Thoughts Across The Bow

Paul: Making Tents and Decisions for the Gospel While reading through Acts and Paul’s epistles, the reader can trace how Paul made decisions with the mindset of furthering the Gospel and building up the church.  The last post examined how Paul’s decision-making was influenced by the Gospel in regards to circumcision with Timothy and Titus.  Paul holds up his decision-making and examines his options in light of the Gospel.  This post will continue to analyze this theme of Gospel centrality in Paul’s decision-making in regards to Paul self-funding his ministry efforts.  Luke in his historical account of the Apostles, records that Paul was a tent-maker by trade (Acts 18:3).  Luke recorded Paul telling the elders of the church in Ephesus that he coveted no one’s money and worked hard to support his ministry (Acts 20:33-35).  At the end of Acts, Paul is under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:16) and evangelizes at his own expense for two years (Acts ...

Was Paul Inconsistent with Timothy and Titus? Paul replicated himself in furtherance of his ministry and delegated ministry responsibilities in his missionary efforts. As Paul moved around the map planting churches and equipping existing churches, he equipped fellow ministers to carry on his work in the Gospel.   Some of Paul’s most notable fellow ministers included Timothy, Titus, Tychicus, and Onesimus.   Paul’s relationships with Titus and Timothy, might lead one to believe that he was inconsistent.   What brings this inconsistency into question is the fact that Paul had Timothy circumcised and left Titus uncircumcised.   The argument of this post is that Paul was not inconsistent in his handling of this issue, and the underlying issue is the furtherance of the Gospel.   How is someone being circumcised or someone abstaining from circumcision a Gospel issue?   Follow along as this particular issue in Gospel centrality is explained. Timoth...

God’s Sovereignty and Suffering in Acts: Reading the Bible causes one to realize that they are in the hands of a sovereign God (Prov. 16:33).   What makes such a statement controversial is the mystery that surrounds God’s sovereignty and human responsibility.   To be clear, this post will not explain away this mystery.   What becomes troubling for some, is God’s sovereignty in relation to suffering and tragedy.   This post will also not explain away the mystery present in this conundrum, either. The goal here is to widen the perspective of the believer and help some understand that God can be glorified and bring about good in these times that cause heartache.   In the book of Acts, Luke the physician records the acts or history of the Apostles after Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross.   The Holy Spirit enters into Luke’s account and plays a pivotal role throughout the narrative.   Suffering and tragedy in Acts also functions as a constant ...

Was Peter the First Pope? “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).   Peter can be a controversial example of leadership due to some sources claiming that he was installed by Christ as the first Pope.   Most are familiar with Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:18 and Peter’s role as a leader in the early church.   However, one should consider the full council of Scripture before declaring Peter as the first Pope or the leader of the early church. The biblical evidence points to Peter being a servant leader, but not “the leader” of the early church.   Peter is a great study on servant leadership, spiritual formation, and calling.   While the argument laid out in this brief post could bring forward historical facts, it will primarily focus on a brief overview of biblical evidence.   It is important to start with the fact that Jesus is head of the...