This week we discussed various topics related to the church in Antioch, Syria. We learned the first instance a disciple was called “Christian” was in Antioch. A prophet came down from Jerusalem and predicted a severe famine that would spread ov

Acts 11:19-26 ~ Barnabas and the Hellenists

Jul 31st, 2019 48m 51s

From the earliest days of the church, there has been one message uniting people across all human-made divides: love. That's the core of the gospel. Barnabas was sent to Antioch to make sure they were in compliance with the gospel of Jesus Chris

Acts 11:19-26 ~ Meanwhile in Phoenicia, Cyprus & Antioch

Mar 30th, 2019 52m 9s

This week we studied how the gospel spread north beyond Palestine into less Jewish-centric communities including Phoenicia, Antioch (in Syria) and the island of Cyprus. This section introduces us to the city of Antioch which will become the cen

Acts 11:1-18 ~ Clean.

Feb 21st, 2019 25m 1s

In our final discussion on this passage, we got down to where the rubber meets the road. As we focused on Peter’s defense of his experience in Acts 11, we learned that he had become convinced his vision had nothing to do with food and everythin

Acts 10:1-11:18 ~ The Core of the Gospel Message (Kerygma)

Feb 21st, 2019 43m 4s

As part of our continuing discussion about Peter’s speech(es) in Acts 10 and 11, we stepped back to look at how Peter and the apostles adjusted their presentation of the gospel message to each audience based on their knowledge of the Scriptures

Acts 10:1-11:18 ~ Everyone Is Welcome. Every. One.

Feb 21st, 2019 33m 58s

Who is “welcome” to join us in following Jesus? Who is not? Where do we draw the line? Should we even draw one? How do we know? During the week prior to the Sunday when this lesson was originally taught, American citizens were mesmerized by tw

Acts 10:1-11:18 ~ Emphatic Repetition

Feb 19th, 2019 40m 45s

First we read of Cornelius’ vision. Then Peter’s. Then Peter mentions his to Cornelius, and Cornelius recounts his to Peter. Then Peter retells both visions to a new audience. But we’re reading it—so why all the repetition? What makes this even

Acts 10:1-33 ~ Peter & Cornelius (Overview)

Feb 19th, 2019 39m 15s

What happens when a hungry Jewish apostle has a vision about food? But not just any food! This vision involves certain “unclean” foods—the types of food he has avoided his entire life for religious reasons. What happens when during the trance h

Acts 9:32-43 ~ Mapwork, Miracles, Mathetria & a Riff about “Poor” Widows

Sep 5th, 2018 49m 5s

This week we expanded on the previous lesson about the miracles in Lydda and Joppa. We utilized a map of first-century Judea to help us have a more clear idea about distances traveled, geography, and topography of the area. We reviewed the Venn

Acts 9:31-43 ~ Aeneas and Tabitha

Sep 4th, 2018 54m 37s

This week we studied two miracle stories in Acts 9 which have been preserved as a unit in ancient manuscripts: the healing of Aeneas and the raising of Tabitha (a.k.a. Dorcas) from the dead. We examined a variety of similarities and differences

Acts 9:26-31 ~ Welcome to Jerusalem… Now, Go Home!

Sep 4th, 2018 54m 9s

This week we continued our study in Acts picking up with Saul’s first-recorded visit with the apostles in Jerusalem after his decision to follow Jesus. Everyone was skeptical, except Barnabas, one of the seven Hellenists who were chosen to serv

Acts 9, 22, 26 ~ What Was Saul Told?

Sep 3rd, 2018 39m 30s

This week, Craig Bondy (guest teacher) compared and contrasted three different accounts of Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus. We examined the narrative in Acts 9 as well as Paul’s testimony in Acts 22 and his witness in Acts 26. We focu

Acts 1-9: Timeline Review

Sep 1st, 2018 47m 48s

This week Craig Bondy (guest teacher) guided us through a detailed review of the timeline of Acts chapters 1-9. He also brought local and empire history into the timeline to help form a more complete historical context for this section of Scrip

Acts 9:19b-25 ~ Saul & the Nabateans

Jul 5th, 2018 43m 34s

This week we took a closer look at few passages that describe a time in Saul’s first few years as a follower of Jesus—particularly his time in Arabia (Nabatea). This journey is NOT mentioned in Acts at all; however, Paul mentions it in both his

Acts 9:19b-30 ~ Wired with Wanderlust

Jul 2nd, 2018 49m 33s

This week we worked on piecing together the evolution of Saul’s theology based on the account we have in Acts as well as his own testimony in Galatians. The more we reflected on the details of Saul’s life leading up to this moment, the more we

Acts 9:13-19a ~ The Other Ananias

Jul 2nd, 2018 49m 20s

This week we took a close look at what happened when Ananias showed up at Judas’ house on Straight Street. We discussed how significant it was that Ananias greeted Saul as a brother, explained that the Jesus whom he saw en route to Damascus was

Acts 9:1-16 ~ The “Bind-er” Becomes the “Bind-ee”

Jun 6th, 2018 43m 8s

This week slowed our pace to take a closer look at Saul’s Damascus Road experience. Rather than focusing on the details of the event, we zoomed out to discuss the story behind the story. We explored how Saul’s life was dramatically and forever

Acts 9, 22, 26 ~ Same Event. Different Details.

May 25th, 2018 43m 27s

This week we compared and contrasted three different accounts of Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus. We examined the narrative in Acts 9 as well as Paul’s testimony in Acts 22 and his witness in Acts 26. We looked at the setting of each

Acts 9:1-19a ~ Works-Based Worth

May 24th, 2018 44m 20s

This week, we picked up where we left off with Saul (a.k.a. Paul). We examined his background, education, and training. We discussed his “status” as self-appointed protector of Pharisaic Orthodoxy, and his insatiable desire to crush “The Way” w

Acts 8:26-40 ~ Of Whom Does the Prophet Speak?

May 22nd, 2018 49m 38s

This week, we completed our study of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. We discussed the passage in Isaiah that the eunuch was reading, and we talked about this being the first time the Suffering Servant’s identity was applied to the Me

Acts 8:26-40 ~ The Ethiopian Eunuch

May 16th, 2018 30m 53s

This week, we continued our study of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch by investigating what we know (and don’t know) about the eunuch: where he came from, what his place was in society, how he traveled, and why someone from so far away would hav

Acts 8:25-40 ~ God’s Incredible Timing

May 14th, 2018 45m 27s

This week, we began our study of a very familiar story about Philip the Evangelist and an official from Ethiopia (modern-day Sudan). We discussed God’s amazing timing in bringing these two men together at the perfect moment. We examined a varie

Acts 8:20-24 ~ Not For Sale

Apr 16th, 2018 38m 24s

This week, we finished up our study of the interaction between the apostles and Simon Magus. For real. We zoomed in on the final verses of the narrative where Peter apparently ‘curses’ Simon for his attempt to purchase the ability to bestow the

Acts 8:14-25 ~ No Change? No Salvation.

Apr 5th, 2018 29m 22s

This week we continued our discussion about Simon the magician and his desire to purchase the ability to bestow the gift of the Holy Spirit (which cannot be purchased). We were reminded that Jesus’ parable of the sower provides a way to underst

Acts 8:9-17 ~ “The Amazing Simon” is Amazed!

Mar 9th, 2018 44m 30s

This week we were introduced to Simon (a.k.a. “Simon the Sorcerer” and “Simon Magus”), and according to Simon himself “Someone Great!” Although there is not a lot of information about Simon in the Bible, early church fathers wrote about him wit