Simon was the Samaritan sorcerer who professed conversion to Christianity and sought to buy an apostleship.

Christ will empower us, but will not live our lives for us. The marching orders for our pilgrimage derive from God's Word, containing His holy law.

The Holy Spirit is only a portion of what oil represents. If the Holy Spirit is all we think of when we read about oil, we will miss miss much meaning.

Stephen's martyrdom and his compassion on his persecutors, followed by the reaction against his brutal murder, resulted in a rapid spreading of the Gospel.

The yoke of bondage Paul refers to in Galatians was a combination of the code of regulations added by the Pharisees and Gnostic ritualism, not God's Law.

The church of the Philadelphians has a 'little strength', suggesting that Christ commends them for being 'faithful in little' and will reward them with much.

Over-emphasis on law produces rigidity and loophole hunters, while over-emphasis on spirit produces emotional imbalance, permissiveness, and lack of structure.

While many style the apostle Paul as the champion of grace, others call him false, undermining God's law. His fellow apostles vouch for his character.

Even theologians admit that the Holy Spirit is a mystery to them. Yet the confusion comes from pagan thought patterns that have affected how Scripture is read.

True knowledge of God comes only from experience. The apostle Peter has admonished us to grow in knowledge, both biblical knowledge and secular knowledge.

Because of Dispensationalism, many believe there is an adversarial relationship between law and grace, as though they cannot be complementary.

The scattering of the early church strengthened it, allowing fresh seed to be scattered in new fields. The 'bad' thing actually increased the church's power.

While God is consistently depicted as working, magic seemingly provides a shortcut that bypasses overcoming and growth, attaining something for nothing.

The gift of the Holy Spirit, leading to an intimate relationship with God, eternal life in the God family as called out firstfruits, is priceless.

During these times of intense distress and tribulation, God expects that we use our memories to reflect upon His gifts, promises, and rewards.