The Bible and Our Culture

A Subsequent Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Apollos was an amazing minister even though he didn't know about this second baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2, 8, 9 and 19 explain a subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit different than conversion.  
If you haven’t experienced the subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit, please leave your heart open to it.
If you have experienced this subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit, please receive from today’s Apollos-type believers.
This subsequent baptism is biblical, but it is not the central thrust of the New Testament.
Please be open to what the Holy Spirit may be doing.
 

Provoke unbelievers to jealousy!

Live an adventurous life for Jesus!  It will bring persecution.  Riots today are like riots in the book of Acts. 
Make unbelievers jealous of the life you have in Christ.
Why did Paul go to the Jews first?  He didn't have a racial bias.  He had companions of all sorts of different ethnic backgrounds.  He wanted to take advantage of the Jewish people's background and worldview.
Our civil duties are important, but not as important as converting people to Jesus.
 
 

Overcoming Sorrow and Discouragement

"Make Known the wisdom of God to principalities and powers."
Demonstrate the wisdom of God by your actions.
Like a professional athlete, when you struggle, go back to the fundamentals.
Perspective is everything!

Exposing intimidation

While the New Testament was written, Judaism was the main intimidating spirit, but today in Western Culture the main intimidating spirit is secularism.  
Because of intimidation; there is a tragic decline in the percentage of people who call themselves Christians today compared to a few years ago.  
"Christians' don't want to show lost people they are lost; they want to be popular with them. 

Divine Relationships; Paul's first trip in Corinth

Acts 18 - Divine Appointments and Divine Relationships.
Pastors have a right to earn a Salary as the serve in the Church, but it doesn't mean those who don't earn a salary are not as "spiritual" or impactful.  
Be a minister wherever your "secular" career might take you. 
Aquila and Priscilla have an amazing story the Bible hints at multiple times but never really fills us in on the details.
Have a marriage like Aquila and Priscilla!
Have a career and ministry like Aquila and Priscilla!
 

Keep Looking Down

God seated us in the heavenly places with Jesus.
There is nothing but vanity under the sun.
Keep your perspective, keep looking down from the heavenly places!

Should political groups be allowed in politics?

Acts 19 shows the true meaning of the biblical word "church".  
A sense of community is great, but community-ism is often a trojan horse to surrender liberty.
Rioting is a tactic of the Left not the Right.  

Thank God for Gen Z; 3 of 3

How the culture today causes us to embrace quick shallow answers.
The threats Gen Z grows up with have them on high alert in a way their parent's generation never imagined.
Safety is a false god of today's society causing us to live in fear and anxiety. 
Gen Z is forced to grow up in ways previous generations never did; but they haven't grown up in other ways. 
God loves Gen Z!  There is no limit to the revival they can spear-head!
 
 
 
 

Thank God for Gen Z; 2 of 3

How the devil is trying to pervert the qualities of Gen Z!
Each generation is different from the previous--especially with the rapid change in values and technology. 
Have great hope in God for what He has planned for Gen Z!

Thank God for Gen Z; 1 of 3

Each generation is different.  Acts 13:25,36
God has a purpose for each generation.
God wants His Church to be multi-generational and generationally diverse.
Today's Gen Z (Zoomers) are growing up in a significantly different culture than their parents.
Have great hope in God for what He has planned for Gen Z!