Acts Part III

Part I was Acts 1-3.
Part II was Acts 4-7
Part III was Acts 8-11 (This week).
Part IV will be Acts 12-15 (Next week).

That's right, we are really in the swing of Acts in Midweek. Here are a couple thoughts about Peter's dream and experience with Cornelius.

1. It took a vision repeated 3 times for God to break through Peter's prejudice. That must mean prejudice is rooted very deep in a man's heart. Even for an apostle.

2. Prejudice is based on a lack of knowledge and experience with people who have a different perspective than we have. Therefor we all have it.

3. Prejudice is hard to identify within our selves because the very concept is based on a lack of knowledge and/or experience. We should seek to reduce prejudice when we recognize it. We do this by getting to know people different from ourselves.

4. Sometimes the idea of being a "Chosen people" has caused prejudice to develop.

5. Does God still have a chosen people and if so how might they remain untainted by prejudice?

Conclusion: God does have a chosen people, but they are not based upon race or even religion. God's chosen people today are those who have truly chosen Him and endeavor to continue to do so.

Unfortunately we didn't get to some other really interesting topics in the section:

• The conversion of Saul to Paul and the obedience of Ananias the prophet. (He got up and went). 
• The conversion of the eunuch who Phillip stumbled upon by the spirit.
• The "beaming up" of Phillip. Now that's a weird one. 

You guys are the best. Thanks for the Word time.

Best,
e

Living Sacrifice = Christian Undead Zombies?

What does it mean to be a living sacrifice? This question has split churches, but we asked it anyway at mid-week Bible study. We genuinely want to know and we believe the Holy Spirit wants to teach us. Here is the key text in question:

Romans 12:1,2

¹Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

 ²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

More Later...

Welcome Mid-Week Seekers

The Blog is due to a small but spiritually significant group of students at HVA who are seeking Jesus in the Bible. I am reminded that the Angels came to a small but spiritually significant group of shephards because they were doing the same thing. The Holy Spirit came upon another small group at Pentacost as they recalled and repeated the words of Jesus in prayer. Our church was planted in the soil of the heart of William Miller when he set out to understand the Word for himself. A few other young adventists stuck with the Bible through disappointed and discovery.  None of these small groups were significant in the eyes of the world. However, the Angels came to the Shephards. The Holy Spirit to the new Christians. The Spirit of Prophecy to the early Adventists. All for seeking Jesus in the Bible. What might happen when we do the same?