Koinonia Ministries

Saul, later called Paul, begins as one who opposes the church but is transformed on the Damascus Road. In a story of ironic spiritual reversals, the heavenly light of Christ shows Paul that he remains in personal spiritual exile while the church of many nations has found the way out of exile. In a parallel text, Paul receives his commission to act as a mini-Isaianic servant who is a light to the G...

In this lesson, we review chapters 1-8 of Acts as we return to our study of the book. Main points from this lesson are: Jesus reigns. The restoration of all things has begun. The true temple is spreading across the world in the Gospel.

These two lessons aimed to assist parents in grasping what the self is in order to more clearly aid their child in understanding who they are. We discussed that there are matters essential to our identity with uniquely essential parts of our identity given to us in union with Christ. Beyond the essential matters of identity, there remain “accidental” portions of our identity which require careful...

This lesson provides a biblical basis for a discussion of "identity" which prepares for part 2, application of identity questions to parenting.

This lesson discussed the Scriptural directives regarding how parents are to transmit the story of God to their children. Some “best practices” on how to accomplish this were offered regarding education generally and spiritual education according to cognition, affection, and volition. Within the topic of spiritual education, the what, who, when/where, and why of discipline were addressed as parent...

The idyllic end of the story is an absolutely essential hope in the parent-child relationship. This ideal is not merely some ethereal, fairy-tale ending; rather, Jesus incarnates and embodies the ideal. At His first coming, He inaugurated the restoration of all things which is first seen in the new nature of Christians. Like all humans, children must participate in the ideal. This is only possible...

These two lessons have attempted to argue that story itself is of principle importance to parenting because story is how we make meaning of the world. Secondary to this then we must be sure that our children are receiving the right story. The story of Christianity offers that the problem of humanity is sin. This sin issue is found both within our child and without the child in the external world....

Where do children find themselves in the great story?

A good framework allows both a dynamic, flexible, individualized approach while resisting the relativistic notion that there are no universal principles to be applied.

Stephen engages in apologetics for the Christian faith and is falsely accused at trial. No servant is greater than the Master, and all must prepare to suffer in the footsteps of Jesus. Though the world hates the cause of Christ, we must reflect the glory of Christ to them by participating whole-heartedly in the Temple where the Word is proclaimed and the people are enjoyed.

Acts 6:1-7 with Jake Via

In contrast to the acceptable sacrifice of Barnabas, Ananias and Saphira offer an unacceptable sacrifice by lying to God while attempting boost their image before men. Peter confronts both individuals regarding their sins, seeing that Satan is attempting to disrupt the koinonia of the church. God though Peter guards and keeps His temple pure from hypocrites by miraculously killing Ananias and Saph...

The believers in the church are inwardly united at the heart level, internally united in generosity within the body, and externally united in their proclamation of the resurrected Jesus. Their radical community fulfills the OT expectations for Israel’s behavior and establishes a new, true temple while also appealing to the ethical ideals of the Greek philosophical world. Good leadership and encour...

In the Peter’s portico pronouncement, Peter confronts the audience with the problem of their sin, offers the solution of faith in the person and work in Christ, calls for a repentant response. This results remittance of sins, spiritual refreshment, future restoration, and reading Scripture Christocentrically.

Luke gives an account of the first healing in the Last Days Temple continuing to fulfill the prophecy spoken of in Joel. Peter heals a lame man in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth showing that Jesus is the one who saves and heals and that Jesus is still reigning from Heaven. The lame man provides a beautiful picture of what the Gospel is and what it looks like for a lost wretch to be transform...

Luke provides his first summary statement in Acts where he describes the church as faithfully engaging in the Word, the Lord’s Supper, fellowship, prayer, Spirit-movement, crazy generosity, and intense community for the praise of God which attracts more and more people to the power of Jesus on display in His new temple of people.

In this passage, Peter finishes his sermon by arguing that Jesus, the ascended one, has been enthroned as Lord and Christ. Despite being guilty sinners, there is forgiveness and a lavishing of spiritual gifts to be found in Jesus. Any who would come is welcome, and none will be cast out.

Peter goes on offense in describing the person and work of Jesus. Peter describes Jesus as a fully incarnated man attested to by God’s signs and wonders. Peter describes Jesus as one crucified and killed by God’s sovereign plan and man’s evil will. Peter describes Jesus as the Greater David who overcame the power of death (and the realm of the dead) in a way no one else could. This Jesus stands re...

Combining the temple backgrounds of Sinai and Babel, Luke reveals that with the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, the eschatological temple has come down from Heaven. This end times temple is made not of stones but of people. This people forms a new humanity under King Jesus that is unified while maintaining its distinctives to God’s glory. God’s judgement of the nations is precisely the means by...

From the humble beginnings of a small group which obediently waits the direction of their King, God will build His Kingdom. God is sovereign over everything and victorious over those who oppose Him. He destroys all that oppose His anointed and His Kingdom. Under the providential selection of God, the eleven select Matthais to complete the twelve once again. Thus, the tribal heads of Israel are rec...

Christ has sent the Holy Spirit to empower His people to proclaim the Good News throughout the world. Christ’s ascension is the seal of authenticity of his ministry on earth. He is still working in heaven as Prophet, Priest, and King. Just as He went up into heaven, so also, He will return again to judge the living and the dead.

In the prologue to the book of Acts, Luke portrays it such that Jesus is about to continue acting and teaching after His ascension, through the apostolic foundation. The bodily resurrection and promise of the Spirit indicate that the Kingdom is indeed at hand and will usher forth to the nations from Jerusalem. Everything is on schedule according to the plan of God.

Galatians 5:1-6, 13-15: The Best People in Life Are Free by Sam Somesan

Galatians 3:1-14: How to Stay a Member of the Family by Sam Somesan