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“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33

Today’s Bible Reading

The Lord will destroy Damascus, but will preserve a remnant of faithful people.

BibleGateway: Isaiah 17 ESV Text: Isaiah 17 Isaiah 17 (Listen) An Oracle Concerning Damascus 17:1 An oracle concerning Damascus.   Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city    and will become a heap of ruins.2   The cities of Aroer are deserted;    they will be for flocks,    which will lie down, and none will make them afraid.3   The fortress will disappear from Ephraim,    and… The Lord will destroy Damascus, but will preserve a remnant of faithful people.

Paul brings the Gospel to Ephesus with the usual results: many reject Christ, while other believe. Noteworthy is the burning of expensive books of dark magic formerly owned by those who now found in Jesus a treasure worth far more than all the world.

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  BibleGateway: Acts 19:1-20 ESV Text: Acts 19:1-20 KJV Text: Acts 19:1-20 The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:54      1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth,… Paul brings the Gospel to Ephesus with the usual results: many reject Christ, while other believe. Noteworthy is the burning of expensive books of dark magic formerly owned by those who now found in Jesus a treasure worth far more than all the world.

No matter how learned we are in our knowledge of Scripture, there’s always room to grow. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures, but was in need of more accurate knowledge. Let us all be eager students of the Word, learning God’s truth as accurately as possible.

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  BibleGateway: Acts 18:18-28 ESV Text: Acts 18:18-28 KJV Text: Acts 18:18-28 The section starts at about 2:19 and ends at about 4:10      18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and… No matter how learned we are in our knowledge of Scripture, there’s always room to grow. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures, but was in need of more accurate knowledge. Let us all be eager students of the Word, learning God’s truth as accurately as possible.

Being a witness for Christ is not easy in a God-hating world, but the Lord will not fail to hold us up so that we can keep on going: “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you.”

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  BibleGateway: Acts 18:1-17 ESV Text: Acts 18:1-17 KJV Text: Acts 18:1-17 The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:28      1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;… Being a witness for Christ is not easy in a God-hating world, but the Lord will not fail to hold us up so that we can keep on going: “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you.”

The Greeks in Athens didn’t know a thing about the Scriptures, so Paul had to start from square one with creation. He appeals to their natural knowledge of God, but then proclaims to them what they can’t know unless it’s revealed: Jesus is the Risen One, Who is judge over all!

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  BibleGateway: Acts 17:16-34 ESV Text: Acts 17:16-34 KJV Text: Acts 17:16-34 The section starts at about 2:11 and ends at about 5:12      16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was… The Greeks in Athens didn’t know a thing about the Scriptures, so Paul had to start from square one with creation. He appeals to their natural knowledge of God, but then proclaims to them what they can’t know unless it’s revealed: Jesus is the Risen One, Who is judge over all!

Thessalonica is the next stop as the message of a risen Savior marches on. But it’s in Berea where we learn the vital lesson of carefully reading our Bibles to make sure we’re being taught the truth of Scripture.

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  BibleGateway: Acts 17:1-15 ESV Text: Acts 17:1-15 KJV Text: Acts 17:1-15 The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:20      1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came… Thessalonica is the next stop as the message of a risen Savior marches on. But it’s in Berea where we learn the vital lesson of carefully reading our Bibles to make sure we’re being taught the truth of Scripture.

With Paul and Silas in jail, perhaps Satan thinks he can keep the Gospel from spreading. Not so! God works wonders even in a prison cell, as we see the Gospel win the hearts of a jailor and his family.

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  BibleGateway: Acts 16:25-40 ESV Text: Acts 16:25-40 KJV Text: Acts 16:25-40 The section starts at about 3:22 and ends at about 5:32      25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto… With Paul and Silas in jail, perhaps Satan thinks he can keep the Gospel from spreading. Not so! God works wonders even in a prison cell, as we see the Gospel win the hearts of a jailor and his family.

Satan dogs the missionaries through a demon-possessed girl. But, in a head-to head confrontation, Jesus shows His power over the forces of darkness. Satan doesn’t give up, however, as evil men put Paul and Silas in prison. We’ll see how that didn’t work out well for Satan either.

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  BibleGateway: Acts 16:11-24 ESV Text: Acts 16:11-24 KJV Text: Acts 16:11-24 The section starts at about 1:19 and ends at about 3:29 11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to… Satan dogs the missionaries through a demon-possessed girl. But, in a head-to head confrontation, Jesus shows His power over the forces of darkness. Satan doesn’t give up, however, as evil men put Paul and Silas in prison. We’ll see how that didn’t work out well for Satan either.

Paul and his companions are prevented by the Spirit from going into certain areas. Instead, God directs them to take the Gospel to Macedonia. Missionaries rightly make plans to take the Gospel to certain locations, but the Spirit often directs them elsewhere. Trust God to open doors for the Gospel!

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  BibleGateway: Acts 16:1-10 ESV Text: Acts 16:1-10 KJV Text: Acts 16:1-10 The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 1:28      1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain… Paul and his companions are prevented by the Spirit from going into certain areas. Instead, God directs them to take the Gospel to Macedonia. Missionaries rightly make plans to take the Gospel to certain locations, but the Spirit often directs them elsewhere. Trust God to open doors for the Gospel!

Chapter 15 ends with a sad dispute between long-time friends and co-missionaries, Paul and Barnabas. But God uses the argument to put an extra missionary team on the road. All things work together for good!

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  BibleGateway: Acts 15:22-41 ESV Text: Acts 15:22-41 KJV Text: Acts 15:22-41 The section starts at about 2:48 and ends at about 5:20      22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church,… Chapter 15 ends with a sad dispute between long-time friends and co-missionaries, Paul and Barnabas. But God uses the argument to put an extra missionary team on the road. All things work together for good!

Here we read of the Church’s first great doctrinal controversy, centering around the key question of how one is saved. Scripture’s answer? “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved!”

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  BibleGateway: Acts 15:1-21 ESV Text: Acts 15:1-21 KJV Text: Acts 15:1-21 The section starts at about 0:0 and ends at about 2:57      1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren,… Here we read of the Church’s first great doctrinal controversy, centering around the key question of how one is saved. Scripture’s answer? “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved!”