Homiletics - Acts Finale

 Acts 28:1-31

Content:

1. Malta inhabitants showed unusual kindness to Paul and shipwrecked mates. 1-2
2. Paul's encounter with snake caused islanders to judge Paul a murderer, then a god. 3-6
3. Chief official Publius welcomed them in home. 7
4. Paul heals Publius sick father and many others. 8-9
5. They supplied Paul and company with supplies to sail to Rome. 10
6. After 3 months on island they head for Rome with a few stops on the way. 11-14
7. Paul encouraged by Brutus who traveled to meet him in Rome. 15
8. Paul lives alone with soldiers guard in Rome. 16
9. Paul gathers Jewish leaders of Rome to explain why he is there. 17-19
10. Paul appeals to them based on the hope of Israel. 20
11. The reply is that they have heard nothing about him, but are interested. 21-22.
12. Many come to hear Paul explain Jesus based on the law and prophets. 23
13. Listeners were divided in response. 24-25
14. Some leave after Paul quotes Old Testament speaking of Israel's unbelief. 26-27
15. Paul proclaims God's salvation is now being sent to the Gentiles. 28
16. There is no verse 29??????
17. Paul remains in his house for 2 years proclaiming Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God to anyone who would listen. 30-31

Divisions:

1. The islanders of Malta show kindness to Paul following shipwreck. 1-9
2. With generous Island send off and encouragers along the way, Paul is settled in home under guard in Rome. 10-16
3. Paul invites Jew's and gentiles into his home preaching Jesus and the kingdoms of God. 17-31

Subject Sentence:

• God rescues and encourages Paul who proclaims Jesus in Rome.

Aim:

• To cause me to be a part of spreading the gospel of Jesus through hospitality that includes generosity, encouragement and scripture proclamation.

Application:

1. Who has God put in my path to show kindness and generosity towards?
2. Do I see how God has used others to help me in transitions? Whom can I be of support to who are going through transition?  How can I help missionaries who have left home and comforts to share the gospel?
3. Am I imputing knowledge of scripture so that I may proclaim the gospel? Am I sharing it with those whom I encounter?

Taste and See that the Lord is Good Psalm 32:8

For me, this verse brings up visions of flourless chocolate cake, a crisp juicy apple, yummy cold ice cream and other delicacies.  I smile and get a warm gooey feeling in my tummy.

BUT what happens when your taste buds stop working?  What if you can no longer taste sweet things? 

This is my current experience.  Last Monday I developed a strong metallic, salty taste in my mouth and things weren't tasting right.  As the days have gone by I have realized that I can still taste bitter things, spicy things, sour things and umami BUT I can not taste anything sweet.  In fact when I do continue to eat something sweet I get an increasingly salty taste in my mouth.  It has been quite the experience and has my mind spinning.

Of course my primary thoughts have been "what caused it and how can I fix it".  I have googled, and there are a variety of possibilities of which hormones and sinus problems/allergies are likely.  There are also diseases but choosing not to explore those yet.  Along with the lack of a sweet taste I do have a very dry mouth.  Based on the products at the pharmacy in the mouth wash aisle, evidently this is not that uncommon. And no I haven't found one that works that well.  Chewing gum does help some.

At this point you may have several thoughts or questions. Let me see if I can address them.

• No, I have not seen a doctor.  I was giving it some time. Since it has been a week and is very distracting (the constant salty dry taste) my plan is to reach out to a doctor today.
• NO, it is not an active case of Covid.  I am not sick and the home Covid test was negative.  I had Covid 2 months ago and could it be linked? Of course there is that possibility.
• Yes I can still smell with what seems like normalcy.
• Yes I am taking Flonase for allergies.  Actually started after I lost me sweet taste,
• Yes I am drinking a good bit of water.
• It is not just a loss of the ability to taste sweet that is the problem, it is the constant salty sometimes metallic taste in my mouth.

So here are thoughts that I have had.

• I didn't realize how dependent I was on food, especially things that taste sweet for pleasure. I truly had been eating for fun and enjoyment and now am eat for sustainment .
• I keep thinking about how this is kind of like grief.  I have experience grief but not ones that I would consider profound grief.  Perhaps the one I consider the most difficult was my loss of security when I moved to Uganda.  Every sense of security, identity, expectation and comfort seemed to be removed from me and I was grieving.  In that grief it was very hard to find pleasure in even things that were intentionally sweet.  I could engage in it but could not taste it.  Even some of those sweet experiences left a bitter taste because of my "losses."  I think of this in particular for friends who have experienced profound losses through divorce, death of spouse or child, as well as betrayal or other major life transition.  As you grieve, sometimes it is really hard to find pleasure in things that are meant to be pleasurable.  And often others don't understand.  I can explain this experience of not being able to enjoy even an apple for its sweetness to you but until you have experienced it, it is hard to know what that it is really like.  
• Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Honest it is challenging when everything tasted overly salty and at times bitter. But the truth is that he is Good.  In this experience I can see how God is talking to me about my dependence on pleasure, giving me empathy for the grieving and others with chronic ailments as well and helping me to get off of sugar as I have been trying to do.  The Lord's goodness doesn't always taste like sugar.  His goodness is there even in the salty, sour and bitter.  Psalm 34 starts off with "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Whatever life taste like, I can choose to praise his name and trust in his goodness."

Homiletics

 Acts 27,

Content:

1. Centurion Julius, in charge of Paul and other prisoners, board ship going to Italy. 1-2
2. Julius allows Paul's friends to tend to him as they journey. 3
3. Winds against them, they make slow headway along the coast. 4-8
4. Paul warned Julius it was too late to continue but he went along with the captains plans to head to Phoenix. 9-12
5. There was deceptive wind that soon became hurricane catching up the ship. 13-15
6. The storm battered many days as crew made multiple attempts at survival eventually giving up. 16-20
7. Paul encourages them with promise God made him that all would survive. 21-26
8. Two weeks later sailors sensed land was near and began making preparations. 27-29
9. Paul warns Julius, sailors are abandoning ship thus those one ship would not survive. 30- 32
10. Paul encourages them to eat, reinstating God's promises. 33-38
11. Heading for a beach, they encounter sandbar that breaks the ship. 39-41
12. Julius preserves prisoners lives from soldiers attempt at order by killing them. 42-43
13. Swimming and floating on debris, they all reach shore safely just as Paul had said. 44.

Divisions:

1. Sailing - verses 1-12  Paul warns his guard, Julius that their slow starting journey will not progress well if they do not delay.
2. Storm -verses 13-26 Paul encourages shipmates in storm with promise that God will preserve them all. 
3. Shipwreck -verses 27-44 Paul warns of sailors plan to abandon ship and provides practical encouragement of food. 

Subject Sentence:

• Paul's journey to Rome involves slow start, storm and shipwreck. 

Aim

• To cause me to be a voice of warning, encouragement and discernment to fellow sojourners.

Application:

1. Who do I need to warn based on biblical principles and the Holy Spirits prompting.
2. Who is in a storm that I can encourage with God's words of hope?
3. Who do I need to encourage with food or other practical means?

Homiletics Acts 26

 Content:

1. King Agrippa opens the floor to Paul. 1
2. Paul makes pleasantries with king Agrippa asking he patiently listen. 2-3
3. Paul says the Jews know Paul has been a faithful Jew. 4-5
4. Paul says it is his hope in the promise that he was raised on, that he now stands. 6-8
5. Paul had been fighting against the name of Jesus persecuting his followers. 9-11
6. Paul tells of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. 12-18
7. Paul says he was faithful to that vision, preaching repentance and turning to God. 19-20
8. Paul says the Jews are persecuting him for this but he is saying nothing Moses and the prophets did not declare. 21-23
9. Festus calls Paul crazy. 24
10. Paul appeals to King Agrippa's belief in the prophets. 25-27
11. King Agrippa says, "are you trying to convert me so quickly?" 28
12. Paul speaks his desire for Agrippa and all to experience as Paul has, minus the chains of course. 29
13. Festus, Agrippa and Bernice leave declaring Paul is doing nothing wrong but due to his appeal, they can't set him free. 30-32

Divisions:

1. Paul tells his testimony as a faithful Jew who encounters Jesus, becoming his faithful follower. 1-20
2. Paul says that his teaching and mission fulfills the teaching of Moses and the prophets. 21-28
3. Paul declares his desire is for all to experience the encounter with Jesus that he has. 29-32

Subject Sentence:

• Paul testifies to encountering Jesus, desiring for all to experience.

Aim:

• To cause me to desire that others experience an encounter with Jesus such that I fearlessly act upon God's leading to speak of him.

Application:

1. Who do I need to tell me testimony of how I have encountered Jesus, and how this has impacted my life?
2. Do I study God's word so that I can see and tell how the bible is a continual story of God and his redemption of man?
3. Do I let fear of others or what they might do to me, overshadow my desire for all to know and believe in Jesus.

Steve's Next journey

This weekend Pete the Cat loaned Steve his best travel bag and helped him prepare for his next journey.  On Monday via Priority Mail, Steve headed to Michigan to meet up with Marcia Baugh and her boys. Marcia is a dear friend from my time in Uganda.  She and her boys are headed to visit the ministry, The Way Home Africa, she and her husband developed in Uganda. Steve has been invited to go along. Marcia's husband Russ was unexpectedly promoted to Heaven in August. She has faced numerous obstacles as they approach the scheduled departure next week.  Thank you for praying that God's plan will be clear. That there will be miracles of overcoming roadblocks or great peace that this is not the time, to direct her. I am confident that either way, Steve will be in for a great adventure.  He has never been to Michigan nor Uganda before!!

Homiletcis

 Acts 25:1-27

Content:

1. Jews present case to Festus, new governor asking for Paul to be moved to Jerusalem so they could ambush him. 1-3
2. Festus invites them to Caesarea to press charges. 4-5
3. A couple weeks later in Caesarea, Paul is brought before Festus and accusing Jews. 6-7
4. Paul claims defense of innocents'. 8
5. Festus seeking to please the Jews, ask if Paul is willing to go to Jerusalem for trial. 9
6. Paul claims innocents' , says no, and appeals to Caesar. 10-12
7. Festus discusses case with King Agrippa and Bernice. 13-15
8. Festus tells of his accurate process and loss over what to do. 16-20
9. Festus says he is holding Paul until he can be sent to the Emperor as Paul so appealed. 21
10. King Agrippa wants to meet Paul. 22
11. Agrippa and Bernice arriving with great pomp are presented with Paul. 23
12. Festus declares Jewish wish for death of Paul on whom Festus finds no guilt. 24-25
13. Festus is seeking their help to know what to charge Paul. 26-27

Divisions:

1. Paul brought to trial before Governor Festus and appeals to Caesar. 1-12
2. Festus consults with King Agrippa bringing Paul before him. 13-27

Subject Sentence:

• Paul stands trial before Festus then is presented before Agrippa.

Aim:

• To Cause me to know that in the waiting, God is working.

Application:

1. How might God be protecting you as you wait? Can you trust that God is orchestrating things even when you sit in silence?
2. Who is God giving you audience to while you wait? 

Steve attends a Wedding

Steve had been anticipating Jordan and Nicole's wedding ever since we received the invitation.  He donned his black tie and had a grand time.  He said it was the BEST wedding he had ever attended.  Right I know,  it is the only wedding he has attended.  But it was a fantastic wedding.  I would put it in my top 5 and I have been to a lot of weddings!!! Here is just a few pics of the Big Day!

Church steps selfie!

Flower woman and Ring Man - hysterical!!!

the new Mr. and Mrs. Parham

The reception was really nice! Steve was impressed with the Gold plates! I had to explain what a Charger was.

As he waited for the newlyweds, Steve got a little bored and well.....

So Kim and I took him to look at the Cake and get snacks.

Steve likes Cake!

I am afraid Steve now thinks ALL bride and grooms come to the reception via Helicopter.

Steve was SO excited to have a minute with his buddy Jordan.

Signing the Guest Globe

Steve was so excited to attend the wedding that I was afraid there would be let down when all was said and done.  He did seem a little blue on Monday and then he got the BIG news.  He is getting ready to travel again.  And this one is BIG.  Steve is headed for Uganda later this month!!!!!  More news on that to come!