Spiritual Stress

Aim: To stay on our gospel course in Jesus—despite dangers.

Doctrine: Spiritual stress is an inevitable part of the true church's experience in this world. This is because the fall has complicated everything, including the ministry of the gospel.

Exegesis: The realities of spiritual stress: we are bounded by time and space (vv. 1-3); we are buffeted by loving counsel (v. 4); we are bolstered by firm resolve (vv. 5-6).

Further application: How we churchmen are to handle spiritual stress: by taking into account all the factors of life and ministry, but then acting on the calling God has given us.

Key verse: v. 4 ''And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.''