The Book of ACTS

In this week's study, Dave introduces the book of Acts with a quick overview of the Bible and how God uses the entire Old Testament to point to a new system, a New Covenant and a Messiah.  This then leads us to the New Testament, the Gospels and finally, the Book of Acts.  Dave follows this with background context of the author (and recipient) of this letter followed by a look at Acts chapter 1.

In this week's Bible Study Dave talks about Pentecost (both from a Jewish perspective and the Christian perspective).  Dave then does a simple and broad explanation of the Holy Spirit, from Old Testament manifestations to the New Testament.  Acts 2 concludes with a brief explanation of the 4 key elements that were practiced in the early Christian Church.

In this week's study (and next) we see a drastic change in the apostles; from the scared apostles that locked themselves away from fear of the Jewish leaders in John 20:19 to a bold group that proclaims Christ as the only way to salvation and healing.   Dave intros with a brief history and overview of the temple in Jerusalem before digging into the events with Peter and John of Acts chapter 3.  Next week in Acts chapter 4 we look at the 2nd half of this two-part message in which we see Peter and John taken before the Sanhedrin to defend their miraculous healing of the lame man. 

In this week's bible study we see Peter and John arrested, jailed, and then taken in front of the Sanhedrin to account for the healing they did of the lame man.  Keep in mind the Sanhedrin is the same Jewish legal council that arrested, wrongfully convicted, and then sentenced Jesus to death)!  Despite that fact, Peter speaks boldly to the council proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Messiah. 

This week we look at Acts chapter 5 in which we read the story of Ananias and Sapphira, and we see firsthand God's reaction to hypocrisy in His early church.  We also see the Apostles go out boldly teaching and healing in the name of Jesus Christ, which draws further persecution from the Sanhedrin (the Jewish legal council).  

In this week's study, we see another issue pop up in the early church; division between the greek speaking "Hellenistic" Jews and the Hebrew-speaking, local, "Hebraic" jews.  We look at how the apostles deal with this issue and we are introduced to yet another amazing man of God, Stephen.

In this week's study, we look at Acts chapter 7 in which we see the apostle Stephen, in front of the Sanhedrin, give one of the most powerful sermons in the bible, a sermon of truth that shows that Jesus is the fulfillment of the foundations of Jewish history, a sermon that will cost him his life.

This week, through persecution, we see the start of the outreach to the gentiles (non-jews).  In comparing two "believers" we see that all that truly matters is what is in a person's heart.  We also see an amazing example of what it means to be an Apostle of Christ in Philip.  

This week we look at Acts chapter 9, in which Saul, the Jewish Pharisee who was hunting down Christians to lock them up, has a personal encounter with the resurrected Jesus and neither he nor the world will be the same!

In this week's study we look at Acts Chapter 10 and the story of Cornelius, the centurion, Peter's vision, and the realization that God has brought salvation for all!  The Jew and the Gentile are equal in goods eyes.

In this week's study of Acts Chapter 11 we see Peter return to Jerusalem to share the excitement of God's revelation of salvation for all, not just for the Jew.  Peter is forced to explain the full story of what happened and how God used Cornelius to reveal His intention for the expanding church to not just share the good news to the Jews, but to the gentiles as well.  With that we see the early church continue to expand!

This week, we see the first of Jesus' disciples be martyred for their faith, while at the same time we see the Apostle Peter miraculously broken out of prison by an Angel of the Lord!  With this, we look at the sovereignty of God to choose who lives and who dies.  We also look at the power of a prayerful church.

In this week's study, we see Barnabus and Saul sent out on their first missionary journey.  We also look at the use of multiple names for people in the early church as well as the shift of leadership.

This week we see the conclusion of Paul's first missionary journey through the region of Galatia (Iconium, Lystra & Derbe).  We see Paul and Barnabus return to Syrian Antioch via Pisidian Antioch and Attalia. In Acts 14 we see Paul truly tested for his faith, but in his perseverance, we see God move and do awesome things for His church.

In this week's study, we look at Acts 15 and this question of what must we do to be saved?  The early church was forced to answer this question as the division grew among the Jewish believers and the gentile believers.  With one group believing that you still needed to hold to the law of Moses in order to be saved and the other believing that it is only through the Grace of Christ (and faith in Him alone) that leads to salvation, not works.

This week we see Paul go out on his 2nd Missionary Journey.  Like his first trip, Paul leaves from Antioch, and en route to what they call "Asia" (which is modern-day western Turkey), Paul stops at some of the churches he helped plant on his 1st Journey.  Then in classic fashion, God's plans take Paul in a different direction than he had planned; and God's church continues to grow because of it!  We also see Paul beaten and thrown in prison, yet again, but through the ordeal, Paul witnesses to the jailer, and his entire family is saved!

In this week's study of Acts Chapter 17 we see the apostle Paul continue on his 2nd missionary journey as he travels from Thessalonica to Berea and onto Athens.  We learn a great lesson from the Bereans as they "search the scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true."  We can also learn from the Athenians in their openness to conversation and dialog with those that think differently than they do.

What does it mean to serve God?  What does it look like?  Are we all called to sell all our possessions and go be a missionary in a third world country?  Are we all supposed to strive to be the next mega-church pastor with millions of followers? This week we look at Acts chapter 18 and the conclusion of Paul's 2nd missionary journey.  In this week's video, we will answer that question by looking at a good number of people that are clearly serving God in different ways in the town of Corinth.

In this week's study, we break down Acts chapter 19 in which the Apostle Paul travels back to the town of Ephesus, on this his Third Missionary Journey.  While in Ephesus for nearly three years a great deal happens.  We break down each element of chapter 19 including: John's Baptism vs the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Lecture Hall of Tyrannus, Paul's super healing sweat rags, the seven sons of Sceva and their botched exorcism, a book burning, artemis idol worship and a massive Ephesian mob!

This week we cover all of Acts 20 as well as half of acts 21.  In this study we will finish up Paul’s 3rd missionary journey, ending the study with Paul in Jerusalem.  On the journey there we will look a bit closer at his traveling companions, his “co-workers in the faith.”  We will also look at an interesting story of Eutychus, a young man like so many of us, who was caught (in a rather abrupt way) sleeping through his pastors’ lengthy message!  We also see, along with the conclusion of Paul’s 3rd missionary journey, many fellow Christians pray with and support Paul as he travels to an impending doom waiting for him in Jerusalem.

This week we finish up Acts chapter 21 and cover all of 22 in which we see Paul nearly killed by a mob of angry Israelites in the temple, but thankfully a roman commander discovers Paul's roman citizenship and is then determined to find out what charges the Sanhedrin has against Paul.

In this week's bible study we see the Apostle Paul on trial before the Sanhedrin.  Coinciding with Paul's trial, we look at Jesus' words in Matthew 23 against the Pharisees and Sadducees (the two largest groups within the Sanhedrin).  Jesus' harsh words had huge meaning 2,000 years ago, and this week we ask the question, are we guilty of similar hypocrisy?

In this week's bible study the apostle Paul, under the protection of Roman general Claudius Lysias, is taken from Jerusalem to Caesarea to stand trial against the Sanhedrian's high priest Ananias and their lawyer Tertullus before Governor Felix.  Felix, finding no charges against Paul, but not wanting to upset the Jews and wishing to receive a bribe from Paul keeps him under house arrest for two years at which time he is replaced by Governor Festus.  Festus quickly calls for another trial to determine what to do with the apostle.  We end our talk with Acts 25:12 in which Paul, a Roman citizen, appeals to Ceaser and Festus accommodates. 

This week we look at the 2nd half of Acts 25 and all of Acts 26 in which the Apostle Paul gives his defense and testimony before King Herod Agrippa II.  Through this, we see the 5th and longest of Paul’s testimonies in the book of Acts and within that, we see a clear description of God’s call on the Christian’s life.  We finish this week with a quick explanation of both Evangelism and Apologetics (both Traditional and Evidential). 

This week we cover the Apostle Paul's voyage across the Mediterranean sea from Caesarea to Rome (eventually he does get there, but first we will see he and the crew get shipwrecked).  This week, as we look at the storm that blew Paul off course, we look at what we do with the storms that come up in our own lives.

In this week's Bible Study we see Paul finally in Rome, meeting with the Jews there and then with the Gentiles.  We look at these few verses and then expand from this book to look at Paul's release from his first Roman imprisonment, his 4th missionary journey, ended by his 2nd Roman imprisonment (and his eventual execution and martyrdom under the order of Emperor Nero).  We wrap up looking at the body of letters that we now have due to this amazing Apostle of God, and the foundation it is now in the New Testament.