Paul experiences setbacks that create discouragement. God encourages Paul in a vision and then he experiences breakthrough. Paul's dependency on God and his devotion to God is Paul's simple but effective approach to the Christian life.

Do we try to manufacture a reality, a preferred life, that we would like to have or at least present to the world that's not actually in alignment with reality? In Acts 17, Paul appeals to the Athenians to acknowledge the one, true, living God - a new reality that was in stark contrast to the reality in which they were living.

Paul sets his sails in the direction of the Spirit's wind and is re-directed from Asia to Macedonia. There, Paul and his missionary team reach Lydia and her household with the Gospel, deliver a slave girl from demon possession, and reach the jailer and his household with the message of Jesus.

Acts 15 teaches us what characteristics false teachers exhibit and four signs to look out for to identify them. Peter and the other apostles draft a letter to the gentiles ratifying that salvation comes through grace by faith alone.

Paul & Barnabas continue to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and clearly show that a Christian's authority grows at the same rate as their humility.

In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas go out on ministry together. As they travel, we see hands and feet being used to spread the good word of God. We are called to use our hands to help others and our feet to follow God.

An angel appears to Cornelius, and Peter sees a vision. Acts 10 teaches us that Peter needed to drop his prejudice against the gentiles and have the courage to bring the message of Christ to them through Cornelius. Ultimately, we learn religious activity is insufficient for salvation and that God wants something FOR us more than He wants something FROM us.

Brian Clark shares how any one of us can be an encouraging Barnabas in today's culture of discouragement.