Sharing Your Story

Koinonia

Sharing Your Story

March 24, 2024 • Pastor Ben Hiwale • Acts 22:1–2

Nobody’s life personified second chances like the life of the Apostle Paul. We can learn a lot by observing the relationship that Paul had with God throughout his life. Earlier in his life, Paul persecuted people for following Jesus. He had them beaten, imprisoned, and even put to death because of their belief in God’s only Son, yet God forgave him and offered him a second chance.

Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves. Sometimes we wonder if God could still love us after all of the sins we have committed. Paul’s story reminds us that God’s love, mercy, and grace know no limits!

Wrongly accused of disrespecting Jewish law, Paul shares his upbringing, religious training, and conversion to Christianity with the crowd. As soon as he says, “Gentiles,” people remember their anger and begin rioting again. There are few things more powerful and disarming than a story, particularly the story of how Jesus can change someone’s life.

Paul could have argued the finer points of the law with anyone in the crowd. He could have expounded on Jesus’ fulfillment of every nook and cranny of Old Testament prophecy. Instead, Paul shared his story of transformation with a vicious mob. A murderer of Christians morphed into a preacher of the Gospel, all that is compelling stuff. Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus was a life-changing event. From that moment on, Paul went from persecuting Christians to risking his life repeatedly in his service to the Lord.

As we study Paul’s life, we will see three things:

1. God had a plan for Paul.

2. Paul was Obedient.

3. Paul became one of the most significant people in the history of the world.

Just as He did for Paul, God has a plan for each of us. The question is, will we follow it? Will we allow God’s plan to work in our lives? When God’s plans take us out of our comfort zone in a direction that we did not foresee, will we stay the course? If we do, our reward in Heaven will be great!

Every Christ follower has a story to tell. All of us have been rescued from a life of sin and disobedience, set free to follow Jesus. We don’t need to be articulate salesmen or well-educated theologians to tell others about Jesus. God has given each of us a story of transformation and the power of the Gospel.

Who are we sharing our stories with? What does this passage teach us about God? How does it apply to you? How do you feel when faith comes up with people who don’t believe? Do you shy away from talking about Jesus with friends, family, and co-workers? Why or why not?

Rome at Last

June 9, 2024 • Pastor Ray Viola • Acts 28

We first heard of Paul's desire to go to Rome in Acts 19:21. Then we learned in Acts 23:11 that the Lord Jesus confirmed that He was sending Paul to Rome. In today's study of the last chapter of Acts we see that Paul finally arrives in Rome, safe and sound, but no doubt a bit sea sick and weary after account we covered in Acts 27. Every toss and turn in Paul’s journey to Rome was orchestrated by God. But Paul is in Rome at last and we find that once he arrives, he continues contending for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. Despite the opposition. Despite the “questionable weather” and lesser than 5-star accommodations along the way, Paul, along with Dr Luke and Aristarchus, arrive in the most prominent city on planet earth at that time….Rome. He arrives as a prisoner and tells his fellow Jews that for “the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain”. But because Paul was set free by Jesus Christ, he never regarded himself as the prisoner of Rome, but as the prisoner of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:1; Philemon 1:1;9 ). What the world would call a radical and skewed way of seeing things, Jesus would call the normal Christian life. While it is true that not many of God’s children are called to live as dramatic a Christian life as Paul did, we are all called to live what’s been named by some, ‘The Glorious Exchanged Life’. The Glorious Exchanged Life is this: Jesus died to save my soul, and now I die (Luke 9:23), to live for Him. Each and every follower of Jesus has a “Rome” as the final stop in their pilgrimage here on earth. God is right now working in your life every single detail that is designed to prepare you for when you land there. There is not a storm or venomous snake bite that is wasted in the marvelous testimony of Jesus that God in forming in your life. You see beloved, you are no longer a prisoner of your circumstances, you are a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Keep your eyes and faith on the One whom the natural eye cannot see. So wherever you are on your way to your Rome, the Gospel mandate and itinerary is simple. Abide in Jesus. Pray without ceasing. Preach the kingdom of God. Share those things concerning the truth and gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some will believe, and some will not. May God be glorified in each and every one of your lives, beloved.

Storms in the Will of God

May 26, 2024 • Pastor Ray Viola • Acts 27

When Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples said, “What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him” (Luke 8:24). It is very easy for us to read the account of Paul’s boat ride to Rome and lose sight of the fact that God is in complete control the entire situation. We remember back in Acts 23:11, “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome”. Matthew Henry wrote, “it was determined by the counsel of God, before it was determined by the counsel of Festus, that Paul should go to Rome; for God had work for him to do there”. But we also saw in Acts 26, Paul could have been set free from going to Rome because there were no charges that Festus and Agrippa could have presented to Caesar. By appealing to Caesar, Paul was not so much intent on going to Rome in defense of himself, as much as he knew that it was the will of God for his him to testify before Caesar, regardless of the cost or consequences. So we see the supernatural work of God in every aspect of this boat rude to Rome from the weather to the passengers own board. This Euroclydon or typhoon like storm was a God ordained boat ride for Paul and the 276 fellow passengers. Despite the reality of the danger that they faced on this voyage, Paul knew that God was in control of everything, and he made it a point to pass that along to everyone else onboard. Beloved follower of Jesus, do you realize that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is in control of everything that you are facing today? One of the things that every child of God must come to terms with is the fact that the supernatural work of God is often displayed in our every day, natural circumstances. Stop for a moment and ponder that through right now beloved. Do you realize that everything in your life is working together for your good and God’s glory? One of the most oft repeated promises of God throughout Scripture is Fear Not. God told Paul to fear not in Acts 27:24. Every time that we read that promise of God fear not, God is talking to someone who is afraid of something or someone. Fear is a very real human emotion that can drive a person to despair. God told the national Israel, “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior:” (Isa 43:1-3). Embrace those words of the prophet Isaiah from our Heavenly Father, loved ones. They remind us of a basic fact that there are waters and fires in the life of every follower of Jesus Christ, but our lives are in the hands of God. He is in control of everything. We are all homeward bound beloved, and until we arrive safely in glory, every storm has a purpose that is designed for the glory of God and the Name of Jesus Christ. SELAH

Ordinary Christian Conversion

May 19, 2024 • Dylan Ocorr • Acts 26

When I was in 5th grade, the biggest enemy I faced was my list of chores. Nothing terrified me more than walking downstairs on Saturday morning, and slowly peering into the kitchen to see if that mother of mine had scribbled out one of those motherly death sentences. They usually read like this: “Dylan, before you watch TV or go play with friends, do these three things.” A 5th graders gallows if you ask me. So, I would do my best to avoid my chores, but eventually, I was forced to complete them. Then one day, I was practicing the piano, and my mom said, “Aww! I could listen to you play piano all day long.” And suddenly it dawned on me - as long as I play the piano, my mom will never force me to do my chores. And thus began one of the most rigorous practice schedules ever known to a 5th grader. In Acts 26, Paul finds himself facing an actual death threat, not just a list of chores. But, this isn’t his first rodeo. Back in Acts 22 and 23, he faced nearly the same thing - on trial, retelling his story of conversion as his legal defense. In Acts 23, Paul faced a council of leaders and escaped only because he was able to stir up division amongst his accusers. “Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, ‘I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.’ And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees…” (Acts 23:6-7). After much confusion, almost being illegally flogged, and nearly killed, Paul resorted to some old school tactics - the enemy of my enemy is my friend. And, miraculously, it worked! Now, over two years later, Paul is before a council of leaders again. This time, he knows how to handle the situation. He’s learned how to avoid the mob uprising, just like I learned how to avoid the chore list. So, he begins his testimony by bringing up this heated point of contention, instead of waiting until the end. But does Paul bring up this dispute at the beginning only to avoid danger? Or is there a deeper reason? Back in Acts 23, the Pharisees and Sadducees split over Paul because of the issue of the Resurrection. The Pharisees believed that there is a Resurrection, whereas the Sadducees held that there was no none (Acts 23:8). So, when Paul brought up the dispute, they took sides. But their siding with Paul was simply a matter of philosophical discussion. It was purely about what things are reasonable to believe and what are not. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were not concerned about anything fundamental to the Gospel itself. Their only concern was with general metaphysical realities. As it were, in an attempt to avoid death, Paul turned their attention away from the person of Jesus, and onto a philosophical debate. Knowing this, Paul takes a different approach in Acts 26. He begins by bringing up this heated debate regarding the reality of the resurrection because he wants to drive home a different main point. Right after mentioning this societal ‘hot topic’, he says, “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.” (Acts 26:9). Paul turns their attention away from the philosophical debate around the feasibility of the resurrection, and turns their attention onto the person of Christ. Paul sees that when he was opposed to the gospel and living in sin, he still believed in the Resurrection (since he was a Pharisee). It didn’t matter at all where the Jews landed in the debate around the resurrection of the dead. What mattered was that they reckon with the person of Christ. There is no saving faith in affirming correct metaphysical truths. There is only salvation in relating rightly to the person of Christ, by repenting and turning to him alone.