According to the Acts of the Apostles the people of Antioch commissioned Paul and Barnabas to spread the word in what has become known as the First Missionary Journey. Paul is depicted as preaching the gospel of Jesus by situating it in the story of Israel. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors. Only by understanding how God has acted throughout salvation history can one make sense out of what God is doing today. Have you ever noticed how often the gospels say something like “so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,” re-inforcing the understanding of God’s ongoing presence in human life. When I look back on the significant events in one man’s lifetime — the assassination of JFK in 1963, the murders and riots and protests of 1968, walking on the moon, 9/11, and most recently January 5 insurrection — the only way to understand how they impact the present is to find how God was there back in the day.
MAY42023
By Church Staff
