Acts 25
March 10, 2022
“When Paul’s accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.” (v18-19)
The case for Christianity rises or falls with whether “a dead man named Jesus” really did rise from the dead. Paul was so laser-focused on preaching the cross and resurrection - that even the charges of his accusers centered on that question. That, too, was the question that rose to the top of my interrogation of Christianity in college. After all, if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, the case for the Christian faith collapses like a house of cards. But if Jesus did rise from the dead, it vindicates everything Jesus said - including His claims about Himself!
Lord, thank You that You not only rose from the dead, but that You gave “many convincing proofs of it” (Acts 1:3). Proofs* that can even be researched today to show the reasonableness of the faith - and the flimsiness of the alternative hypotheses about how Christianity became a movement. Thank You, Lord, for hearing my cries (in college) to show me these “convincing proofs.” As I committed, then, to serve You - in light of the compelling evidence for the resurrection - I recommit myself to serve You today!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
