The Epic Life - Bob Hallman

39-Paul: A Man on a Mission (Acts 21:1-26)

 
 
Given 10/28/2007

38-Last Will & Testament (Acts 20:13-38)

 
 
 
Given 10/21/2007

37-Humpty Dumpty Ministry (Acts 20:1-12)

 
 
 
Given 9/23/2007

35-Extraordinary Christianity (Acts 19:1-20)

Paul was a man of his word!  In Acts 18:21 he promised the Ephesians that he would return after visiting the churches of Galatia and Phrygia, and in Acts 19 we find Paul fulfilling his promise.
Fast facts about Ephesus:
It was once one of the jewels of the Roman Empire
It was the most important city in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) in Paul’s day
It was one of the foremost urban centers in the empire with the largest population
It had numerous impressive civic monuments
It was the home of the temple of Artemis (Diana) - One of the 7 wonders of the world
The spiritual significance of Ephesus:
It was the launching place for the evangelization of Asia (Acts 18:18-19).
It was the place where Paul fought the “wild beasts” (1 Cor 15:32).
I was the location where Paul wrote 1 Corinthians (1Cor 16:8) and Ephesians (Eph 1:1)
It was one of the “seven churches of Asia” mentioned in Revelation 1:4.
It was first pastorate of Paul’s disciple, Timothy (1 Tim 1:3).
 
 
9/2/2007

34-A Passion for the Lost (Acts 18:18-28)

Acts 18:18-28 marks the final leg of Paul’s second missionary journey and covers over 1,500 miles and four major city centers.   
 
 
 
8/12/2007

33-Overcoming in Corinth (Acts 18:1-17)

As we continue our study in the book of Acts, we find Paul leaving Athens, the intellectual capital of the Roman world, and heading into Corinth, the Greco-Roman capital of sexual immorality. These two cities are symbols of the twin evils, which, in every day and every generation, trap and enslave the hearts of people: intellectual pride and sensual lust.
More than any other chapter in the book of Acts, chapter 18 gives us an insider’s view of some of the emotional and spiritual challenges that Paul had to overcome in ministry.
What specifically did Paul have to overcome?
Uncertainty (ministry plan for Corinth)
Loneliness (God provided partners and friends)
Financial stress (tent-making)
Fear
Opposition
False accusation
Legal action
8/5/2007

32a-So Why Are You Here? (Acts 17:26-27)

 
 
5/30/2007

32-To the Unknown God (Acts 17:16-34)

Today, we pick up our study of Paul’s second missionary journey where we find him alone in the great city of Athens. Acts 17:15 tells us that he had been escorted on the 300 mile trip to Athens by some fellow believers due to Jewish opposition in Berea. Once they arrived with Paul, they immediately returned home with instructions from Paul to send Silas and Timothy as soon as possible.
 
Although Athens was no longer politically important, having been conquered by Rome in 146 B.C., the city was still the intellectual center of the world:
It was the site of the Acropolis and the Parthenon, one of the architectural wonders of the world.
It was a center of art, beauty, culture, and knowledge.
It was the academic and intellectual capital of the Greco-Roman world.
It was the home of the great philosophers: Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and others.
It was the home of numerous idols and altars of worship:
           a. It was the home of the worship of Zeus and Bacchus
           b. It was the home of over 30,000 idols:  3,000 devoted to the goddess                         Aphrodite. Petronius, one of the ancient historians, said that is was easier                 to find a god in Athens than a man! (The population was approx. 10,000                   at the time)
Paul had heard about Athens since his earliest youth. But now, for the first time, he had the opportunity to actually visit and tour of this famous Greco-Roman city. Verse 16 tells us of his immediate and strong reaction!!

31-What are You Known For? (Acts 17:1-15)

We pick up the story line of Paul’s second missionary journey as Paul, Silas and Timothy preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in three strategic cities: Thessalonica (17:1-10a), Berea (17:10b-15), and Athens (17:16-34).  Each of these cities were on the famous Roman road called the Egnatian Way, which crossed Macedonia and connected the Adriatic Sea with the Black Sea.
From Luke’s brevity, one might think that Paul and Silas’ journey was little more than an afternoon stroll.  But Amphipolis is thirty-three miles from Philippi, a day's journey on foot. Apollonia is some thirty miles from Amphipolis, another day's journey. Thessalonica is thirty-seven miles beyond Apollonia, and that is a full day's journey. So it took Paul at least three days and 100 miles to come from Philippi to Thessalonica.
4/1/2007

30-From Slavery to Salvation (Acts 16:11-40)

In our last study in Acts 16:1-10, you will remember that Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia asking him to come over and help. Paul responded immediately and after being redirected by the Holy Spirit, they are now on their way to Europe.
In our text, Luke has woven together three separate, but related incidents:
The first is the conversion of Lydia.
The second is the encounter with the demon-possessed slave-girl.
The third incident is the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his household.
3/11/2007