Pastor's Ponderings: Monday Bible Study on Acts of the Apostles 13:16-41 (March 9, 2026)

March 9, 2026:  Monday Bible Study on Acts 13:16-41

Good morning my dear friends in Christ.

I want to let you know that we had one of our largest church attendances on a non-festival Sunday this past week. We had guests from Colorado who had been members of American in the past. Our regular guests from Wisconsin, and a new member with his fiancée, and of course, our worship regulars. What a blessing it was for the Gospel on that day. Please keep the following people in your prayers for healing: Tricia following surgery is now home, Camille whose cancer has come back, Becky for medical treatments and care back in Minnesota this month, and Sharyn who has been recovering from a health issue for three weeks. Of course, please pray for the victims of the war in Iran, both their citizens and our military members, and pray for peace too!

Today we have the only complete sermon in Scripture which was given by Paul. Please take the time to read it as you begin this study with me. Now let's look at what Paul says in this message.

1. Paul says that the coming of Jesus is the consummation of history. In this preached message Paul outlines the history of the Jews to show that their history is completed in Christ, and in His presence, there is every reason to be optimistic, instead of the Jewish history finding its completion in the wrath and destruction of the God of angry judgement.

2. Men/people did not see or understand the action of God in Christ as the way of bringing healing and hope to all people. When people seek their own way to manage sin and brokenness, they become blinded to the merciful way of God and strike out at it.

3. Even though people were blind to Christ's purpose and mission, they could not defeat it. They tried putting Christ to death, but the Resurrection is proof of their failure.

4. Paul uses a very Jewish argument that the prophetic promises made to David, were not kept in his lifetime, but Christ is the fulfillment of those delayed promises. We must always understand that the only way to discern the truth of a prophecy is to await its fulfillment or lack of fulfillment. The prophecies to David remained unfulfilled until the coming of their truth in Jesus Christ.

5. Thinking people, who understand their own failure to keep the fullness of the Law of Moses, realize their continual dilemma and inability to be right with God. It is only by the merit of the Savior that all who believe in Him will come before the judgement seat of God and be found to have lived in righteousness with God through their acceptance and belief in the Savior.

6. For those who have seen the Good News of the Savior and His love, yet find themselves not believing, there will be condemnation and separation from God. For those who have yet to see the Christ of God, and to learn about Him, there can be an excuse, but for those who reject it in their blindness, there will be eternal separation from God, Christ, and the Spirit.

In the face of Paul's message, we are still faced with the overwhelming Love of Christ for all people, so there may indeed be mercy for those who are still seeking and questioning, but, once again, not for those who know and choose to reject our Savior.

Thanks for being with me today. May God bring you joy today and always.

The Rev. Kim R. Taylor (Pastor Kim)