The Faith Chapter

The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. Hebrews 11:38 Hebrews 11 is a great chapter to read about people – named and unnamed – who exercised their faith at key moments. This

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Peter the Prisoner

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5 Perhaps the prison story that has the most detail in the New Testament is that of Peter in Acts 12:1-19. King Herod realized that arresting and executing church leaders

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In and Out of Trouble

If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. Acts 5:38b-39 The latter half of Acts 5 shares how the disciples

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The First Followers

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. Matthew 24:9 Most of the martyrdom of the early followers of Christ, and the gruesome details surrounding these events, are relatively absent in

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The Jewish Jesus

Jesus’ life was very simple. He spent it walking from place to place and meeting the needs of the people, ministering almost exclusively to His fellow Jews. However, by the time of His ascension He commanded His disciples, and subsequently us, to “go and make disciples of

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Saul to Paul

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15 Yesterday we looked at Stephen’s martyrdom. Saul played a key role in it and the subsequent persecution of Christians (Acts 8:1-3).

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The Stoning of Stephen

And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him. Acts 22:20 Perhaps the martyr whose death received the most attention in the New Testament (along with John the Baptist) was

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The Most Famous Martyr

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 During Easter, we often concentrate on the specific episode of Jesus being crucified. No doubt that

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John the Baptizer

A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 John the Baptist was a curious character. You can admit it: we all think he was weird for wearing camel skin

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