New Road Church

The pagan Ephesians see "magic" done by Paul in the name of this Christus figure, and some see that these miracles were categorically different from their own hit-and-miss methods using incantations. The next incident shakes them to the core. Jewish grifters, self-styled exorcists, copy the practice of their pagan magician neighbours by stealing the latest, most powerful name about. The new magic word is "Jesus", and they include it in their ritual of exorcism. Unfortunately, the evil spirits will not be commanded by the recital of magic spells, even if the name of Jesus is included. The devils respond only to authority greater than theirs, and only Christ and his agents have it. The evil spirit knows Jesus personally, and his fellow demons have been banished by Paul, but this bunch? It uses its host to attack the seven Jewish fakers forcing them to leave utterly humiliated and ruined. For some, this is too much evidence of the power of Christ to ignore. They repent, and in an outward expression of it which was both practical and symbolic, they torch perhaps more than £2m in magician books and saleable spells. The word of God continued to change people, cities and entire regions.

Apollos, a name rooted in "Apollo", was a highly educated believer from the great centre of learning: Alexandria. He no doubt used the famous library of 700,000 books until they were burned by Muslims. Still, he came to the church armed with both a Jewish and Greek education. Apollos appears on the scene dramatically, making a big impression. He would become a leading figure in the worldwide church, and many believe he authored the book of Hebrews. His familiarity with the scriptures, boldness, and fervency, made him a great example to Christians in general and preachers of righteousness in particular.

Paul arrives in Corinth on his missionary journey. He gets a job with a couple of fellow tentmakers/leatherworkers. His occasional practice of getting a job alongside the ministry has various reasons, but this bi-vocational ministry is never ideal; pastors should be free to devote themselves to prayer and the word. Paul makes a dramatic announcement whereby his ministry to the Jews is over. We infer from the voice of God to Paul which followed that he had been minded to move on from Corinth, but God would have him stay which he did for over a year and a half. The reason was that the Lord had many people there. This shows us that the Lord had his elect hidden among the populus, and he would have Paul and others preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified so that these elect ones would be drawn in. What the Lord's message does not imply is that there are many people in every place. We cannot know, and so it is that we preach widely and indiscriminately.

Paul addresses a mixed bunch of Athenian philosophers and approaches the gospel task in a particular way. He highlights the pointlessness of their entire pantheon of gods by suggesting that the one they pay no attention to is the God of heaven. This single God is creator, sustainer, governor, resurrector and judge. Paul urges repentance towards this God on his hearers.

At Athens, Paul encounters a wide range of religious belief. With this comes a diversity in terms of what each group preferred to hear. The Jews would have wanted to hear about Law, of how they could better keep the rules so as to attain that level of righteousness required by God. The Greeks wanted to hear about virtue and be intellectually stimulated.Paul's gospel is not what they want to hear. The Jews could not accept as their Messiah one who was killed, and they did not understand that the very righteousness of God was required, and this could come only as a gift of God through faith.The Greek philosophers could not accept the notion of a bodily resurrection; Stoics has a Platonic view whereby man had an immortal soul which went to heaven, while Epicureans dismissed an afterlife altogether. Paul's gospel by contrast had as a central doctrine the Christian hope of eternal life through bodily resurrection.The matter of different "appetites" for preaching in our day naturally arises. There is a range of preferences for preaching in our churches. Some only want to hear thrilling explanations of prophecy. Others want only practical advice on Christian living. The Bible contains these and much more, but the question every preacher must ask of his sermons is "Is Christ preached? His rich life, his atoning death, his glorious resurrection, his accomplishment of redemption, his continual intercession, and his soon coming?" Yes, we preach many things, but above all else our sermons must be Christ centred.

The greatest revolution in world history was also the most unlikely. The leader was taken and killed seemingly while at his peak, and his small band of followers ran away. However, when the boundaries of the kingdom blew wide open with the gospel, the figure of Jesus was understood to have been the central figure and instigator of this quiet revolution. The revolution which the modern-day believer is part of unusual in its gentleness. We don't take over territories with guns. We don't threaten people with execution if they don't worship God. We turn the world upside down by worshipping God and sharing the testimony to God's grace which we have.

Two unusual and simultaneous occurrences come together to confirm to a jailer that the message of his captives is true. It isn't that earthquakes are unheard of, but coming at the exact time that all the prisoners' chains fall off and cell doors open confirms for him that this event is miraculous.The jailer receives mercy in that all the prisoners stayed put, and he informs the jailer of this in time to stop the man committing suicide! Overcome, he asks the apostles what he had to do to be saved.Their answer could not have been better. There were no calls for a period of outward contrition or other works. The instruction was to merely believe. To trust in the one they had been preaching about: Jesus of Nazareth. He is Lord, and this term was understood as a lot more than "master"; this title implied divinity.Here was another fairly classic conversion like Lydia's. The word was heard. The Holy Spirit used the message to change the jailer, granting him repentance and faith. He submits to baptism, together with other converts in his house, and fruit immediately follows with hospitality shown to the apostles and praise rising up to God.

The end has come, the dead are raised, and the Great Judgement seat of Christ comes into the view of all mankind.As well as the untold billions who have ever lived, every angel will be present.There is a binary separation between the elect and the non-elect (or reprobate), figuratively described as sheep and goats.Yet for the goats, the congregation of Satan, there will be degrees of punishment. Contrary to the hierarchy of sin which we might construct, it is those who have rejected the clear gospel who will fare the worst in this dispensing of justice. The men of Sodom, with all their history of all types of deviancy will suffer but also marvel as they witness far more respectable people in even worse torment. For these people were those in the countries of the Bible who heard the gospel many times and ignored it, a gospel which, had it been preached in Sodom, would have resulted in mass conversions to Christ.The believers, too, will be judged but in a different way. The kingdom of Satan observes that, after thousands of years of hard work, they were not able to bring down even one of God's elect. God saved every one.Any works of men not done in faith will be burned up. The few good works remaining will be the evidence in the courtroom of God that their faith was genuine, and they will inherit everlasting life.

The righteousness of God is that moral and ethical perfection of his. That of man falls short of this supremely high standard, yet this is what he needs to be able to be admitted into the presence of God. The solution is found through a gift of God whereby he makes a man righteous. On the basis of this grace work, God can declare the man to have the very righteousness of Christ himself and thereby be fully acceptable to God both now and forever.

Sin is a lack of conformity to God's standards, and these can vary according to situation. But it is always wrongdoing in God's sight. It is universal to man, and "total depravity" is not merely about every aspect of our nature being adversely affected but an absolute sinfulness. It is God's restraining hand alone which prevents the world from descending into violent chaos.The consequences of sin are just and right even if we find it abhorrent to think of lost loved ones suffering to that degree. For mankind, standing in the dock of God, a "not guilty" verdict can only come through a transfer of sin from the sinner to the sinless, from man to Christ.

Paul for a time tolerates the witness to the gospel exclaimed by a slave girl. However, he is well aware that she is inhabited by a demonic spirit. He presumably decided that it would harm the mission if the gospel was being spread by such a person as this diviner, especially as God had clearly shown his hatred of the whole business of using mediums to see the future.Getting back to the task in hand, Paul and Silas have false charges laid against them and are detained in prison. They will, though, get out of that place and preach the gospel which gives repentant men and women not a familiar spirit but the Holy Spirit.

Lydia is often held up as an example of a noble, hard-working, lady. We perhaps think that she was so virtuous that all God had to do was give her a nudge. A little thought will do away with such romantic notions. Above all else, the account describes how a sinful woman was delivered by the mercy of God. We see someone with a faint interest in God being brought into his kingdom. It begins with an inward work of God, a gift given to some and withheld from others. This heart change caused her to listen to the gospel and believe. Following this was obedience: baptism, witness, and the showing of hospitality. We ought not to hold Lydia up as a great lady but instead hold up God as a great saviour.

Guidance is what all believers want. Yet instead of specific guidance, they must work with principles from scripture and have such faith that they can know the Lord will direct their paths. Here, Paul and his companions are directed by God in this trinitarian work to go exactly where he wants them. He withholds the gospel from some and grants it to others, having no obligation to have it taken to all. Within the general call there is an irresistible call to the elect only. Again, the sovereignty in God's grace is seen in that he grant his Spirit to those he has ordained to salvation and withholds it from the rest.

Paul and Barnabas have a falling out, a row. They go their separate ways. However, we might say that the Lord meant it for good; two missionary expeditions took place instead of one.All discord has its origin in sin. Were we not "men of unclean lips" living among a world of men of unclean lips, there would be no trouble. The secret to harmony and peace is Christlikeness.To those who wish to separate from a congregation, they do well to heed the advice of Calvin and others; don't leave at the drop of a hat. Explore every avenue, reason with the people, and pray hard. Leaving a church because of some offence is easy. It is like having a weight removed from your shoulders. But the Christian life isn't meant to be easy. We must take up our cross daily, and this includes confronting our troubles and working through them.

In the face of pressure from the Judaizing sect of the new way of Christianity to have converts to Jesus conform to the Law of Moses, a council is convened at Jerusalem. The conclusion was a temporary compromise whereby Gentiles would only be advised to adhere to a few basic Levitical rules—enough to satisfy the Circumcision Party but not too burdensome for them, and no doubt Paul was satisfied with the irenic decision. The most important point in all this is that grace, not law, is that by which we are saved. Law does not add the finishing touches to the work of the cross. To put it another way, Moses does not compete what Jesus begins. The Mosaic Law and Ten Commandments have therefore nothing to do with the believer or the sinners to whom the gospel is preached.

The Apostle Paul is here stoned to death...or so the unholy alliance of Jews and pagans thought. He recovered and continued his preaching.Later, he includes this event in a list of many of the tribulations he had faced in his Christian life.He had as an example the Lord Jesus Christ who himself suffered and who said that his disciples must daily carry their cross for his sake.Out tribulations are ordained by God for his wise and loving purposes, so we accept them and patiently pray for our deliverance. They are also steps in our ongoing entrance into the kingdom of God, or "Kingdom of heaven". Believers are in the kingdom now, and their path to the more immediate fellowship with God in the resurrected state has its tribulations, but the knowledge of this glorious end should be an encouragement to the suffering saint.

There is a widespread dispensation of mercies by God towards the people of this world, both elect and non-elect. We might think of this as the groundwork of grace, although we should avoid using the term "common grace". It is better to reserve this word for that special work of God which he carries out on his elect people, and the term is in any case usually associated with the "well-meant offer" of the gospel, which we deny.The word of grace itself is the gospel, and it is a valuable, life-changing message. Those who have been drawn into God's kingdom through it should desire to hear it and share it: to hear, because the saved should love to hear the gospel; and to share because it is our duty and joy to tell others of the sovereign grace of God.

The text in focus here is v48: "all who were ordained to eternal life believed". The order is critical. The sinner repents and believes on Christ because he was appointed to do so. This is not an election based on observing the future and electing on that basis. God elects his people, Christ died for them, and they shall all, without fail, be brought into God's kingdom in due time. This doctrine should be a source of great joy and comfort to the believer.

Paul offers three OT references to his audience as he delivers the gospel. His reasoning is that the covenant promises made to David were firstly widened to national Israel then to the true Israel. The blessings promised include forgiveness and life everlasting, and the evidence is seen in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Everyone who has ever died, including David, have suffered corruption in Hades, the grave. Yet the way for our resurrection was paved by Jesus when he raised himself from the dead.

Barnabas and Saul are called by a Roman official to share the gospel with him, a golden opportunity. They are opposed by another court official, a false prophet, but the Holy Spirit through Saul—or Paul, as he was to become—put an end to his opposition.The conversion of the Roman proconsul is the focus, though. It can be seen what the gospel was which he believed, why it took place when it did, and what the ultimate cause of the conversion was.

In the final instalment of our short series, we come to the Holy Spirit. The most common way of listing the triune persons is in this order, but they are listed in alternative ways in scripture.The Spirit is the only person whose personhood has been questioned. Yet the word of God clearly presents him as a person as much as the Father and Son.In this week's message, we consider his eternal nature, his life-giving and life-upholding power, and the various ways in which he has worked in the hearts of the saints.

The Son of God is considered firstly as God, then a son of the Father. We also consider his roles of messiah and judge.

It would be arrogant to think our doctrines of God adequately describe him. However, the doctrine of the trinity is the formulation which best reflects what we believe revelation tells us. There is one God, but three persons of the same "essence", a philosophical term.The first instalment is about God the Father, and the different types of fatherhood are considered. Principally, he is Father to Christ Jesus, and his fatherhood of the elect is an image of this heavenly relationship.

To be set apart is to be made holy for the Lord's service. Using Saul as an example, we can see how he was set apart from before he was born, set apart in his conversion, and set apart for the gospel.

Herod commits a great offence against God, and the Lord had determined to make an example of him. His crime? Accepting honour due to God alone. An angel afflicts him with a disease from which he soon dies.Rulers, like all men, have a duty to give God the glory in all things. Yet most rulers, like most men, neglect this, to their eternal ruin. God will not share his glory with another or be denied it. However, the Son of God does share it, but this is by virtue of his place within the godhead. The contrast in this story is stark: the voice of Herod is ended, as is whatever pitiful glory he had. Yet the word of God increased! This word of God was not the Bible as such but the preaching of the cross. We see that it is in this figure of the Christ that the glory of God finds its most glorious fulfilment.

On hearing of Peter's imprisonment, the church had gathered for a prayer meeting. Yet when God answers their prayers, they cannot believe it! Is this really a case of lack of faith or something else?It is fairer to them to suggest that they were limiting their prayers to requests which they thought was in accordance with what they knew about God. We do the same, and many of us will testify that God frequently exceeds our expectations.These thoughts lead us naturally to consider two vital factors in prayer: knowing the will of God and having faith that he loves to answer and enjoys surprising us with his answers.

Peter is sprung from jail by an angel, and the event can be compared to the spiritual equivalent whereby a sinner is freed from bondage to sin and Satan.

Peter is sprung from jail by an angel, and the event can be compared to the spiritual equivalent whereby a sinner is freed from bondage to sin and Satan.

There's a narrow path which leads to eternal life, and few find themselves on it. There's also a wide road which leads to eternal destruction, and multitudes remain on it their whole lives. Life's biggest question is- which are you on--

There's a narrow path which leads to eternal life, and few find themselves on it. There's also a wide road which leads to eternal destruction, and multitudes remain on it their whole lives. Life's biggest question is: which are you on?

Barnabas here provides an example which the believer would do well to consider. As several Christlike qualities are looked at, it becomes clear that these they flow out a fullness of the Holy Spirit and faith which by the grace of God Barnabas possesses.

Barnabas here provides an example which the believer would do well to consider. As several Christlike qualities are looked at, it becomes clear that these they flow out a fullness of the Holy Spirit and faith which by the grace of God Barnabas possesses.

The use of water in an outward ritual of baptism is representative of true baptism, a work of the Holy Spirit of God. Candidates are those who have been born again. Although there is no need to wait until they understand a raft of doctrines before it is carried out, it is a requirement that the candidates know who Jesus is and confess their entire trust in him as saviour. As for mode, sprinkling, pouring or immersion are among those which may be used. What baptism is not is a representation of death and resurrection. It is instead reflective of inner cleansing of sin.

We can and should view the conversion of Cornelius et al as symbolic of the great shift which was occurring in God's economy- but it is just as important that we learn from his individual salvation as a God fearer. Was his religious lifestyle acceptable to God-- Are there shades of acceptance with God, or is salvation a discrete matter-one is either -in- or -out--- Cornelius may have been well known for his God-fearing life, but he needed to be saved by the blood of Christ, and God saw to it that the gospel was taken to his house. There quickly followed faith and receipt of the Holy Spirit, and this was immediately portrayed in the application of water to the converted audience in the rite of baptism.

We can and should view the conversion of Cornelius et al as symbolic of the great shift which was occurring in God's economy; but it is just as important that we learn from his individual salvation as a God fearer. Was his religious lifestyle acceptable to God? Are there shades of acceptance with God, or is salvation a discrete matter—one is either "in" or "out"? Cornelius may have been well known for his God-fearing life, but he needed to be saved by the blood of Christ, and God saw to it that the gospel was taken to his house. There quickly followed faith and receipt of the Holy Spirit, and this was immediately portrayed in the application of water to the converted audience in the rite of baptism.

Peter's strange vision of the animals had its effect- Gentiles were no longer to be called -common- or -unclean-. The gospel of Jesus Christ would be preached as enthusiastically to them as to the people of Israel. This was part of the great transition where the kingdom of God had come and a new era where all things had become new. For us, the distinction between clean and unclean is based on a man's standing before God- righteous or unrighteous.

Peter's strange vision of the animals had its effect- Gentiles were no longer to be called -common- or -unclean-. The gospel of Jesus Christ would be preached as enthusiastically to them as to the people of Israel. This was part of the great transition where the kingdom of God had come and a new era where all things had become new. For us, the distinction between clean and unclean is based on a man's standing before God- righteous or unrighteous.

Peter's strange vision of the animals had its effect: Gentiles were no longer to be called "common" or "unclean". The gospel of Jesus Christ would be preached as enthusiastically to them as to the people of Israel. This was part of the great transition where the kingdom of God had come and a new era where all things had become new. For us, the distinction between clean and unclean is based on a man's standing before God: righteous or unrighteous.

Following Peter's declaration, a disabled man arises. After a request was made to him, Peter arises. After a prayer of faith, a dead woman arises. These three -risings- in this passage portray for us the rising from the paralysis of sin in conversion, the rising up in faith to do good works, and the rising from the dead in the resurrection, respectively.

Following Peter's declaration, a disabled man arises. After a request was made to him, Peter arises. After a prayer of faith, a dead woman arises. These three -risings- in this passage portray for us the rising from the paralysis of sin in conversion, the rising up in faith to do good works, and the rising from the dead in the resurrection, respectively.

Following Peter's declaration, a disabled man arises. After a request was made to him, Peter arises. After a prayer of faith, a dead woman arises. These three "risings" in this passage portray for us the rising from the paralysis of sin in conversion, the rising up in faith to do good works, and the rising from the dead in the resurrection, respectively.

Paul, the new convert, is ready to preach. By an act of immediate spiritual advancement, he grasps the gospel well enough not merely to preach but to make an apology. That is, he uses his learned and unlearned knowledge to add arguments to the material facts of the gospel. He gives the hearers reasons to believe what he has told them. Christians should pray for God to raise up preachers who God will use to find and rescue his lost sheep.

Paul, the new convert, is ready to preach. By an act of immediate spiritual advancement, he grasps the gospel well enough not merely to preach but to make an apology. That is, he uses his learned and unlearned knowledge to add arguments to the material facts of the gospel. He gives the hearers reasons to believe what he has told them. Christians should pray for God to raise up preachers who God will use to find and rescue his lost sheep.

Paul, the new convert, is ready to preach. By an act of immediate spiritual advancement, he grasps the gospel well enough not merely to preach but to make an apology. That is, he uses his learned and unlearned knowledge to add arguments to the material facts of the gospel. He gives the hearers reasons to believe what he has told them. Christians should pray for God to raise up preachers who God will use to find and rescue his lost sheep.

The involvement of Ananias in the conversion story of Saul of Tarsus gives us an example of readiness in God's service. Certainly, there was in him an initial hesitance, but he soon put that aside and did what the Lord told him. It reminds us of the Lord's own reluctance to go to the cross but how his will -realigned- with the Father's and became once again a determination to go to his Calvary appointment.--Most significantly in this passage is how God had ordained Paul become an instrument, or vessel, in his hands. Whatever the metaphor, we are to be ready to be used by God and, importantly, accept that each of us is vital to the purpose of God as devised by him.--Strangely prominent in Paul's commission was the reality that he would suffer for Christ. Saul had tried to eradicate the name of Jesus throughout the earth. Now, he would suffer trying to spread the name of Jesus throughout the earth. Even in times of ease for the church, its people should be ready for greater suffering, because in it they will find a strange joy as they share in Christ's sufferings.

The involvement of Ananias in the conversion story of Saul of Tarsus gives us an example of readiness in God's service. Certainly, there was in him an initial hesitance, but he soon put that aside and did what the Lord told him. It reminds us of the Lord's own reluctance to go to the cross but how his will -realigned- with the Father's and became once again a determination to go to his Calvary appointment.--Most significantly in this passage is how God had ordained Paul become an instrument, or vessel, in his hands. Whatever the metaphor, we are to be ready to be used by God and, importantly, accept that each of us is vital to the purpose of God as devised by him.--Strangely prominent in Paul's commission was the reality that he would suffer for Christ. Saul had tried to eradicate the name of Jesus throughout the earth. Now, he would suffer trying to spread the name of Jesus throughout the earth. Even in times of ease for the church, its people should be ready for greater suffering, because in it they will find a strange joy as they share in Christ's sufferings.

The involvement of Ananias in the conversion story of Saul of Tarsus gives us an example of readiness in God's service. Certainly, there was in him an initial hesitance, but he soon put that aside and did what the Lord told him. It reminds us of the Lord's own reluctance to go to the cross but how his will "realigned" with the Father's and became once again a determination to go to his Calvary appointment.Most significantly in this passage is how God had ordained Paul become an instrument, or vessel, in his hands. Whatever the metaphor, we are to be ready to be used by God and, importantly, accept that each of us is vital to the purpose of God as devised by him.Strangely prominent in Paul's commission was the reality that he would suffer for Christ. Saul had tried to eradicate the name of Jesus throughout the earth. Now, he would suffer trying to spread the name of Jesus throughout the earth. Even in times of ease for the church, its people should be ready for greater suffering, because in it they will find a strange joy as they share in Christ's sufferings.

Saul's conversion is renowned for its drama. The risen Christ confronts him mid-way through a mission to persecute another branch of the church. He is to find that, rather than ride into Damascus with victory on his mind, he will be led by the hand there, his sight gone.--In the confrontation, Jesus shows how that to persecute his followers is to persecute him. Saul is humbled and must wait for days in the darkness of blindness for his instructions from the Lord.--An often-neglected aspect of the story is that of his companions. They saw the light of Jesus but did not see him. They heard the voice of Jesus but did not understand him. They fell down before Jesus but did not repent and put their trust in him. So it is today.--The greatest question we can ask the people of this world is- -Have you seen Jesus---

Saul's conversion is renowned for its drama. The risen Christ confronts him mid-way through a mission to persecute another branch of the church. He is to find that, rather than ride into Damascus with victory on his mind, he will be led by the hand there, his sight gone.--In the confrontation, Jesus shows how that to persecute his followers is to persecute him. Saul is humbled and must wait for days in the darkness of blindness for his instructions from the Lord.--An often-neglected aspect of the story is that of his companions. They saw the light of Jesus but did not see him. They heard the voice of Jesus but did not understand him. They fell down before Jesus but did not repent and put their trust in him. So it is today.--The greatest question we can ask the people of this world is- -Have you seen Jesus---

Saul's conversion is renowned for its drama. The risen Christ confronts him mid-way through a mission to persecute another branch of the church. He is to find that, rather than ride into Damascus with victory on his mind, he will be led by the hand there, his sight gone.In the confrontation, Jesus shows how that to persecute his followers is to persecute him. Saul is humbled and must wait for days in the darkness of blindness for his instructions from the Lord.An often-neglected aspect of the story is that of his companions. They saw the light of Jesus but did not see him. They heard the voice of Jesus but did not understand him. They fell down before Jesus but did not repent and put their trust in him. So it is today.The greatest question we can ask the people of this world is: "Have you seen Jesus?"

In the arranging of the meeting between Philip and the Ethiopian, God's careful management of circumstances is shown. Had the smallest event preceding this occurred differently, their lives would have taken different paths. Yet this eunuch was one of God's elect, and the Lord would leave nothing to chance. The meeting was carefully engineered by God so that this elect child was brought into the family of God through faith in Christ.--Crucial to this conversion was the word of God being read by the object of God's grace. Yet he acknowledged he needed a teacher, and this allows us to comment on God's instrumentation in the use of preachers of righteousness to both broaden and deepen the understanding. We can read the scriptures with Holy Spirit understanding, but God has ordained that our learning is taken a stage further through those who he raises up for this task. Like Jehoshaphat, we should value such servants.