TimFortner.com

Acts 16

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Acts 16:What Must I Do To Be Saved? As we came to the end of chapter 15- we see a disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark, his young relative, Paul did not.  It caused them to split up.  Who was right and who was wrong?  Well, let … Read more

Acts 15

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Acts 15:The Yoke In this chapter we see trouble in the early church, internal trouble of a theological nature. Antioch has become the headquarters for the Gentile-Christian movement. So it is there a group of men, probably converted Pharisees came to teach these new Gentile converts. Here is where the trouble starts  and it is … Read more

Acts 14

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Acts 14: Let’s Go Fishing! Throughout my career, I have been an observer of successful people. I look at what they do and how they do it.  In doing so, I am able to tell others of the principles and best practices they utilize. I find their genius is not so much in their intellect … Read more

Acts 23

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Acts 23: The Privileges and Responsibilities of Citizenship As we read in the closing verses of Acts 22, we see Paul led away by the Roman soldiers, their commander orders Paul to be flogged( scourged) and questioned. As they are preparing Paul to be flogged, Paul said to the centurion: “ Is it legal for … Read more

Acts 18

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Acts 18:  A Time of Transitions Transition is defined as passing from one stage or state into another. This is the story of the early church in transition as recorded faithfully by Luke. First century Judaism was a combination of divinely ordained laws that covered the daily life of the Jew and man-made laws that … Read more

Acts 19

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Acts 19: Blood, Sweat, Toil and Tears I want to remind you of what Evan Roberts, a principal in the Wales revival of 1904, stated as pre-requisites for revival. There were four: Confess all known sin, receiving forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ. Remove anything from your life you are in doubt about or unsure … Read more

Acts 20

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Acts 20: IT MAKES ME WANT TO SHOUT! “ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ( Jesus speaking after washing the feet of the disciples) “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” ( John 13) And the writer of … Read more

Acts 21

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Acts 21&22: IF You have probably all heard a statement similar to this statement in various situations:  A salesman receives salesman of the year award and someone says- IF I had his territory I would have been salesman of the year also. If is often used as an excuse or to play the blame game. … Read more

Acts 2: 14-36

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Acts 2: 14-   What’s Going On Here? “How is this that each of us hear in his own native language” What does this mean?  Drawn by the sound of a mighty rushing wind the crowd is utterly amazed to hear these uneducated Galileans speak in their own native language. Notice this is not an ‘unknown … Read more

Acts 2:37-3:10

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Acts 2:37-3:10 What Shall We Do? “Brothers what shall we do?”   Having been cut to the heart, deeply convicted, made aware of their condition- the people want  to know what can they do. This is what happens when the Spirit of God is at work.  You can hear the despair in their voices as they … Read more

Acts 24 -28

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Acts24: Fearful Felix Paul is in the process of entering the Roman judicial system which will take up the next 5 years of his life. He will be  under house arrest with some liberties but, not free to go and do as he wished. His circumstances will be difficult. After Paul’s appearance before the Sanhedrin … Read more

2 Peter 1

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2 Peter: The Math of Salvation Peter knew what it was to disappoint the Lord having denied he knew him three times on the night of his arrest.  In John 21, the resurrected Lord reinstates Peter with the instructions to feed his sheep.  In these two letters of Peter, we see him feeding the Lord’s … Read more

2 Peter 2

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2 Peter: 3rd Lesson: The Eclipse Affect Peter describes his personal experience of what he had seen and heard including the experience he, James and John  had  in witnessing the Transfiguration of the Lord. It is here- Peter begins to segue into his instructions about false teaching.  He begins by talking about the sure word … Read more

Acts 1:11-5

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Acts. “You will be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8 is the outline for the Book of Acts . ‘I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.’ Turn that popular oath given in the courts around and you will see the impact:  SO HELP ME GOD TO … Read more

Acts1:12-2:13

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Acts 1: 12-2:13 We are now about to read the account of the birth of the church. A phenomenon began over 2000 years ago that still continues in the 21st century. The church has been described by Paul in his letter to the Ephesians as two major figures.  One is a building; the other is … Read more

Acts 10

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  Acts 10:The Good News of Peace Through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of ALL! Now as Peter is wondering about this strange vision, the men sent by Cornelius arrive at Simon the Tanner’s house looking for Peter. At the same time, the Spirit said to him: “ Simon, three men are looking for you. … Read more

Acts 11

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  Acts 11: ‘The Man in the Mirror’ When Peter returns from Joppa and Caesarea to Jerusalem, word of what Peter had done had already reached the Jewish believers referred to as ‘the circumcised’. They called  Peter on the carpet and immediately attacked Peter for entering the house of uncircumcised men and eating with them.  … Read more

2 Peter 3

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As we close this study of Peter’s 2nd and last epistle, we will see his emphasis on knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   In Hosea 4: 6, we read:  “ My people perish for a lack of knowledge.”  Yet Peter has just told us –‘God is not willing that any should perish, but … Read more

Acts 13b

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  Acts 13: Part Two-God’s Justice As we pick up the story of Barnabas and Paul on this missionary trip to Cyprus we see a pattern that will mark Paul’s ministry. “When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the Word of God in the Jewish Synagogues. John( Mark) was with them also.” Acts 13:5.  Paul … Read more

Acts 13

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  Acts 13: How Can We Know the Way? In Acts 13 we will read of the missionary call of Barnabas and Saul; Saul will be referred to as Paul from now on; and later on we will read the first recorded sermon the Apostle Paul preaches. As we have been reading this story of … Read more

Acts 12

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  Acts 12: The Powers to Be Now as we come to the close of chapter 11, Luke tells us the Lord’s hand is on the believers as they spread the Gospel  in Antioch and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. As a result, the church in Jerusalem sends Barnabas … Read more

2 Peter 2nd Lesson

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2 Peter 2nd Lesson: Take Time to Be Holy Peter  tells us in verses 2 Peter 1:8-11:  “ If you possess these qualities ( listed in verses 5-7) in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But if anyone does not have them, he … Read more

I Peter 1

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I Peter: The Test of Faith Peter’s letters to the believers in the five provinces in the Roman Empire are a timely message for us today in the 21st century. The letter is to Christians in that area to encourage and equip the readers for difficult times ahead.  Surely this is a relevant message for … Read more

I Peter 3

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I Peter 3: Lost in Space Peter continues in his instructions as how we are to live as Christians in this third chapter where he begins his instructions regarding submission on the part of  a wife in a marriage to an unbeliever.  He starts out : “ Wives , in the same way,…”  which is … Read more

I Peter 2b

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I Peter 2: The Living Stones I  like the image as we put these verses together moving from verses 2-3 to the next section where we are described as the living stones and a chosen people, a royal priesthood. Peter says:  “ As you come to Him…” to start this section with these descriptions of … Read more