The Social Gospel of Jesus by Michael Bird

Date: Wed, Mar 29, 2023 To: <benjamintoh@gmail.com>

On the topic of social justice, if I had to choose between the Pope and Jordan Peterson, I'm going to go with the Pope. Now, I do not believe in the "social gospel" of old liberalism from 19th/20th century Protestant theology. In old liberalism, the promise of the forgiveness of sins is replaced with the love of God and the brotherhood of man and the eschaton is collapsed into quasi-Marxism rather than working for and waiting for the new creation. Hard pass from me!  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

	Open in app or online The Social Gospel of Jesus Michael F. Bird Mar 29   Save ▷  Listen   Dr Jordan B Peterson @jordanbpeterson There is nothing Christian about #SocialJustice . Redemptive salvation is a matter of the individual soul. Pope Francis @Pontifex #SocialJustice demands that we fight against the causes of poverty: inequality and the lack of labour, land, and lodging; against those who deny social and labour rights; and against the culture that leads to taking away the dignity of others. 8:00 AM ∙ Mar 2, 2023 2,842Likes297Retweets On the topic of social justice, if I had to choose between the Pope and Jordan Peterson, I'm going to go with the Pope. Now, I do not believe in the "social gospel" of old liberalism from 19th/20th century Protestant theology. In old liberalism, the promise of the forgiveness of sins is replaced with the love of God and the brotherhood of man and the eschaton is collapsed into quasi-Marxism rather than working for and waiting for the new creation. Hard pass from me! That said, Jesus does have his own social gospel, in that the gospel includes Israel's liberation from exile, and the proof that Israel's exile is ending is that the Isaianic signs of restoration are happening: the blind see, the lame walk, the captives are freed, and good news is preached to the poor! Luke 4:14-30 narrates how Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth where he is invited to preach in the synagogue. Jesus stands up, reads from Isa 61:1-2, and then utters a nine-word sermon (in both Greek and English): "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Jesus is then rebuffed by the audience as something of an upstart and he responds by quoting the proverbs of the sick physician and alluding to the stories of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kgs 17:1-24) and Naaman the Syrian (2 Kgs 5:1-14)—scandalous stories where an Israelite prophet heals Gentile outcasts. Jesus, therefore, warns his fellow Jews that if they reject God's messenger then God will extend his blessings to those outside the boundaries of Israel (Lk 4:16-30).  This episode, called the "Nazareth Manifesto," illustrates how the gospel has a holistic vision of salvation. Jesus does not say: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the affluent middle classes who want enough religion to make them feel secure with God, but nothing that is going to challenge their consumerist, therapeutic, individualist, and indulgent way of life." Rather, the biblical view of salvation means rescuing the poor, the oppressed, the blind, and the captive. If the gospel is to be good news, then it must have a good message for those on the margins of society, for those who know poverty, hunger, alienation, and shame. Accordingly, Luke's favourite words for salvation are aphesis and aphiēmi, which refer to the act of freeing people from their sins (Lk 1:77; 3:3; 5:20; 7:48; 11:4; 24:27; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38-39; 22:16; 26:18), infirmity (Lk 4:39), and debts (Lk 11:4). This perspective does not to reduce the gospel to a social gospel of the love of God and the brotherhood of man or to secular social justice projects with a light sprinkling of Bible verses. Rather, the biblical gospel is a justice-bringing, sin-forgiving, slavery-crushing, illness-healing, debt-remitting, low-status-reversing, sin-cleansing, outsider-including, and truthing-to-power gospel.  That was Jesus's manifesto and it should be ours too! As the church goes forward in its mission it goes forth with the very same Nazareth Manifesto. Upgrade to paid Share Donate Subscriptions Leave a comment   Like Comment Share   Read Word from the Bird in the app Listen to posts, join subscriber chats, and never miss an update from Michael F. Bird. © 2023 Michael F. Bird 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 Unsubscribe

Acts Epistles Timeline and Maps

 

• Acts spans about 30 years.
• Paul's 3 journeys are about 12 years from about AD 46-58.

Timeline of Paul's Ministry. Over the course of his ministry, the Apostle Paul traveled > 10,000  miles and established at least 14 churches. Acts records 3 separate missionary journeys that took Paul through Syria, Turkey, Greece, and numerous regions you won't find on modern-day maps.

The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God's Mercy, 2018

• 
  Introduction: Prodigal Prophet. How can God be both merciful and just? Jonah wants a God of his own making, a God who smites the "bad" people [wicked Ninevites] and blesses the "good" people [Jonah and his people]. When the real God shows up, Jonah can't reconcile the mercy of God with his justice: How can God be merciful and forgiving to people who have done such violence and evil? Jonah points to the ultimate Jonah (Mt 12:41) who is both just and the justifier of those who believe (Rom 3:26). Only the gospel enables us to be neither cruel exploiters like the Ninevites nor Pharisaical believers like Jonah, but Spirit-changed, Christ-like people. The parallel of 2 stories:
1. 1st half Jonah plays like the "prodigal son" (Lk 15:11-24) who ran away from his father; 
2. 2nd half he is like the "older brother" (Lk 15:25-32) who obeys his father but berates him for his graciousness to repentant sinners. His response to God's mercy shows that he still has a great deal of self-righteousness.
• In both cases he's trying to get control of the agenda.

I Was Blind and Now I See - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

The Prayer of St. Patrick

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today

Set Apart and Sent Off (Acts 13)

"...the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off" (Ac 13:2-3).

• Are all Christians called and "set apart" to be "sent" to the nations in some fashion or another? Do you have a personal sense of being "set apart" and "sent" (Jn 15:16)?

Discovering the Gospel in Deuteronomy – Tim Keller

The Way to Love, Anthony de Mello

• “If you look carefully you will see that there is one thing and only one thing that causes unhappiness. The name of that thing is attachment. What is an attachment? An emotional state of clinging caused by the belief that without some particular thing or some person you cannot be happy.”

Persecution, Prayer and Deliverance (Acts 12:1-24)

• If you live out Acts 1:8, you will experience Acts 8:1 (Ac 12:1-4; 2 Tim 3:12).

Acts 12 is one of the most colorful and entertaining narratives in all of Acts with the humorous scene where Peter is prodded by an angel to put on his clothes (Ac 12:8), and how later he was left standing and locked out at the gate of the home of his Christian friends by an excited gatekeeper (Ac 12:13-14) after having been led through numerous gates manned by his captors (Ac 12:9-10)!

When Christians were First Called Christians (Acts 11:1-30)

1. How should the church in Jerusalem have received the news of "the Gentiles [receiving] the word of God" (Ac 11:1, 23)? Why were "the circumcised believers" critical of Peter (Ac 11:2-3; Lk 5:30; 15:2; 19:7)? What did they expect of Gentile converts (Ac 15:1, 5; Gal 2:11-14)?
2. What can we learn from Peter's response to their criticism (Ac 11:4-17)?

"The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch" (Ac 11:26b).

How the early Christians described themselves. They spoke of being

• disciples,
• believers,
• saints,
• brothers and sisters,
• Nazarenes (Ac 24:5), or
• followers of the "Way."

By being "called Christians" (Ac 11:26), Luke is indicating that the followers of Jesus were first perceived to be a group clearly distinct from Jews in Antioch. He wants his audience to be able to distinguish Christians (both Jews and Gentiles) from Jews who are not followers of Christ. Thus, this distinction is not ethnic but social on the basis of adherence or religious loyalties. 

Present Suffering and Future Glory (Romans 8:18-39)

Key Verse: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Rom 8:18).

1. How did Paul view present sufferings and future glory (Rom 8:18)? What does the creation expect (Rom 8:19)? Why does creation suffer (Rom 8:20; Gen 3:17-18)? For what does it groan in hope (Rom 8:21-22)?
2. Read Rom 8:23. How does Paul describe believers? For what do we groan inwardly (Php 3:20-21)? What is our true hope and how does it enable us to wait patiently (Rom 8:24-25; Jn 16:33))?
3. What are our weaknesses, and how do they affect our prayer (Rom 8:26a; 7:18-20)? Who helps us and how (Rom 8:26b-27; 1 Cor 2:10-14)? Why is the Spirit's intercessory prayer effective?
4. What conviction do believers have, and on what basis (Rom 8:28)? What is the good which God works for (Rom 8:29-30)? How does Paul describe the process of God's work in a believer's life?
5. What does Paul emphasize in his rhetorical questions in Rom 8:31-35? What problems do we confront and how can we overcome them?
6. How should believers regard sufferings (Rom 8:36)? What does it mean to be "more than conquerors" (Rom 8:37)? Who tries to separate us from God's love, and why can they not (Rom 8:38-39)?

Exclusivity and Inclusivity (Acts 10)

• How can you be both exclusive (Jn 14:6; Mt 11:27; Lk 10:22; Ac 4:12; Eph 3:12; Heb 10:20) and inclusive (Jn 3:16; Mt 5:45)--like Jesus (Mt 5:46-48; 1 Cor 5:21)? What happens when you're exclusive or inclusive or both?

1. As Cornelius and Paul encountered God (Ac 10:3, 13), has God ever "said" or shown anything to you? How do you "hear" or "listen" to God (Ps 1:2; 119:97)?
2. Why did Cornelius call together his relatives and close friends (Ac 10:24)? Should one with a higher status expect to be honored more than others (Ac 10:25-26; Jas 4:10; Mt 11:29)?
3. How many Acts messages by Peter are there (Ac 2:14-39; 3:12-26; 4:8-12? How does God show no favoritism (Ac 10:34; Mt 5:45)? How can we (Mt 5:46-48)? How should we regard others (Dt 10:17-19; Ac 10:28, 34; Gal 3:28)? Who does God accept (Ac 10:35, 4, 22)? Does fearing God and doing what is right save us (Jn 1:12)?

Peter Replicates Jesus' Ministry (Acts 9:31-43)

• Are you healed? From what?
• Since Jesus and Peter (also Elijah and Elisha) healed a paralytic and raised the dead, should we expect this today?
• What "paralyzes" people (Jn 8:34)? What causes them to be "dead" even though they're still alive (Eph 2:1)? 
• If I trust God should I expect to be healed if I have a terminal illness? If "No" why are healings recorded in Scripture?
  

The church continues to expand into new areas--cities on the Mediterranean coast. In preparation for the great event of the conversion of Cornelius [the 1st Gentile convert] in Acts 10-11, Peter travels to Lydda and then to Joppa, moving further and further away from Jerusalem into Gentile territory.

• Distances: Jerusalem to Damascus (Ac 9:2) - 135 miles.
• Jerusalem to Caesarea (Ac 9:30) - 65 miles north.
• Jerusalem to Lydda (Ac 9:32) - 25 miles north.
• Lydda to Joppa (Ac 9:36) - 12 miles northwest of Lydda on the coast.
• Joppa to Caesarea (Ac 10:1, 5) - 35 miles north.

How Paul Started His Christian Life (Acts 9:19-31)

1. How did Saul/Paul begin his Christian life (Ac 9:20)? How did he finish (Ac 20:24)?
2. How did you start your Christian life? How comfortable are you to teach and preach that "Jesus is the Son of God" (Ac 9:20)? And to prove that "Jesus is the Messiah" (Ac 9:22)? How could Saul do so?

Paul's early Christian life. Immediately after his conversion, Saul began his Christian life by preaching in Damascus (Ac 9:20) after spending just a few days with the disciples in Damascus (Ac 9:19) without being instructed by those who were Christians before him (Gal 1:11-24), and without the Jerusalem apostles' prior approval, for their role in verifying individuals and missions (Ac 8:14-17; 9:27-28; 11:1-18, 22-24).

• Saul goes from persecutor of Christians (Ac 8:3; 9:1) to preaching Christ (Ac 9:20) and proving that Jesus is the Messiah (Ac 9:22), to being persecuted (Ac 9:23, 29) and needing protection (Ac 9:25, 30).

The Greatest Conversion in History (Acts 9:1-18)

• Video recording, Sun, Feb 12, 2023: The greatest, most famous and perhaps most radical conversion in history.
• ** What is your conversion story? This is my magical mystical supernatural conversion of meeting God for the first time in 1980.

What happened when Saul met Jesus?

1. Contact (Ac 9:3), confrontation (Ac 9:4a), conviction (Ac 9:4b; 2 Cor 3:18; 4:6; 1 Jn 1:5; Jn 1:4-5; 15:25).
2. Command (Ac 9:6; Mt 28:19).
3. Communion (Ac 9:9), conversation (Isa 1:18), connection, contemplation (Phil 4:8), confession (Ac 22:4; 26:10; 1 Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13).
4. Call (Jn 15:16; 1 Pet 2:9) and commission [through Ananias] (Ac 9:15-16); from God (Ac 26:16; 1:8; Mt 28:19).
5. Conversion (Ac 9:3, 17; 22:8; 1 Ti 1:15; Phil 3:7-10; 1 Cor 15:3-4).
6. Cost (Ac 9:16; I Cor 15:31) and contentment (Phil 4:11-12; 1 Tim 6:6).

Providentially Led by the Spirit (Acts 8:26-40)

Video recording 1/29/2023: Providentially Led by God.

God providentially ordained a divine rendezvous. God told a certain man (Philip) to go to a certain place (a desert road) to meet another certain man (Ethiopian eunuch) in a certain carriage who is reading a certain OT book (Isaiah), a certain chapter (ch. 53) and a certain verse (vs. 7-8). God was creating a co--incidence.

How's your heart, courage and faith?

The Profound and Sublime Longing of Every Person

In speaking of this desire for our own far off country. "I am trying to rip open the inconsolable secret in each one of you—the secret which hurts so much that you take your revenge on it by calling it names like Nostalgia and Romanticism and Adolescence; the secret also which pierces with such sweetness that when, in very intimate conversation, the mention of it becomes imminent, we grow awkward and affect to laugh at ourselves; the secret we cannot hide and cannot tell, though we desire to do both. We cannot tell it because it is a desire for something that has never actually appeared in our experience. We cannot hide it because our experience is constantly suggesting it, and we betray ourselves like lovers at the mention of a name. Our commonest expedient is to call it beauty and behave as if that had settled the matter." 

Value What Is Unseen and Internal

"Do not value any external thing too highly, even if it were to seem very precious to you. Let go of yourself, and abide with Me continually. Entrust everything to Me and do nothing on your own, and you will always have great freedom of spirit. No circumstances or events will ever be able to upset you. Set little store on what people say. Let everyone judge you as they like. Do not make excuses for yourself, it will do you no harm. Give away everything at the first sign of a demand, even if they were the most necessary things. Do not ask for anything without consulting Me. Allow them to take away even what is due you – respect, your good name – let your spirit rise above all that. And so, set free from everything, rest close to My Heart, not allowing your peace to be disturbed by anything. My pupil, consider the words which I have spoken to you." St. Maria Faustyna Kowalska, Polish Catholic religious sister and mystic. Born: August 25, 1905, Died: October 5, 1938.

How Much Do You Truly Know Yourself?

"You judge me, O Lord, for, although no one 'knows the things of a man but the spirit of man which is in him,' there is something further in man which not even that spirit of man which is in him knows. But you, Lord, who made him, know all things that are in him. Although I despise myself before your sight, and account myself but dust and ashes, yet I know something of you which I do not know about myself. In truth, 'we see now through a glass in a dark manner,' and not yet 'face to face.' … Let me confess, then, what I know about myself. Let me confess also what I do not know about myself, since that too which I know about myself I know because you enlighten me. As to that which I am ignorant of concerning myself, I remain ignorant of it until my 'darkness shall be made as the noonday in your sight.'" —St. Augustine.

Matthew 6:33 (2023)

I. Joy.

In 2022 I don't remember why I chose "Be joyful always" (1 Th 5:16) as my KV for the first time in 40 yrs. But I do know that no matter what happens or no matter what does not happen I MUST have joy in my heart and soul. I'll start with joyful events.

The joy of studying and preaching Exodus for the first time in 2022. In brief, all people need only 3 things without which we will still be enslaved by someone or something and are no different from the slaves oppressed by Pharaoh in Egypt:

1. Deliverance (Exo 19:4; 20:2). We need a Savior (Mt 1:21). No one can save themselves. I need salvation to "be joyful always."
2. Obedience (Exo 19:5; 20:3-17). We need to obey the Law (Jn 14:15) to be happy. I need to obey God "be joyful always."
3. Tabernacle (Exo 25:8; 29:44-46). We need a tabernacle for God to dwell with us (Jn 1:14). I must build my tabernacle to "be joyful always."

In 2023, no matter what, the only 3 things I need--deliverance/salvation, obedience/Law, tabernacle--do not change one iota.

The most joyest event in 2022 is when Johnny, my youngest and 7th grandchild, was born on 2/13/2022. Christy and I baby sit him 3 days a week, 6 hours each day. It is the first time in my 6 decades of life that I've spent so much time with a baby, since I hardly spent any time with our own 4 kids and 6 prior grandchildren when they were babies. But by enjoying baby Johnny 3 days a week I realized that I had missed 10 previous opportunities to enjoy lovely babies.

Next, though this was a loss for our Podil members, it was a happy surprise that John and Maria became a part of our WL church community in mid 2022. Dasha tells me that WL stole John and Maria from them. At the end of 2022 we also celebrated the joyous white wedding of Sarah Gutierez. Finally, what is always joyful all year round without exception is knowing your prayer, love and support for me, despite my many shortcomings and sins. But things happened in 2022 that I was quite sad and sorry about, yet God wants me to never lose my joy in Him.

Departure of friends. When people leave the church after many years or even decades, I feel that I've lost some friends that I at least see every Sunday at church. And if they left the church because of me, I'm sorry that I said things that caused them to leave. Despite the departure of some long standing older and younger people, I know that God has comforted and helped me to keep my heart and to "be joyful always" only because of Christ.

Indicted for a criminal offense. In mid-December half a dozen FBI agents came to my house unannounced to arrest me in hand-cuffs at 7:15 am for committing health care fraud. Without going into detail about the charges, it completely surprised me. It's the first time I've ever been hand-cuffed as a potentially dangerous criminal. I was in detention with leg chains for a day with 2 other convicted felons in the same jail cell, and I was released on bond to be tried at a later date. If found guilty my maximum sentence is 10 years in prison + a fine of up to $500,000. This waiting for a jury trial and their verdict is uncomfortable and distressful with many unknowns. But my key verse says, "be joyful always." I learned practically that joy is a choice which has nothing to do with my situation or circumstances. Even Jesus saw the joy set before him while being tortured, crucified and executed on the cross (Heb 12:2). So "be joyful always" is still a great KV for 2023.

Why did this happen? I've been praying that God would sanctify and purify me to be more like Jesus. So, without a doubt God is faithful to answer my prayer. Would you also pray for yourself for God to truly sanctify and purify you?

II. Because of the possibility and prospect of being found guilty and sent to jail, a few key verses for 2023 are:

• Phil 4:8b--"if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
• Isa 55:9--"my ways [are] higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
• Mt 6:33--"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness..."
• Heb 13:5--"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,'" which is from Dt 31:6: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

With these verses in mind, being in jail is no big deal in the big picture and in the scheme of things. I hope Christy will visit me in jail. But I have to confess that I will miss seeing my 7-8 grandchildren grow up.

In 2023, God willing, and with your love, prayer and support, John and I will preach. I pray to preach through Acts. Pray for God to bless our outreach and evangelism at UIC. Pray for Ukraine and the end of the war.

"Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you," therefore seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.

Only You (St. Augustine)

The Irresistible Desire to Control God and People (Acts 8:1-25)

Samaria, the Spirit and Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:1-25). 

1. Given the history between the Jews and Samaritans (Jn 4:9; Lk 9:52-54), what was remarkable about Philip's preaching and the response (Ac 8:5-8)? What opened the door to his ministry (Ac 8:1-4; 2 Tim 3:12)? Has God used seemingly negative circumstances in your life to advance the gospel?
2. Though Philip [and Stephen] were chosen to serve tables (Ac 6:5) how and why do you think they got into evangelism?
3. What aspect of Philip's activity likely captivated Simon (Ac 8:6-8, 13)? What changed Simon the sorcerer (Ac 8:9-12)? Was he "converted" (Ac 8:13)?
4. What happened when the apostles baptized the Samaritan believers (Ac 8:14-17)? What happens when one receives the Holy Spirit (Ac 2:4; Jn 15:26; 16:8-11, 13; Gal 5:22-23)?  What did Simon see that caused him to be even more intensely interested (Ac 8:18; 2:4; 10:44-46)? What did he really want or desire (Jn 12:43; Gen 3:5; Rom 1:21)? 
5. Why did Peter rebuke Simon so strongly (Ac 8:20-23)? What was Simon's problem (Ac 8:23; Dt 29:18; Heb 12:15)? Is Peter's rebuke applicable to us? How might we be tempted to use God to get what we want? How do you guard against this (Phil 4:11-13; Jn 8:31-32)?
6. What influence does the Holy Spirit have over you? How can you be sure (Prov 1:7; 9:10)?

How should Christians Care for the Poor?

In the US, over 15 million children live in poverty, and 64 million people live at less than the minimum wage, including 54% of African Americans (2015 statistics). A 2011 study from Columbia University estimated that 250,000 Americans died each year from causes linked to poverty. While only 4 million tons of food are needed to feed all Americans, 46 million tons of food are thrown away each year in the US. There are an estimated 10 million homeless people in the US, but more than 12 million empty luxury housing units. Also, 2/3rd of all minimum wage workers are women, and many of these are heads of households.

OT texts frequently bid us to care for widows, orphans, and sojourners (Exo 22:21-22, 23:6, 9; Lev 23:22; Deut 10:18, 14:29, 15:9, 24:7, 14, 19, 26:12-13, 27:19; Ps 68:5, 72:4, 146:9; Prov 15:25, 22:22; Job 29:12, 31:16; Isa 1:17, 23, 10:1-2, 58:10; Jer 5:28, 7:6, 22:3, 16; Eze 16:49, 22:7, 29; Am 4:11; Zech 7:10, also Mk 12:40; Jas 1:27). In the Gospels, 1 out of every 10 verses is about the poor, and in James, 1 verse in every 5. We can't avoid reflecting on what Scripture says about the poor.

Jesus's words "the poor you will always have with you" (Matthew 26:11) are regularly used to suggest that ending poverty is impossible, that poverty is a result of moral failures, and that the poor themselves have no role in changing their situation. But  "the poor you will always have with you" is actually one of the strongest biblical mandates to end poverty. 

If You Would Suffer with Patience

"If you would suffer with patience the adversities and miseries of this life, be a man of prayer. If you would obtain courage and strength to conquer the temptations of the enemy, be a man of prayer. If you would mortify your own will with all its inclinations and appetites, be a man of prayer. If you would know the wiles of Satan and unmask his deceits, be a man of prayer. If you would live in joy and walk pleasantly in the ways of penance, be a man of prayer. If you would banish from your soul the troublesome flies of vain thoughts and cares, be a man of prayer. If you would nourish your soul with the very sap of devotion, and keep it always full of good thoughts and good desires, be a man of prayer. If you would strengthen and keep up your courage in the ways of God, be a man of prayer. In fine, if you would uproot all vices from your soul and plant all virtues in their place, be a man of prayer. It is in prayer that we receive the unction and grace of the Holy Ghost, who teaches all things." —St. Bonaventure.

Oxymoron Jesus

ANGER

"Let anger be guarded against. But if it cannot be averted, let it be kept within bounds. For indignation is a terrible incentive to sin. It disorders the mind to such an extent as to leave no room for reason. The first thing, therefore, to aim at, if possible, is to make tranquility of character our natural disposition by constant practice, by desire for better things, by fixed determination."—St. Ambrose.

Stephen is Killed for His Faith (Acts 7)

• Share your thoughts and reflections on Ethnic Cultural Racial Differences [between the Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews (Acts 6:1)].

1. Who are the people Stephen referenced in their historical order? What were the important events in each of their lives? [Persons Stephen spoke about in Acts 7]
1. The Patriarchal Period (7:1-16):
1. Ac 7:2 (Genesis 12-25).
2. Ac 7:8a (Genesis 21-28).
3. Ac 7:8b (Genesis 25-50).
4. Ac 7:9 (Genesis 37-50).
2. Moses and the wilderness wanderings (7:17-43):
1. Ac 7:20 (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).
2. Ac 7:40 (", ", ", ").
3. The Tabernacle and the Temple; the establishment of the monarchy (7:44-50):
1. Ac 7:45a (Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua).
2. Ac 7:45b (1,2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Psalms)
3. Ac 7:47 (2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1,2 Chronicles, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song).
2. What was his attitude toward his accusers (Ac 7:2a)? What frames Stephen's sermon (Ac 7:2, 55)?
3. Why is it important for Stephen to review this history in such detail in his "sermon"?  [Can Christians do so today?] Was he primarily defending himself? Was he anti-Law (Ac 7:38, 53)? What was the recurrent pattern of the people of Israel (Ac 7:9, 25-29, 39, 41)? What was his primary point (Ac 7:4, 37-40, 48-49, 51-53)?
4. What was the climax and conclusion of his speech (Ac 7:51-53, 8; Isa 63:10; Heb 11:32-38; 1 Ki 18:4, 13; Jer 26:20-24; Mt 5:10-12; Lk 6:22-23; 11:47-51)? How are Stephen's accusers guilty of the very same thing they are accusing Stephen of doing? Did he have to indict/enrage them by being blunt, direct and provocative?
5. What was Stephen's disposition (Ac 6:3, 5, 10, 15; 7:55; Mt 10:19-20; Lk 21:15)? Why were they so angry at such a God filled man (Ac 7:54, 57; Jn 3:19; 14:15; 16:2)? What basis did they have to stone him (Ac 7:58; Lev 24:11, 14-16)? Who were the ones who stoned him (Ac 6:12-14; Dt 17:7)?
6. What and who did Stephen see (Ac 7:55-56; 2:34-35; Ps 110:1; Dan 7:13)? How were Stephen's last words similar to that of Christ (Ac 7:59-60; Lk 23:34, 46; Ps 31:5)?
7. How did Stephen's death launch the Great Commission (Ac 8:1-3; 1:8; Mt 28:19)? Where were they scattered to and what did they do (Ac 8:4-5, 40; 9:32; 10:32; 11:19)?
8. Who agreed, approved and consented to killing Stephen (Ac 8:1; 6:10)? How did this affect him (Ac 8:3; 22:20; 26:9-12; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6)? Why was he so determined to destroy the church (Dt 21:22-23)?

Jealousy, Life, Obedience & Joy (Acts 5).

Racial Ethnic Cultural Differences and Difficulties (Acts 6:1-15)

• Share your thoughts and reflections on Jealousy, Life, Obedience & Joy (Acts 5).

1. Who are the Hellenistic and the Hebraic Jews (Ac 6:1a)? Why was the former group complaining (Acts 6:1b)? What would this do (Prov 16:16-19)?
• Does sin rear its ugly head even in the healthiest church? How? Who might we be inclined to favor or side with?
• What parallels are there with racial issues today?
2. Why shouldn't the twelve Apostles neglect the word of God and serve tables (Acts 6:2; Jn 6:63; 17:17; 2 Tim 3:16; Rom 12:4-8; 1 Cor 12:12-26; 2 Tim 4:2)?
• How have the apostles changed (Mt 14:15; 15:23)?
• Should teachers only teach (Ac 6:4; Ac 18:1-3; Jn 13:13-15)?
3. Who chose the seven men (Ac 6:3a)? What were the 2 criteria for these 7 deacons (Ac 6:3b)? Why "seven"? What is peculiar about the names of the seven (Ac 6:5-6)?
• What 3 things happened (Ac 6:7)? What is meant by "a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith" (Acts 6:7b)? Would this trigger greater persecution?
4. What set Stephen apart (Ac 6:8)? How does "full of God's grace and power" (Ac 6:8a) define his works (Ac 6:8b) and words (Ac 6:9-10)?
• Who was "the Synagogue of the Freedmen" (Acts 6:9a)?
• Was Stephen's only gift church management (Ac 6:9-10)?
• Why could they not stand up against him (Ac 6:10; Lk 21:15; Mt 10:16-20)?
5. What accusations did they bring against him (Ac 6:11-14)? Why (Jn 15:20)? What is the penalty for blaspheming "against Moses and God" (Ac 6:11; Lev 24:11-16; Mt 26:65)?
• Who might the "false witnesses" be (Mt 26:59-61; Mk 14:56-57)?
• Did Jesus say He will destroy the temple (Ac 6:14; Mk 13:1-2; Lk 21:5-6)? To what extent was Jesus' prophecy fulfilled (Mt 5:17-18)?
• Did Jesus say that He will "change the customs which Moses handed down to us [the Jews]" (Ac 6:14; Mt 5:17-18)?
• What was Stephen's face being "like the face of an angel" (Ac 6:15) reminiscent of (Exo 34:29-30)?
• Should we expect hatred and opposition to God's people today?
• Was Stephen's sermon the longest in the Bible preached by a disciple of Jesus (Acts 7)?

Jealousy, Life, Obedience and Joy (Acts 5:17-42)

• 
  What are your takeaways from Dr. Kevin Cassel's sermon "Jesus demands everything, but nothing more" (Mk 8:34-38)?

Tell of This New Life (Acts 5:17-42).

1. JEALOUSY. Why were the Sadducees filled with jealousy (Ac 5:17, 14-16; Jas 5:14-16)? What did they do (Ac 5:18)? Why did they have Jesus killed (Mt 27:18; Mk 15:10)? How does envy affect people (Prov 14:30; 1 Sam 18:7-9)? How do you overcome it?

2. LIFE. What did an angel of the Lord do (Ac 5:19-21a)? What is "this new life" (Ac 5:20)? How does this life come about (Jn 6:63; 8:31-32)? What did the religious leaders find out and do (Ac 5:21-28)?

3. OBEDIENCE. What did Peter and the apostles do (Ac 5:29-32)? How did Gamaliel persuade the Sanhedrin not to kill the apostles (Ac 5:33-40)?

4. JOY. How did the apostles respond to being flogged and warned (Ac 5:41-42)?

JEALOUSY is a fruit of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21), an antonym of love (1 Cor 13:4), a symptom of pride (1 Tim 6:4), a catalyst for conflict (James 3:16), and a mark of unbelievers (Rom 1:29).

• "You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?" (1 Cor 3:3)
• "The acts of the flesh are obvious...discord, jealousy...dissensions, factions and envy... I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal 5:19-21).
• "...love does not envy..." (1 Cor 13:4).
• "...they are conceited...understand nothing...unhealthy... result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions" (1 Tim 6:4).
• " if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts... For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice" (James 3:14, 16).
  
• "They are full of envy...gossips" (Rom 1:19).
• "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones" (Prov 14:30).
• "Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? (Prov 27:4)
  
• "And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person's envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind" (Eccl 4:4).
  
• "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it" (James 4:11).
  
• "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves" (Phil 2:3).
  
• "As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David" (1 Sam 18:7-9).

LIFE. John 1:4; 6:63; 8:31-32; 17:17; 3:3; 6:35; 11:25. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

• "Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being" (Gen 2:7).
  
• "In him was life and that life was the life of man" (Jn 1:4). John 14:6; 3:16.
• "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life" (Jn 5:24).
  
• Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (Jn 17:3).
• "Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor" (Prov 21:21).

OBEDIENCE. John 14:15, 21, 23. Romans 1:5. Exodus 19:5. Romans 2:6-8). [Obedience to God's commands is the true sign of your love for God, and the only way you can know if you are obeying God is by knowing his Word. The joy of obedience: As we obey God's commandments, we experience the joy of the Holy Spirit. We experience God's pleasure rising in us. If you find yourself stuck in despair, try obeying the Bible's instruction to love God and others. When we obey His commandment to love one another, we are striving to live according to His Word. And what a wonderful experience it is as He fulfills his promise to give us joy through obedience.]

• "You are my friends if you do what I command" (Jn 15:14).
• "...take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor 10:5).
• "And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands" (2 Jn 1:6).

JOY. 1 Thessalonians 5:16. Philippians 4:4. Galatians 5:22. Hebrews 12:2.

• "I have food to eat that you know nothing about" (John 4:32).
• "And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Lk 1:47).
• "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Ps 16:11).
  
• "...the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Neh 8:10).
• "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul" (Ps 94:19).
• "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit" (Ps 51:10).
• "I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices" (Ps 16:8-9).
• "Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart" (Jer 15:16). Psalm 1:2; 119:97.
• "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom 14:17).
• "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master" (Mt 25:21).
• "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 Jn 1:4).

Voluntary Poverty

"Voluntary poverty restores to man the nobility of his condition, liberating him from vile servitude and reinstating him his noble freedom and mastery of all things. The soul is never more a mistress than when she despises them, and only then has she the more firm possession and makes the more excellent use of riches, when she gives them away or leaves them of her own free will; only then her appetite for them is best satiated, when she does not care to possess them. Then above all is the heart set free and made capable of the treasures of the Divinity, for which it is furnished by the Creator with almost infinite capacity." Ven. Mary of Agreda, Mystical City of God.