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Jesus warns his followers against the spirit of judgmentalism - the eagerness to condemn the sins and faults of others while excusing or even denying our own. His followers are to discern truth and falsehood, right and wrong, with humility, repentance, and honesty.

Chronic worry not only disorders the mind but can actually damage physical health. Treatments like massage, breathing exercises, and medicine can relieve the immediate symptoms - but Jesus provides another answer for worry; one that gets directly to the heart and soul of the sufferer.

Pastor Dodge opens today's teaching with a quote from St. Augustine, "The New is in the Old concealed, the Old is in the New revealed."  Meaning what the New Testament teaches is already in the Old Testament scriptures and the Old Testament scriptures find their fulfillment in the New Testament. The Old Testament isn't to be sloughed off, it is at the heart of the New Testament teaching.  In order to understand the New Testament we need to be well versed in the Old Testament. This is what we will see in today's study of Acts 17.   Acts 17:1-3 - Paul and his companions come to a synagogue in Thessalonica and Paul explains that Jesus is the Messiah. Paul is showing them the Hebrew Scriptures and demonstrating how Jesus is the fulfillment of what the Jewish people have been longing for.   Some ways the Messiah was mentioned in the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures and revealed in the New Testament through the life and death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ: The New Adam The Seed of the woman Virgin born Immanuel Passover Lamb Heavenly Manna Son of David  Suffering Servant New Covenant Divine Son of Man The King who enters Jerusalem The First and the Last King of Kings   Acts 17:4-10 many believed but some did not and so the believers send Paul and Silas away to Berea where they went again to the Jewish synagogue.    Acts 17:11-12 - The Berean Jews received their message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. And as a result many of the Berean Jews believed along with prominent Greek women and men.   The Christian faith is a rational faith. It is not something uncovered by human reason but is entirely rational because God is entirely rational.   God has done mighty things. He is the God of the universe and the God of human history and in His Word He reveals to us His Son - our Redeemer and Hope.   Paul reasoned with them and we too need to confront the reasoning and the wisdom of God as revealed through ancient Hebrew prophets, through apostles and through His Son.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos    Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

The question we need to ask ourselves is: "What do I value most? Am I going to value things that don't last, or am I going to value what God values most - those qualities that endure forever?"

Our God is a deliverer, and He offers us deliverance even - and especially - today!

SEEING CLEARLY: Then + Now   Scandal of Idolatry - Then - Acts 17:16 we read that Paul was in Athens and was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 1 Corinthians 10:20 Paul writes that the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And in Romans 1:22-23 "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal human beings and birds and animals and reptiles." In Athens life revolved around the idols. Sampling: Festival of Athena Festival of Apollo Festival of Demeter Festival of Poseidon Festival of Dionysus Festival of Zeus Now - Today we need to have our eyes opened to the idolatry of this age. The worship of things and self.   Reason vs Ridicule - Then - Acts 17:17-18 Paul reasoned in the synagogue and the market place to both Jews and God-fearing Greeks regarding idolatry. Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. They accused him of advocating foreign gods because he was preaching the good news of Jesus and the resurrection - something they had not heard before.  Now - Today there are many who ridicule the Christian faith so it is important to reason with them and to bring into their lives the truth of what the scriptures say. (See 1 Corinthians 1:21)    Tyranny of Fads - Then - Acts 17:19-21 - Paul is taken to a meeting of the Areopagus (legislative body) where they question Paul about what he was teaching. They were interested in new ideas, interested in going with the latest fad. However the good news of Jesus is not a fad and in Romans 12:2 we are encouraged to not conform to the patterns of the world.  Now - Today we are called to be grounded in the word of God, to be transformed by it and not follow the ways of the world.   The Unknown is made Known - Then - Acts 17:22-25 Paul stands up and addresses the group saying that he sees they are "very religious." He had observed their objects of worship and told them they were ignorant and then he reveals that God who made the world and everything in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples built by human hands. He told them that God gives life and breath and everything else.  Now - today just like then, many have heard of God but they do not know Him. (See 1 Timothy 6:15-16) Paul seeks to communicate who God truly is: all powerful, all knowing and good.   The Priority of Repentance - Then - Acts 17:26-30 -  Paul tells them of the one true God who made nations from one man. "For in Him we live and move and have our beings." He goes on to say that since we are God's offspring, we shouldn't think that God is like an idol of gold or silver. God commands all people to repent.  Now - today - we too are to repent. To turn around, change our direction and return to God.    Resurrection of Christ - Then - Acts 17:31-33 - Paul tells of the day that the Lord has set to judge the world with justice by the One who God Himself raised from the dead. (Jesus - Redeemer, Deliverer) When Paul talked of the resurrection of the dead, some sneered, but others wanted to learn more.  Now - today - the resurrection of Christ is the key biblical teaching and the heart of the New Testament teaching. By human standards, Christ's resurrection seems ridiculous - unless it's REAL!  And that is precisely what the scriptures declare AND what the evidence points to!  1 Corinthians 15:20 tells us that Christ has indeed been risen from the dead! And that news can change even the most devout skeptic.    Pastor shares the story of a cold case investigator, detective and atheist, J. Warner Wallace. Using cold case investigation tools and tactics Wallace uncovers compelling evidences for Christ's resurrection, yet he still chose to ignore what he uncovered and chose NOT to see clearly. However, that's not the end of the story. Pastor closes class with how it all ended for J. Warner Wallace and how it ends for all of us.    God has set a day when He will judge the world - Thus we need to repent - because God has raised His Son from the grave and He IS coming back!     This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 17-18.      Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

The breastplate of God's righteousness protects us from the schemes and attacks of the devil as we live out our daily lives in Christ. Pastor teaches us the 2 meanings of righteousness in the Bible; The righteousness we receive through faith in Christ Jesus - a right relationship with God throuigh the gift of His Son. Righteousness is also the way we desire to live based on what we have received at no cost through our Savior Christ Jesus. And growing in our faith. Seeking to do what is right - not to earn our righteousness, but as a way to thank God for the gift of righteousness that is given to us through Jesus. Ephesians 6:14 http://www.awakeusnow.com

Why did Jesus teach us to pray. "Lead us not into temptation"? God does not tempt, but He is the One who gives us the strength to face testing/temptation and provides a way of escape from the lure of evil.

"Forgive us our debts/sins as we forgive others" is not a prayer to be spoken lightly, but a prayer to be lived. Even the most devout believer has a daily need to reconnect with God through repentance and forgiveness.

"Give us ... our daily bread" is not a "mundane" prayer request. Jesus is calling us to look to God, to trust Him with our entire lives, and to call on Him to meet all our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

We explore an action the Apostle Paul took. Was Paul compromising what had been decided at the Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15) when he circumcised Timothy?   Chapter 15 was about the question of Gentiles needing to be circumcised to be a genuine follower of Jesus. The Council at Jerusalem's unanimous decision was no - that salvation is though faith in Christ Jesus alone. But now in Acts 16 the questions is if Paul is going against what had been decided in Jerusalem when he circumcised Timothy.   Acts 16:1 - Paul came to the city Lystra where a disciple named Timothy lived. Timothy's mother was Jewish and a believer but his father was a Greek/ With a Greek father, Timothy had not been circumcised when he was 8 days old as were Jewish boys, so he is uncircumcised.   Vs 2-3 Paul wanted to take Timothy along on his upcoming journey, so he circumcised Timothy because of the Jews who lived in the areas they would be going to. People knew that Timothy's father was a Greek. But they also knew his mother was a Jew. Was Paul going against what the council in Jerusalem said?  No.  In Acts 15 we are told how we are saved only through faith in Christ, but the Gentiles were told to be gracious and reflective of Jewish sensibilities, especially around the idea of not wanting the Gospel to come under disrepute.     Their upcoming journey was to many towns with Jewish people and in their eyes Timothy would have been seen as a hypocrite who had abandoned his jewish heritage and faith.    What Paul is saying is that no Gentile needs to be circumcised but Jewish people were called to be circumcised and Timothy is making it clear that he is a faithful Jew. His circumcision shows his heart is for his fellow Jewish people, as well as Gentiles.    Timothy and Paul will spend many years together. Paul and Timothy have a beautiful friendship. Paul will consider Timothy his spiritual son.   And then we read in Acts 16:4-5 that as Timothy and Paul traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in the Council of Jerusalem. And the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. More and more Jewish and Gentile people became followers of Jesus.   Timothy and Paul recognized the importance of reaching all with the gospel of Christ.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos    Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Our natural self tells us to pray, "MY will be done." But Jesus says we are to invite God to conquer us, to take charge of our lives and change our hearts so that we willingly pray, "YOUR will be done."

"Thy kingdom come" is both a missionary and a visionary prayer. We know that in these last days God is at work in human history to establish His kingdom over all the earth, and that the day will come when the Lord Jesus returns to make all things new.

Acts 16: 2,500 years ago, the Holy Spirit gave a prophetic word to several Hebrew prophets. It is a word that began to be fulfilled in a dramatic way at the time of the book of Acts, and continues to be dramatically fulfilled in our day in ways that seemed impossible generations ago.  "The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord just as the waters cover the sea." We will see in this chapter a dramatic example of how that prophetic word was fulfilled at the time of the early apostles. We will also see how that speaks to us today as that word is being fulfilled in ways they couldn't even conceived of 2,000 years ago.   Is the Book of Acts History or Theology? It is both! Is it descriptive or prescriptive? It is both!   THEN and NOW:  Walk by the Spirit - Vs 8-9 - Paul receives a vision of a man in Macedonia. Paul and his companions conclude that God had called them to preach the Gospel there - so they followed the prompting of the Spirit. (See Galatians 5:16, 25)   Point to Jesus Christ - Vs 14 -15 - They go to Philippi in Macedonia via the Egnatian Way (Road). They go to the river to find a place of prayer and they meet several women there, meeting Lydia. They share the Gospel message with the women. Lydia responded to Paul's teaching, inviting them to her home. God is moving!  (See Philippians 2:9-11)    Spiritual Warfare - Vs 16 - 18 - Paul and Silas are followed by a female slave with the Python spirit for several days.  Paul gets annoyed and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" And at that moment the spirit left her. The word of Jesus has power!! (See Ephesians 6:12)    Rejoice in the Lord - Vs 19 - 25 - The slave's owners realized that their opportunity for making money on the slave was lost, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities saying that they were Jews causing an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for Romans. Paul and Silas are stripped and beaten with rods and thrown in prison with feet fastened in stocks. But Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening. They were rejoicing even in their difficulties. (See Philippians 4:4-6)   Assurance of Salvation - Vs 26 - 34 - Suddenly there was a violent earthquake and prison doors flew open and everyone's chains came loose. The jailer saw the prison doors open and was about to kill himself assuming the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouts, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"  The jailer runs to Paul and Silas, trembling, he asked what he needed to do to be saved. They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to jailer and to all the others in his house and the entire family was baptized. The jailer was filled with joy.because he had come to believe in God - he and his whole household. (See Philippians 1:6)   Vs 35-39 The authorities realize they beat Paul and Silas who were Roman citizens and no roman citizen is to be beaten and flogged so they release them.   Encourage One Another - Vs 40 - After being released from the prison, Paul and Silas go to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them and then they left. (See Philippians 1:27f)    No matter what the future may hold, we know Who holds the future!   This week's READING ASSIGNMENT: Acts chapter 16-17.      Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos   Join us Sundays live or on demand from our website  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

The "readiness that comes from the gospel of peace" gives us a solid platform on which to stand firm in resisting the devil's attacks. Pastor's shares about an archeological discovery of "Caligae,' the shoes worn by Roman soldiers in the day that the text of Ephesians was written by Paul. Some amazing analogies bring light to today's verse, 'and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." Ephesians 6:15 http://www.awakeusnow.com