Acts 18

v1-6: If we want to know and serve Christ Jesus more, we would do well to "be in company and to have conversation with those who will further us in the knowledge of Christ," and "to put ourselves under the influence of people who are determined to serve the Lord."

v7-11: We should keep witnessing for the Lord Jesus where he has put us because Christ has many people.  If He had many people in a very worldly and evil city like Corinth that was full of impurity, we can believe He has many people in the community we live in. "Let us not despair of any place."

v12-17: How God is to be worshipped is a question of immense importance.

v18-23: "Our times are in God's hand; we propose, but he disposes, and that is why we must make all our promises submit to the will of God.  If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that."

v24-28: To be able to teach others something of Christ and the way of salvation through Christ and be a great help to them, we must first be taught the Word of the Lord ourselves.  We need to be taught not only to talk about God's Word, but also to walk in it. "It is not enough to have our tongues tuned to the word of the Lord; we must also have our feet directed to the way of the Lord."

Acts 19

v1-7: Those who profess to be Christians should ask whether they have received the Holy Spirit or not. Have you received the Holy Spirit when you believed? If the tree is known by its fruit, we need to examine ourselves by asking these questions: "Are we producing the fruit of the Spirit ? Are we led by the Spirit? Do we walk by the Spirit? Are we under the guidance, direction, and rule of the Spirit?"

v8-12: Paul made the most of the opportunities he was given at Ephesus to preach and teach. He was able to hold discussions daily and lecture every day. What opportunities do you have to talk about Jesus with both believers and unbelievers alike? Are you making the most of them?

v13-20: True contrition for sin will lead to frank confession of sin and a determination to make a clean break from it and not return to it. "Those who truly repent of their sin will keep themselves as far as possible from any temptations that might cause them to sin."

v21-42: "We may be called to lay down our lives, but not throw them away." We should seek to obey the law of self-preservation and keep out of danger if we can, so long as we don't leave the path of duty that Jesus calls us to.

M

Young ministers who are promising should be supported by more mature Christians, for this is necessary for them to fulfill all righteousness (Mt 3:15).

To take young Christians and young ministers, who mean well and perform well as far as they go, and instruct them privately in conversation is an act of very good service both to them and to the church.

Ministers must be able not only to preach the truth but also to prove it and defend it, and to convince and instruct its opponents with humility and yet with power; this is a real service to the church.