Men, especially —the greatest calling on our lives is to love Jesus with our whole heart, and daily show the people under our care how beautiful and helpful and patient God’s authority is. Our calling as parents is to help our children believe that God’s authority is where life and safety and freedom and joy are found. This is gospel work! That is kingdom work. That is being an ambassador for the King of kings. That is carrying this incredible treasure in fragile clay jars that often break and crack and need repair. This is being a temple of the Holy Spirit, and making our homes a place where the Spirit lives, and moves, and is known.
God has chosen to put the greatest treasure of all, not inside of gun safes, but inside clay jars, or earthenware vessels; not inside of strength, but inside brokenness and weakness. It's intentional. There's purpose behind our weakness. It's so the treasure is seen all the more clearly.
Paul faces criticism from another group doing ministry, because he doesn't carry the same "credentials" and "recommendations" that they do. Paul looks at the fruit of the gospel and says that's all the credentials I need.
In one final sermon from the Acts series, we go back to the beginning and tie everything together in one simple little bow: We proclaim the kingdom of God by proclaiming Jesus – crucified, buried, resurrected and ascended.
How would you live your life if you knew Jesus was going to return in 5 years? What kind of urgency would you have? Paul is nearing the end of his life, and he is finishing well, making the most of every opportunity. Always on mission. Never off duty.
There are two major theologies that seem to stand against each other - the theology of God's sovereignty and the theology of people's free will. But as Paul and his crew are blown across the Mediterranean Sea, both God's sovereignty and people's responsibility are on full display.
Resurrection Sunday – As Peter and John visit the empty tomb, there are three ways of "seeing" that happen. First, just a glance. Second, more investigation. Third, seeing with the eyes of the heart. In similar fashion, there are three ways of seeing Jesus today: Either he is "a" savior; he is "the" Savior; or he is "your" Savior.
Paul has appealed to Rome, and finally it is decided that they should set sail. But Paul's dream (and most of our lives) doesn't end up looking the way he expected it to look. First of all, he was going to Rome as a prisoner instead of on his own terms, and secondly, they ended up being blown way off course before they were even halfway there.
As Paul stands trial before Governor Festus and King Agrippa, he recounts his conversion story one last time in the book of Acts, including details that he hadn't mentioned before – namely, the specific call of Jesus on his life: to be a servant who turns on the lights in people's stories, and leads them to repentance and faith.
With every trial, Paul gets to bear witness in front of men more and more powerful than before. First the mob, then the religious leaders, then Governor Felix and Governor Festus, and in this passage, he is now in front of King Herod Agrippa and his wife Bernice. But Paul is staying rooted in saying the resurrection of Jesus is the reason he's on trial, and continuing to anchor himself in that truth.