As Disney continues to make it clear that their values are anti-God and anti-family, what should Christians do?
Are boycotts a tool Christians should use?
If so, when is the proper time to use them?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Yx4CxcrK8
The guys discuss these questions and more in the inaugural episode of Think Fast.
On the Sabbath day, Luke writes in verse 13, the mission team went outside the gate to a river side, supposing that there would be a place of prayer there. We have found no remains of a Jewish synagogue in Philippi. The mission team sat down and engaged the women in conversation, in Bible study, as they assembled.
There was a woman there named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics. The main source of purple dye was marine shells and the body of a female scale insect. The pigment was a rich red. The most highly prized was a sea purple, obtained from the snail Murex brandaris. These pigments were highly prized because of their brilliance and their colorfastness. There was a “Tyrian double-dipped” garment which cost 1,000 denarii per pound (remember, a denarius was 1 day’s salary!). It is estimated that it would take 12,000 snails to produce 1.4 g of crude dye. So this was a labor-intensive process.
Now, there were also cheaper imitations made from vegetables or minerals. We do not know if Lydia dealt in the luxurious dyes or the cheaper imitations.
Luke notes (ver. 14) that Lydia was a “worshipper of God.” This is a designation for Gentiles who worshipped God according to the Jewish law. That shows that Lydia was moving toward a relationship with God already. Luke also writes that Lydia was “listening” to what Paul, Luke, and Silas were teaching her. In that way, the text says the “Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” Those who believe that the Holy Spirit operates directly on our hearts will use Lydia as an example; but, as always, if you read the text itself, you will come to a better understanding of what the Bible teaches. She was already worshipping God; she was already listening to the message of the gospel – that’s how the Holy Spirit works, correct? Through His word – then the Lord opened her heart to respond to what the missionaries were teaching.
We must open our hearts to the teaching of the word of God. That is the fundamental requirement for anyone to be saved from their sins – you’ve got to open your heart to the teaching of the Gospel message and submit your heart to God’s will.
So in verse 15, we see the result of Lydia opening her heart to the teaching of the Gospel. She and her household was baptized. They were baptized because Peter had said back in Acts 2:38: “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, Lydia did not actually receive the Holy Spirit until after she was baptized. But it was at that point that she was saved. And, whether she was currently married or not, she and her household were all baptized and saved. Households at that time – like in Romania today – could easily include multiple generations; we’re not necessarily talking about babies or small children because they would not be old enough to believe in Christ. But, we could be talking about grandparents, uncles or aunts, nephews or nieces, even servants or slaves. Lydia had an important influence on those around her. As we would expect from a business woman.
Once Lydia was baptized, she prevailed on Paul and his mission team to stay at her house, suggesting wealth, a house large enough to house visitors. And the mission team stayed there. In fact, after Paul and Silas were arrested and then released, we notice at 16:40 that they left the prison and entered Lydia’s house and saw the brethren there – which suggests that the church, perhaps even the jailer and his whole household (16:34) were worshipping in Lydia’s house. This was a young congregation of the Lord’s church.
Everyone needs to hear and respond to the gospel of Christ. Every person can contribute to the health and growth of the church, if they will open their hearts to the teaching of the Lord.
Paul Holland
I have a brother who is five years older than me and we used to physically fight. We also played together quite often – with Matchbox cars, army men, and other things. But we fought too. Of course, he always won because he was bigger than I am. I also have a sister one year older and a brother seven years younger. Sibling rivalry is as old as Cain and Abel.
Envy is incredibly destructive.
In the NASV, the word “envy” is used 14 times; 4 in the OT, 10 in the NT: Matthew 27:18; Mark 7:22; 15:10; Rom. 1:29; Gal. 5:21, 26; Phil. 1:15; 1 Tim. 6:4; Titus 3:3; 1 Peter 2:1. The related word “jealous” is used another 58 times; 41 in the OT, 17 in the NT.
So, we have to get rid of envy in our hearts. But, when you get rid of one attitude, you have to replace it with another, a positive attitude. In this case, thanksgiving.
We all have problems. We all have a list of things that we want. Some of us want more time in our day. Some of us want more money in our pocket. Some of us want more love from our spouse. Some of us want more respect from our children. Some of us want a better car in our driveway.
Our problem with envy is not that we haven’t been blessed; it’s that we’re not thankful and content with what we do have. The blessings we do have – we tend to take them for granted. Instead of looking at what we have in our own hands, we see what someone else has in their hands and we want that!
Counting our blessings isn’t a one-time thing. We have to keep at it – work at it – on a daily basis.
Cain compared himself to Abel and the end result was murder. One man compares his house or boat or camper to his neighbor and the end result is envy and covetousness. A student will compare her test scores with a fellow student, perhaps even the smartest kid in the class. The parable in Matthew 20:1-16 is a rebuke to the envious heart, the heart that is not thankful to God for what one has.
I want to share with you this passage from Proverbs 30:8-9: “Keep deception and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, that I not be full and deny You and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or that I not be in want and steal, and profane the name of my God.” That ought to be the prayer of every Christian.
Let’s work on being grateful and do our best to expel envy from our hearts.
Paul Holland
The Bible presents many important questions: Job asked, “If a man die…” (14:14). Jesus asked, “For what is a man profited…” (Matt. 16:26). A young man once asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do…” (Matt. 19:16). This passage in Hebrews asks, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation?”
The greatest responsibility of God was making salvation possible for all men. When the angels fell, He sentenced them to outer darkness forever. But when man fell, He sentenced His only begotten Son to work the great plan of salvation.
In our text, we have three important words: salvation, neglect, and escape.
A GREAT SALVATION:
The salvation is great in its conception – It was not conceived by man. It was born and implemented by God (Eph. 1:4-5; Rev. 13:8).
The salvation is great in its cost – Just think of its cost to the Father: John 3:1-16. Consider its cost to the Son (Heb. 12:2; 9:26).
The salvation is great in its circumference – It is for rich and poor. It reaches out to the highest; it reaches out for the lowest. Jesus said, “Come unto me all you who are weary” (Matt. 11:26).
The salvation is great in its completeness – Paul said, “Who has delivered us?” (Col. 1:13-14).
The salvation is great in its capability – “Let the wicked forsake his way” (Isa. 55:7).
The salvation is great in its power – 1 Corinthians 10:13.
A GREAT SIN: “NEGLECT”:
When we neglect salvation, we sin against our better self. Neglect is a deadly sin. Most of hell’s inhabitants are guilty of neglect. Lot lingered in Sodom and his hesitation could have cost him his children and his wife (Gen. 19:15-16).
Just picture a man on Niagara River in a boat heading toward the falls. People shout and throw him a rope. All he has to do to die is neglect taking hold of the rope. When we neglect, we sin against the Savior. He made us and we owe our Maker certain obligations.
When we neglect, we sin against society. Our lives are bound together with others. We lift up or drag down by our influence. No man has the right to do or say anything that will cause others to be lost. Paul said, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak” (1 Cor. 8:9). Jesus said, “But whoever shall offend one of these…” (Matt. 18:6).
A GREAT SADNESS:
It is impossible to make heaven if we neglect salvation. We live in a doomed world (2 Peter 3:9-10).
Jesus is the only way out (Acts 4:12).
Jesus declared, “I am the way…” (John 14:6).
It is impossible to miss hell if we neglect. Thousands line the road that leads to hell. We see the liquor road, the pleasure road, the immoral road; but the broadest road is the neglect road.
The next world has only two places of abode: heaven and hell. The saved go to heaven to be with God forever. The unsaved go to hell and remain there; for there is no escape.
How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
the late Wayne Holland
Today, because of this pandemic, in many of our churches the Lord’s Table has been removed from our worship and sits collecting dust in some back room. With its inscription, “DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME” now out of sight, we hold our little self-contained cups in our hands, with the awkward task of removing the cellophane covered plastic as the communion begins. You may consider my points here weak or frivolous, but bear with me as I consider the significance of the table.
While I cannot say that the communion table is necessary in our churches today, I can say confidently that it was required by God in the Tabernacle. According to His instructions, in the Holy Place of the tent there was to be a table.
The table was a little over three feet long and about two feet wide. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold with a gold rim around it (Exodus 25:23-30). Twelve loaves of bread were laid out in two rows, or stacks, six to a row. A bowl of Frankincense was laid at the head of each row. “Every Sabbath” and “continually” four priests would enter, two to remove the old loaves, and two to lay out the new loaves. This was done simultaneously, so that there was always bread on the table. The two bowls of Frankincense were then offered with fire unto the Lord. The old bread was to be eaten in the Holy Place by the priests. (Leviticus 24:5-9). This would be the “pattern” for the Lord’s Supper in the New Testament church.
Moses was instructed that “You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times” (Exodus 25:30). Even when they were moving the Tabernacle during their journeys, “the continual bread shall be on it,” covered with a blue cloth (Numbers 4:7). Clearly this table was never stored away in some priest’s back room.
No, God did not give instructions for a particular table to be used in today’s worship. That said, at least once the Lord’s Supper is referred to as “the table of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 10:21).
Many may see these self-contained communion cups, which we pick up as we come into the auditorium, as more convenient, less trouble, and so should be kept in use. I hope not. We can learn from the Tabernacle that God wants a reverent and respectful approach to our worship. The Lord’s Supper is the reason we have assembled. The table was put up front to make this sacred memorial meal visible and prominent in our assemblies. I do hope that leaders will bring back their communion tables and give the Bread and the Cup its dignified, respectful, and rightful place in our worship.
Dennis Doughty
How often is the communion to be observed? Learn the answer is this brief video.
When Jesus crossed back over the Sea of Galilee the crowds awaited Him, but in Luke’s orderly account (1:1) he shows us the interrupted scene involving a man by the name of Jairus. Jairus was “a ruler of the synagogue,” thus a man of some standing and authority in the Jewish religion and the community. Jairus had one daughter, likely his only child, who was around the age of twelve. The synagogue leader falls at the feet of Jesus, obviously being acquainted with the great works He has performed, and pleads with Him to come to his house to visit his dying daughter.
This emotional scene is interrupted by a sickly woman who had suffered greatly with a hemorrhage for twelve years. She was now impoverished and even made worse by the “physicians” that attended her (see Mk. 5:26). Amidst the multitude, by faith, she slips in and but touches the fringe of Jesus’ garment. Immediately power goes out from Him and the plague of the previous one hundred forty-four months was removed.
There is little doubt that she approached Christ with great fear. She had likely been in isolation for this twelve year period as she would have been considered unclean (see Lev. 15:25). Her trepidation surely went through the rough when Jesus called out, “Who was it that touched me?” (v. 45). Of course, Jesus knew, and He permitted the power of healing to be placed upon this poor woman. But when she understood that the matter could not be kept quiet she came fearfully and prostrate before Jesus and declared why she had approached Him. The Savior calms her saying, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace” (v. 48).
A couple of brief points should be observed:
Now imagine you are Jairus. You have pleaded with Jesus to come see your daughter who is dying, and He allows Himself to be interrupted by this lady’s illness. He must have thought: “Jesus, she has been sick for twelve years, one more day probably won’t kill her!” But Luke the historian does not record any such detail. However, Jairus is informed at this point, that his daughter has died. Jesus responds to this news saying, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well” (v. 50).
Certainly He did not have to, but Jesus chose to go to the ruler’s house in order to tend to the girl and the family. On this occasion He only permitted the mother and father of the girl, as well as His inner circle of Peter, John and James, to go in with Him.
Seemingly before they entered the house, laughter came forth from the wailing when Jesus said that the girl was “not dead but sleeping” (v. 52). The laughter may have come from “professional mourners,” who were not so genuinely invested in the sorrow of this family. At any rate, as soon as Jesus called upon the girl to rise, “her spirit returned, and she got up at once” (v. 55). Jesus restored to her the breathe of life!
The latter part of Luke 8 certainly emphasizes Jesus’ power over illness and death. But perhaps a more subtle and yet powerful lesson within this text comes from the faithful patience of Jairus. He truly waited on the Lord and was blessed more than we can imagine. Surely the word “amazed” (v. 56) doesn’t begin to describe the feelings of this godly couple when their daughter arose!
Genuine faith in the Lord can continue to provide spiritual healing today. Let us patiently and persistently trust in Him. Remember, the Lord is not on our schedule. God’s time, not ours (see Is. 40:31; Prov. 3:5-6).
Daren Schroeder
Self-control is that which enables us to hold our tongues when we are tempted to viciously put someone in his place once and for all; or when we know a juicy bit of gossip that would be entertaining to the group and would turn us into the “life of the party”; or when an occasion almost demands that we betray a confidence that must not be betrayed under any circumstances.
Self-control is that which enables us to control our passions when another is provoking us to anger; that keeps the clinched fists in the pockets when the agitator is only half our size; that keeps the lips sealed when another is railing and swearing at us. Self-control is that which enables us to be like our Lord “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (I Peter 2:23).
Self-control is that which enables us to maintain purity of heart and to thrust out evil thoughts before they can take root; that enables us to place the best possible construction on another person’s actions when unproven rumors could easily destroy our confidence in him; that helps us to maintain a cheerful disposition when everything around us has turned sour. Self-control is that which enables us to love the unlovable and to hate that which the world loves.
Self-control is that which enables us to rule our appetites; to say “no” when our lusts would lead us to sin or when that which is harmful to our health is placed before us. Self-control is that which enables the smoker to put down his cigarettes and the alcoholic to put down his drink and never return to it. Self-control is that which enables us to rule rather than to be enslaved.
The Bible does not glorify the indifferent and impassive. It is not our goal to be uncaring. To be like Paul, we must be able to have our spirit stirred within us when we are surrounded by evil (Acts 17:16). To be like our Lord, we must sometimes feel anger when surrounded by hypocritical self-righteousness (Mark 3:5); we must even react with occasional outbursts of goodness on occasions, as when the Lord cleansed the temple (John 2:13-17). But, all such outbursts must be tempered with self-control, that in our anger we “do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26).
God does not view our uncontrolled actions with amusement. Our temper tantrums and harsh, unbridled words are soul threatening, a potential bar to the abundant entrance into the Lord’s everlasting kingdom (II Peter 1:5-11). We must not minimize the danger. We must not surrender to this evil.
What is the value of self-control? It is one of the qualities that enable us to go to heaven. The possessor of it is rich indeed.
– by Bill Hall
“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom” (Psalm 51:6).
Neal Pollard
Is it truly possible to “rejoice always (Phil.4:4)”?
First of all, we struggle with joy because we often use joy and happiness interchangeable, yet they are fundamentally different. Happiness is an emotion. It is a feeling that can happen to you. It is temporary. Joy often presents itself most in moments of happiness, but joy is more than an emotion. It is a foundational state of being. Where happiness reacts to circumstances, joy can transcend them.
Second, we struggle to find joy due to our current circumstances. Temporary focus and unhappiness distracts us from our eternal goal. When we are enduring ongoing hardships like poor health, a hostile work environment, bad economy, etc., we allow unhappiness to steal our joy. But again, joy does not necessarily equate happiness. One may think “God wants me to be happy,” yet God never promised happiness. But God does offer us eternal joy, which leads to our third struggle.
Third, we struggle to find joy when we do not have the proper source or foundation of joy. We search for joy in all the wrong places. We search for joy in our society (or, at least, we lose our joy because we expect for our society/country to give us joy rather than sadness). Of course, we are constantly let down. We allow our joy to come from what we do, but what happens when we lose our job? What happens when we retire? What happens when we are physically unable to do the hobby we love? We allow the primary source of our joy to be from our relationships (friends, spouses, children). But what happens when our children move away or go astray? What happens when our friends move away or an argument damages the friendship? What happens when a spouse is unfaithful or passes away? The source of our joy is gone, and therefore our joy is gone. Relationships are important, but all relationships, to some degree, are temporary.
The fact of the matter is we cannot rejoice always if the source of our joy is not eternal. Paul doesn’t simply say, “Rejoice, always.” He says, “Rejoice, in the Lord, always.” In order for joy to be eternal and transcend above circumstances, we must find that joy in the Lord. Prior to this statement, in Philippians 3:18-19, Paul addresses his heartbreak over the many who have their minds set on earthly things. They are devoted to earthly, temporary happiness instead of heavenly, eternal joy. But followers of God must know that “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself (Phil. 3:20-21).” I love my wife, but she cannot grant me citizenship in heaven. I love my children, but they don’t have the power to transform my lowly body to a glorious one. Earthly relationships are important, but let us never neglect our relationship with the One who is the source of all joy.
The joy he offers transcends all temporary circumstances.
In the Lord we find joy with peace. In Philippians 4:7, Paul says that we have the “peace of God which surpasses all understanding (and it) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Eternal peace allows us to free our minds of anxious thoughts and protect our hearts from joy stealers.
In the Lord we find joy with trust. As David writes in Psalm 37:3-4, ““Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Trust in God provides us with the ability to find joy even in trying times (James 1:2-4).
Finally, in the Lord we find joy with contentment. Paul is writing this joy-filled letter from a prison cell, yet he shares that “…I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” How? Because his joy is found in Christ, the source of all joy. This is why he says triumphantly, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Let us do the same. Find peace in the Lord. Put your trust in the Lord. Find contentment in and from the Lord and you will be able to rejoice in the Lord, always.
Jared McLeod
The idea for this lesson came from a recent presentation by Ed Gallagher at the Freed-Hardeman University lectureship.
Luke’s approach itself is unique in that he was not a first-hand witness of Christ, but he composed his account from eye-witness testimony (see 1:1-4). His Gospel is also placed in a greater historical context than the other three (see 1:5; 2:1-2; 3:1-2). Now let’s briefly note three major focal points of Luke’s Gospel account.
No other Gospel account speaks as frequently about repentance. Note the following:
* It is important to note that Luke’s Gospel gives great emphasis to Jesus spending time with sinners for the purpose of seeking their repentance.
* All three have to do with the joy that takes place in heaven (and should take place on earth) with the repentance of one precious soul (see vv. 7, 10, 32).
III. EMPHASIS UPON MONEY AND ONE’S ATTITUDE TOWARD IT
This study was hardly exhaustive but surely sufficient to show three major focal points of Luke’s Gospel. May the Lord help us all to renounce whatever necessary to faithfully follow Him with pure hearts!
Daren Schroeder
