Class resumes as Bro. Ernie continues this study into The Book of ACTS. Get your Bibles, Notebooks and highlighters ready!

The gospel doesn’t drift into a city quietly. It lands, it divides the room, and it forces a decision and Acts 14 shows that clash in full color. Around the table, we keep our “simple presentation” moving through Acts 14:1–13, starting in Iconium where Paul and Barnabas preach in the synagogue, a great multitude believes, and opposition immediately ramps up. That tension becomes a theme we can’t ignore: when Jesus is preached, you often see revival and backlash side by side, and you need courage to stay faithful without becoming harsh.

We also slow down on a surprisingly practical piece of ministry wisdom: presentation matters. We talk about why Paul uses his Roman name, how to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves,” and why being right isn’t the same as being effective. A real-life story and a simple illustration drive it home: don’t spill the “gumbo” of truth on people’s lap and then blame them for rejecting it. Kindness, courtesy, and love are not compromise; they are often the bridge that lets someone actually hear the message.

From there we connect Acts to the larger New Testament picture of signs and wonders. We read and reference Mark 16:17–20 and Acts 4:24–31 to show why healing, bold speech, and God’s confirming power are not reserved for a tiny group of celebrities. Finally, we head to Lystra where a crippled man is healed and the crowd tries to worship the apostles as gods, which opens a needed conversation about apostolic authority, servant leadership, and why titles never make anyone divine.

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We didn't intend on discussing 9/11, but it just happened...candid, raw stories of where we each were...what we felt and how we feel today. Have we forgotten?

9/11 is one of those dates that instantly rewires your memory, and we start there by going around the table and telling the truth about where we were, what we saw, and what we felt. Shock, grief, and fear hit fast, but so does something people do not always admit out loud: rage. We talk candidly about that surge, especially for those with a military background, and how a single moment can make you want vengeance more than you want redemption.

From that raw place, we move to the harder road of Christian discipleship: Jesus’ command to love your enemies and pray for those who misuse you. One story that stops us in our tracks is the conviction to pray for Saddam Hussein, not as a political statement, but as an act of obedience to God. We connect that struggle to the examples of Jesus on the cross and Stephen at his death, then to Psalm 91 and what it means to seek God’s protection without buying into a fantasy that faith equals comfort.

We also challenge a prosperity gospel mindset that measures blessing by money, image, or church “success,” and we bring it back to the real crux: how am I doing with Jesus as an individual? Finally, we talk about loving Muslims in everyday life, how to share Jesus with people shaped by extremist ideas, why “tolerance” can become cowardice, and why this is a spiritual battle that calls for prayer, truth, and compassion.

If this conversation pushes on something tender in you, listen all the way through, then subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review. What part of the discussion challenged you the most?

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Bro. Ernie continues taking us on this journey into The Book of ACTS. Today we finish up Chapter 13...hold on tight! Get your Bible, your highlighter and your notepad! Let's go!!!

Almost the whole city shows up to hear Paul preach and that’s when the pushback gets loud. We’re in Acts 13:42–52, watching a wildfire moment of spiritual hunger turn into open contradiction, blasphemy, and persecution, and then watching what Paul and Barnabas do next: they don’t water down the message, they get bold, and they keep moving.

We dig into why envy erupts when Jesus is preached as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, and how long-held expectations about a Messiah restoring an earthly kingdom can blind people to what God is actually doing. Along the way, we connect Acts to Acts 1 and to the prophetic backbone of the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel, where God promises a new heart and a new spirit. That thread brings it home for daily discipleship: we can’t live on secondhand faith. Prayer is not just talking, it’s listening, and the Holy Spirit still leads, teaches, and confirms truth through Scripture.

We also talk about the line that changes everything: “We turn to the Gentiles,” and how Isaiah’s “light to the nations” becomes a mission mandate for the church. Even when the city turns hostile and Paul and Barnabas shake the dust off their feet, the disciples stay filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost. If you want a clearer picture of Spirit-led Christianity, gospel courage, and what to do when people reject the message, press play, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

I would love your feedback and topic suggestions!

Ways to Give at https://m3mi.org...Thank you for your seed! :)