Tag: Apostle

Spiritual Gifts

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One of the reasons that the Church is great is that God assigned specific roles to each believer and gave them spiritual gifts to ably serve their local church, and the universal Church, in those roles. Discover what spiritual gifts are, how they work, what gift you have, and how to use it.

By Mark D. Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, MDiv, ThM, PhD, DBA

The Apostle Paul wrote to the fractious Christians in Corinth that the kingdom of God is not merely in word but in power (1 Corinthians 4:20). People differ in how they view the Church. Some see the Church as billions of people from every race and tongue for all history led by the Almighty Himself and trampling every opponent, physical and spiritual. Paul would agree. Sadly, such a picture of the Church escapes most people, including Christians.

To many, the church is an old (maybe historic) building visited weekly by aged and foolish (or at least uneducated) people who listen to fables from an ancient book. Greedy pastors pressure parishioners to give money while preaching about a supposed God who Himself is cruel and vain. The Church is anti-woman, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-science, and anti-progress. Some consider the Church to be against “people of color.”[1]

Devoted Christians read the news about the decline of the Church. From the biased media reports, they fear that young people outside are ignoring the church and young people inside are charging for the door. Christians of all ages pine for the past and fret about the future. The rich and powerful raise their glasses to celebrate the supposed triumph of secular humanism which Voltaire prophesied in the 18th century. These “elites,” like Satan himself, try to turn our eyes away from the local church, the universal Church, and its Divine Source.

Ultimately, God, through the Church will prevail. The gates of hell will not stand against it (Matthew 16:17-19). Jesus created His Church with exactly the right amounts and types of teachings on freedom, order, doctrine, ritual, peace, war, earth, and heaven.  He did not require large sums of money, warriors, or a slick marketing plan. Jesus and His successors did not allow Greek or Jewish cultural baggage to hinder the Church (Acts 15). He left the Holy Spirit to ensure the success of His venture.

In the first century “the Way” movement developed into the enduring organization of the Church, in its many forms. The transformation happened through the establishment of the deaconate (Acts 6), elder leaders (1 Timothy 3:1-7), and the adaptation of a congregational structure and practices like the Jewish synagogues. Another contributor to the endurance of the Church was the God-ordained use of complementary roles in the Church and in local churches. Everyone had work to do, but the Lord wanted them to do it in accordance with His assignments. God provides each of His children (those who believe in and follow Jesus) with a special ability to serve Him in a unique way. These abilities are called spiritual gifts (Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-12). Spiritual gifts are mentioned in many places in the New Testament.

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Paul, Leadership Under Fire

Leadership under fire in Corinth
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The Apostle Paul faced a tough task in writing to the wayward Corinthian church, bringing them back to the Lord while they assailed him. In a time when leadership is under fire across the globe, Paul can shed some light.

By Mark D. Harris, MD, MPH, MBA, MDiv, ThM, PhD, DBA

Corinth was a hotbed of scum and villainy in the first century Roman Empire. Located on a narrow strip of land between the Aegean and Adriatic Seas, Corinth grew rich and fat on the wares of merchantmen passing between the east and west of the Empire. In the AD 40s, God used Paul and his companions to plant a church in Corinth (Acts 18). Though it grew, the church stumbled from sin to sin and heresy to heresy. Writing from Ephesus in about AD 55, Paul confronted his wayward church in 1 Corinthians. The list of sins was long:

  1. The Corinthians abandoned Christian unity and were riven with internal strife (Acts 1).
  2. They were competing for status among themselves (Acts 1).
  3. They were abandoning godly wisdom in favor of worldly wisdom (Acts 1).
  4. They were denying the work of the Spirit (Acts 2).
  5. They were boasting in men (Acts 3)
  6. They were judging each other harshly at times and weakly at other times (Acts 4)
  7. They were tolerating blatant sexual sin (Acts 5).
  8. They were suing each other in secular courts (Acts 6).
  9. They were denying intimacy to their spouses, divorcing, committing adultery, and simultaneously emphasizing marriage over mission (Acts 7).
  10. They were using their Christian freedom without care for how their conduct harmed others (Acts 8).

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Paul’s Life Background and Chronology

Paul's background
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The Pharisee Saul, better known as Paul, laid the foundation for the Church. Paul’s life background is important. What can we learn from him?

By Mark D. Harris

Paul, possibly the most famous of the apostles of Jesus Christ, was a scion of Jews of the Diaspora.  Until the Babylonian exile beginning in 605-586 BC, Israelites of the tribe of Judah were concentrated in Southern Palestine.  Afterwards, they were scattered all over the ancient Near East, with large communities thriving in Alexandria and Rome.  A sizeable community arose in Tarsus of Cilicia, a province in what is now southeastern Turkey close to the border of Syria.  Tarsus was a major Roman city of trade and learning, and Cilicia was famous for its cloth products.  Both influences can be clearly seen in Paul’s later life as an educated traveler and scholar who made tents to support himself.

Jews of the Diaspora formed communities wherever they lived and so were able to maintain much of their religion and culture, including attending synagogues and observing dietary laws.  Paul, the son of observant Jewish parents, was raised as a “Hebrews of Hebrews” in this environment.  Paul’s parents were also Roman citizens, a rare honor, and so Paul inherited citizenship, which greatly helped his ministry.   At some point in his childhood he traveled to Jerusalem and learned Judaism at the feet of Gamaliel, the famous 1st century Jewish teacher.  Passionate for his Hebrew faith, Paul became a Pharisee, and excelled among his peers in every way.

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Paul’s Missionary Journeys

Paul's missionary journeys
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A brief summary of the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys in the Middle East and Europe.

By Mark D. Harris

As Christians read the New Testament, it is easy to forget how much time elapsed between Matthew and Revelation, almost 100 years.  Jesus died and rose again around 30 AD, and for two years the church grew, rapidly and in relative peace.  The persecution began about 32 AD, and Paul became a Christian in that year.  He spent years preaching in Damascus, and then spent quite a bit more time in Arabia before returning to his hometown in Tarsus, Asia Minor.  His first missionary journey did not begin until AD 47, covering many cities in Asia Minor and the eastern Mediterranean, including Cyprus, Perga, Iconium, Lystra, and others.  After a short return to Jerusalem in AD 49 to help with the Jerusalem Council, Paul left on his second missionary journey.  During this mission he wrote Galatians and probably Thessalonians.  He began in Asia Minor, but received the call to Macedonia and crossed over into Europe.  Paul and his companions ministered in Philippi, where he was imprisoned and beaten, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, where he spoke at the Aeropagus, and Corinth.  In 52 AD Paul returned to Syrian Antioch to complete his second journey.

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Paul’s Conversion – Why Three Accounts, and How Do They Differ?

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Paul’s conversion was seminal in the church, but the stories differ. Are they false, or true? Why do Paul’s three conversion accounts differ?

By Mark D. Harris

The story of Paul’s conversion from a devout Jew, violently persecuting believers in Jesus, to a devout Christian, fearlessly spreading the Gospel against all opposition, is found three times in Acts. The stories differ slightly, and many people harbor doubts about the truth of each.

Acts 9

The first account of Paul’s conversion, in Acts 9, narrates Paul’s conversion when it actually happened. After being a ringleader in persecuting Christians in Jerusalem and Judea, Paul obtained permission from the high priest, and then set out for Damascus, hoping to find and arrest Christians who had fled his persecution. While enroute, Paul and his companions suddenly saw a great light (v3). Paul fell to the ground and heard Jesus’ voice, asking why he was persecuting Him (vv4-5). The voice then told him what to do (v6).  Paul had been blinded by the light, and his companions led him to Damascus where neither ate nor drank for three days (v9). Meanwhile, the Lord commanded a believer named Ananias to meet Saul and minister to him (vv10-16).  Despite his fear at revealing himself to the feared Pharisee and persecutor of Christians Saul of Tarsus, Ananias obeyed (v17). Saul, soon to be known as Paul, regained his sight as “something like scales fell from his eyes.” He was baptized (v18), took food and water (v19), and began his ministry .

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