The Book of Acts - Chapter 24-25

Pastor Marshall Ochs | May 8, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Acts 24-25. These chapters reveal the many ways God moves in normal, everyday life. Paul was a prisoner in Caesarea for two years, but those days weren’t wasted. He preached the gospel to Felix on a regular basis. This story reminds us to pay attention to God’s invitation to join his work, even though it may not seem very spiritual or overly significant. The daily posture of following Jesus, in the smallest acts of faith, forge a life of obedience and surrender.

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1. As we read in Acts 24, there were accusations made against Paul before the governor, but no proof was presented to support those accusations. Reflecting on this in today’s context, do you form opinions, ideologies, or make decisions based on assumptions, feelings, or accusations? Do you let society influence how you make decisions?

2. Are you in a season where you don’t see God moving as maybe in the past? Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to what He is doing in the ordinary, mundane things.

3. Are you willing to wait, suffer trials, even for long periods, to allow God to sanctify you and mold you into the person He created you to be? In Acts 24:27, two years had passed while Paul was in prison.

4. In Acts 24:25, Luke tells us that Paul reasoned with Felix and his wife, Drusilla, about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment. Felix responds in a panic, not wanting to give up his way of life. Spend time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit if there are any parts of your life you need to give up to live a holy, righteous life.

5. As Marshall stated Sunday, when we say “yes” to something, we automatically say “no” to certain things. Will you spend time in prayer this week, asking God to guide you, order the work of your hands, and show you where He wants you to say “yes”?

6. Will you pray: Lord, open my eyes to what You are doing each day in my home, in my workplace, and in the places I go. I want to look more like You every day, learning to walk in the fruits of the Spirit.

The Book of Acts - Chapter 22-23

Pastor Marshall Ochs | May 1, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Acts 22-23. These chapters cover Paul’s trial in Jerusalem and the Jewish plot to execute him. Paul is sharing the transforming power of Jesus, but Rome only values Roman culture and the Jews only value their exaltation of religious tradition. For Paul, following Jesus requires valuing God’s revealed truth over institutional wisdom or cultural thought. This reality is also at work in our lives. Will we trust God’s word or human institutions? Will we trust God’s word or religious tradition? Will we trust God’s word or our personal experience and feelings?

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Reflect

1. Our Christian walk today is much like the path that Paul and Christ took to Jerusalem. It is a path of putting sin to death, living by faith and affirming God’s authority. It is the process of moving closer and closer to Jesus. In what ways is the Lord asking you to put sin to death, live by faith and affirm His authority?

2. Scripture teaches us that we must choose God’s truth over cultural ideology. Are you willing to stand for Christ when you might suffer persecution?

3. In what ways have you compromised God’s truth in order to live comfortably with the world’s views?

4. The walk of faith in Christ is about treasuring Jesus above ourselves and the world. Have you exalted your personal desires above God?

5. You can’t follow Christ if you follow and trust the world’s wisdom. You cannot trust what you see and hear around you. You must ask God how you should think and act in every circumstance or conflict. To whom or what have you turned to for the answers to life’s questions? God or man?

6. The best way to know what God thinks is to be in His word and in community with other believers. You cannot trust what you desire or solely what you were taught. Where have you been looking for the answers to life’s questions? How much time are you spending in God’s word?

The Book of Acts - Chapter 21-22

Pastor Marshall Ochs | April 24, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Acts 21-22. This chapter covers Paul’s return to Jerusalem and the condition of the early church. God was working in tremendous ways in the Gentile churches of Turkey and Greece, but the Jerusalem church struggled with gossip. Believers were spreading and believing lies about Paul and his ministry, and the Jerusalem elders asked Paul to associate himself with four men under a vow. This requirement was designed to quiet the gossip in church, but it didn’t work. The best way to handle gossip and lies is to respond with truth, in-person. These chapters remind us how important it is to live in close community with each other, and combat gossip with the truth.

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Reflect

1. Are you willing to follow in Paul’s footsteps and sacrifice your freedoms, pride, and comforts to gain opportunities to share Jesus and preach the gospel?

2. Are you living in such a way where accusations against you would not be believable?

3. Paul shared his testimony when he addressed the crowd. Can you articulate the transformation God has done in your life so that you minimize yourself and give God the glory?

4. Do you value living in a close community where you know what is going on in people’s lives? Does your calendar reflect that value?

5. Will you pray:

• Lord, open my eyes to how easy it is to believe a lie instead of spreading the truth.

• Lord, open my eyes to how easy it is to join the mob and compromise my convictions.

• Lord, open my eyes to how easy it is to forget my testimony and force you to prove yourself to me again.

• Lord, change me and keep on changing me.

The Book of Acts - Chapter 21

Pastor Marshall Ochs | April 17, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Acts 21. This chapter covers Paul’s journey to Jerusalem. His path was filled with suffering and persecution, but he was not the first person to travel this path. Paul was following the footsteps of Jesus, to Jerusalem, to experience the transforming power of new life. This path is a familiar path for Christians because we also walk this path of suffering, death, and new life. This Resurrection Day message explores the Christian themes of death and new life.

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Reflect

1. The people awaiting Paul in Jerusalem were more concerned with keeping a political or religious system and maintaining their power structure than accepting Jesus as their Messiah. Do you see this in our world today? Spend time asking the Holy Spirit to reveal how He is calling you to spread the name of Jesus.

2. Paul walked a similar path as our Jesus walked, one of pain and suffering. What do you do when you know there is a road of pain and suffering ahead? Take another path, or are you willing to walk in obedience and surrender?

3. In Matthew 16:21-23, Jesus tells Peter he is setting his mind on things of man and not things of God. Where do you find yourself in times of suffering, trials, and chaos? Do you set your eyes, mind, and heart on Jesus or things of this world? Things that can be seen or unseen things? Oh, may we set our minds on the promises of Jesus and His truth. Like the angel told Mary, He has risen as He said!

4. New life comes when old lives are put to death. Are you willing to get rid of your desires and allow the Holy Spirit to give you, His desires? Are you ready to put to death the things that are not of Jesus? As Pastor Marshall asked, are you tired of buying what the world is selling (in some cases literally)? Spend time in prayer this week, asking Him to align your desires with His and give you the power to die to your flesh.

The Book of Acts - Chapter 20

Pastor Marshall Ochs | April 10, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Acts 20. This chapter covers the final leg of Paul’s third missionary journey. After spending 3 years in Ephesus, Paul visits the churches in Macedonia and Greece. After a few months in Corinth, Paul backtracks to Philippi, Troas, and meets with the Ephesian leadership in Miletus. As we trace Paul’s final journey, we learn a lot about a man that treasured Jesus. We see what he valued most, where he spent his time, how he handled crisis, and what he talked about with his closest friends. These principles challenge us to ask, “Does my life look like I treasure Jesus?”

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Reflect

1. Reflecting on Matthew 13:44, what does a life completely surrendered to Jesus look like? Is there an “old field” you need to let go of?

2. We see in Acts 20, and throughout scripture Paul was not concerned with his comfort or safety but focused on finishing the race that Jesus set out for him to run. Spend time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal if you are more concerned with comfort and safety or completing the work that Jesus has for you to do.

3. Paul surrounded himself with other believers who would encourage him and had the same mission, not people who would challenge or question his work. Do you surround yourself with other believers with the same charge? Are you close to people in our church where they would know what is going on in your life?

4. Eutychus fell out of the 3rd story window as Paul preached; Paul reacted to this crisis with compassion. Do you respond to problems with this type of compassion?

5. In Acts 20, Paul reminded the elders from Ephesus of how he lived and ministered when he was with them and throughout his missionary journeys. His life was characterized by humility, tears, perseverance, and boldness in preaching in private and public. Are these the things that describe your life?

6. Do you treasure Jesus above all else? Does your calendar, business, thoughts, words, and bank account reflect that Jesus is your treasure?

The Book of Acts - Chapter 18-19

Pastor Marshall Ochs | April 3, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Acts 18-19. These chapters cover the first leg of Paul’s third missionary journey. He begins the journey with a trip to the region of Galatia, and continues into Ephesus where he stays for over 2 years. While in Ephesus, he meets multiple people who struggle with their identity. This region is deeply rooted in magic, witchcraft, and the worship of Artemis. This lifestyle shapes their identity and hinders their new identity in Christ.

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Reflect

1. Paul’s friends Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos aside and explained some things he was missing. Do you have a heart of humility where you are willing and want to be taught the way of Jesus accurately? Or are you defensive?

2. Where is your identity currently rooted? Maybe it is words spoken over you, a career, a political viewpoint, sexuality, an experience, a disease, or illness. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where your identity is rooted. Is it in anything other than Jesus Christ?

3. Some of the Jewish exorcists tried to mimic what Paul was doing to make a name for themselves. Are there any ways you are trying to make a name for yourself instead of Jesus? Holy Spirit, show us how to minimize ourselves to lift the name of Jesus on high.

4. Acts 19:19 says many who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them. Is there anything you need to burn symbolically or literally? We can’t have two identities.

5. Galatians 3:26 says, “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” God adopted us as sons and daughters. Does this identity inform every aspect of your life? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you His power, strength, and vision to live fully rooted with your identity in Jesus and Jesus alone.

The Book of Acts - Chapter 17-18

Pastor Marshall Ochs | March 27, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Acts 17-18. These chapters cover the final leg of Paul’s second missionary journey. He travels to Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus. This message focuses on Paul’s evangelistic strategies in these cities, and how God encouraged Paul to stay faithful through difficult times.

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Reflect

1. At the beginning of Acts 17, Luke tells us that Paul spent 3 Sabbaths in a row at the synagogue in Thessalonica having conversations with the Jews. However, it was not the only work Paul did while in Thessalonica. According to 1 Thessalonians 2:9, Paul worked day and night. Paul’s only evangelism was not just in the synagogue but also at work. Do the people you work with see Jesus because of you? Not that you are perfect, but that you are different, your language, the conversations you join, your character, and your actions. Spend some time asking the Holy Spirit to reveal ways you can be a light for His Kingdom at your workplace.

2. Are there ways you currently live, trusting in things and people of this world to be your provider, or are you living as God is sovereign and in control of all things?

3. When you have conversations with people about Jesus and the gospel, do you share from your experiences or scripture as the basis? We see a contrast between the way Paul evangelized in Thessalonica and then in Athens. What can we learn from him in how we share Jesus?

4. In Acts 17:16 Luke tells us that Paul was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw in the city of Athens. Do you see idols in our modern society? Does this trouble you?

5. If we genuinely treasure Jesus above all things, our heart's desire is to share Him with the world around us. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal if there is anything you adore more than Jesus. And if there is, will you repent and lay it at the feet of Jesus?

6. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Paul shares he was with the people in Corinth “in weakness and in fear”. Going back to Acts 18, what is the first thing Luke tells us about Paul when he enters Corinth? God used a new friendship to comfort Paul. Paul didn’t run to isolation in his weakness and fear. What can we learn from Paul’s faithful obedience?

7. Paul was opposed and reviled in the city of Corinth. Although Paul’s response was to shake out his garments and move on, what happened in Acts 18:7-11? Reflecting on this scripture, if you are reviled and opposed, is your reaction to continue to speak the name of Jesus? That is indeed what Paul did, and we see God then came to him one night in a vision.

8. Spend time this week prayerfully reading 1& 2 Thessalonians, Colossians 3, and Hebrews 11. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what He has for you in His Word.

The Book of Acts - Chapter 16

Pastor Marshall Ochs | March 20, 2022

In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Acts 16. This chapter covers the first leg of Paul’s second missionary journey. He begins with a visit to Lystra and follows the leading of the Spirit to Macedonia. During this entire trip, Paul models a valuable decision making strategy — what does Jesus want? Paul is not concerned with his own desires or plans, he wants to magnify Jesus above all else and make decisions that align with God’s will. As we make decisions in our daily life, big and small, Paul’s example is helpful to us.

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Reflect

1. Before Timothy accompanies Paul on the mission journey, Paul takes Timothy to be circumcised. It can appear to be contradicting what we learned in chapter 15, through the Jerusalem Council; however, Paul wants to remove every obstacle for people to hear and receive the gospel message. Are you willing to remove the barriers in your life that might keep people from hearing the gospel message? Spend time asking the Holy Spirit to reveal if there are any ways you are more focused on your freedom than the spread of God’s Kingdom.

2. In chapter 16, we see Paul had desires of where he wanted to go, but the Holy Spirit was the One to lead. We see the Holy Spirit closed doors and gave Paul a vision of where to go. Are you living in a way where you can hear the Holy Spirit speak? Are there any doors He has closed where you are trying to still go through them? Will you spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit, what does Jesus want? God promises to take us by the hand and lead us. Holy Spirit, please open our eyes to what You are doing and how You want us to join You in Your work.

3. As you make big and small decisions, are you willing to ask, “would this magnify Jesus?” Spend time asking the Holy Spirit to align your desires with His. May we magnify Jesus and minimize ourselves.

4. Do you steward your time, money, and words for the glory of God? Spend time asking the Holy Spirit to reveal ways you can be a good steward of what God has given you.

5. Paul and Silas were beaten and arrested for casting the demon out of the young girl. Their response in prison was to sing and pray. Would that be your response? Or would your reaction be more frustrated about not getting the results you anticipated as you do the work of Jesus? We see the prisoners listening to their songs and prayers, and the jailer's response was, "what must I do to be saved?" Does the world hear you complain or praise? Would the unbelievers around you ask, "what must I do to be saved?"

6. As we close out this week's devotion and reflection, spend time in prayer asking, "What does Jesus want?". Then, be still and listen. In making your decisions this week, will you ask this question and commit to obedience to God's lead?