  You have a story.  Maybe your story is about coming to know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior; maybe your story includes something that God is teaching you; or, maybe your story hasn’t been written completely and you are still checking to see if you can believe that Jesus who He says He is.  In this journey, wherever you are, don’t be afraid to ask God for help.  Be sensitive to His leading, spend time with Him daily and you will have more than enough stories to share with others about what God is doing in your life!

    Bible Fact – Antioch was the first place that the believers were called Christians – which means “little Christ”.

  • Acts 10

    “In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer[a] named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. ‘Cornelius!’ the angel said.

    4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. ‘What is it, sir?’ he asked the angel.

    And the angel replied, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.’”  v.1-5 (NLT)

    From this passage we learn that Cornelius is a God fearing man who prays and gives to the poor.  It would be easy to assume that he had a relationship with God.  As we read further, we find out that he doesn’t and in response to the message of Christ, Cornelius and his family receive the Holy Spirit and are baptized to identify themselves with Christ.  This is huge for the early church.  Perhaps the greatest barrier to the spread of the Good News in the first century was the Jewish-Gentile conflict.  Most of the early believers were Jewish, and they thought it scandalous to even think of associating with Gentiles.  But God told Peter to take the Good News to a Roman, and Peter obeyed despite his background and personal feelings.  God was making it clear that the Good News of Christ is for everyone!  We should not allow any barrier – language, culture, race, geography, economic level, or educational level – keep us from telling others about Christ.

    Cornelius was religious, devoted, generous, respected, and sincere.  However, he was still spiritually separated from God.  Because he needed to understand the Gospel, God sent Peter to present to him the truth about salvation.  Be careful not to equate earnestness with righteousness before God.  We are brought into right standing with God by faith in Christ alone.  Have you trusted in Jesus?  Are you sharing with others, even those who seem religious, the truth that Christ is the only way to God? – NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • Acts 9

    “As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

    5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.

    And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.‘” v. 3-6 (NLT)

    In this passage we see Saul’s encounter with Christ.  At this time Saul had made it his personal mission to persecute those that were proclaiming Christ.  Many followers of Christ had scattered because of Saul’s mission to silence the message of Christ.  As Saul was on his way to Damascus, something radical happened that changed his life forever, he had a real personal encounter with God!  As Jesus spoke, Saul listened, and after this encounter would become one of the greatest and most influential followers of Christ the Church has ever seen.  We know him today as the Apostle Paul.

    Saul had a radical encounter with Christ, Light from Heaven, Voice from Heaven, Blind for three days, and a change of Heart!  Not every encounter with Jesus happens this way.  Sometimes Jesus speaks to us in a small still voice.  But the fact that He speaks and changes our heart is still radical and leads to this question . . .
    Have you had a radical encounter with Jesus?

    As we begin 2009, let Christ make you a new person.  He can change every heart, even yours!

    I would love to hear your story about how you came to know Christ, you can read mine here!

  • Acts 8:26-40

    “As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Go south[b] down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

    29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and walk along beside the carriage.’”                v. 26-29 (NLT)

    Two different times with two different assignments Phillip was told to go and do something for the Lord.  Because of his obedience, we see that God used Phillip in a big way to explain the Gospel to an Ethiopian Eunuch, who in return, would be taking the Gospel to Ethiopia.  The thing I notice is that Phillip didn’t hesitate, he didn’t question if that is what God really said or really wanted him to do, he didn’t say I’ll get to that right after I am done with this, no, when God spoke, he listened and obeyed!   He went where the Lord sent!

    Have you ever heard or felt the Lord telling you to go somewhere or do something?  How did you respond?  Did you listen and go like Phillip or did you question and wait, or maybe even ignore feeling inadequate or scared.  As we begin 2009, lets listen to Gods voice and go wherever He leads!  It could be a radical adventure that we never expected!