Observe the Word

In Acts 9:32-43, we begin the third major part of Acts with two brief stories of healing that Luke uses to build a balanced structure and to communicate the continued spread of the gospel among the Jews in Judea.

In Acts 9:1-31, God sovereignly chooses the lead persecutor of the young Christian movement as his ambassador to the Gentiles.

In Acts 8:25-40, God sovereignly directs Philip to a man doubly excluded from the people of God and by his immediate baptism shows us the full inclusion of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Acts 8:1-24, the gospel is propelled forth from Jerusalem by the persecution following Stephen's death and into the unorthodox soil of Samaria. In this first occasion of cross-cultural witness, Samaria receives the word of God.

In Acts 7:1-53, we consider Stephen's speech, the longest speech recorded in Acts, as a response of the gospel to traditional religion.

In Acts 6:8-15 and 7:54-60, we begin the second major section of Acts (6:8-9:31) with a clash between the gospel message of the New Covenant community and first-century Jewish orthodoxy.

In Acts 5:17-6:7, we consider another external threat from the establishment and another internal threat concerning the distribution of goods among believers. Tension heightens in Jerusalem as we reach the end of the first of six major sections of Acts.

In Acts 4:32-5:16, we consider the sharing of common property among the first Christians and take note of how seriously and severely God deals with the internal threat of hypocrisy.

In Acts 4:1-31, the leaders of Jerusalem strike out against the new, vibrant Christian community. We consider these questions. What motivates the antagonism of the establishment? What enables Peter to stand so boldly in witness? How does the Christian community respond?

In Acts 3, Luke reports on one of the many miraculous signs being performed by the Apostles during the Jerusalem Awakening, giving us a second opportunity to consider Peter's gospel message as he again follows up the miracle by speaking to the gathered crowd. 

In Acts 2:22-47, the Church is born through Peter's witness to Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit. The result is a transformed community devoted to the Apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer.

In Acts 2:1-21, the Church is born in fire and Spirit at the Jewish Feast of Pentecost, and Peter takes his stand to speak to the multi-cultural assembly of Jews and seekers who gather at the sight.

In Acts 1:12-26, we consider how the small community of believers prepared themselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit. We also identify the overall structure of the book.

In Acts 1:1-11, Luke records Jesus commissioning the apostles and ascending into heaven, emphasizing the two major themes of Witness and Power in the Holy Spirit.

In John 21, the epilogue of the Gospel, John directs our attention to the journey of faith, highlighting the restoration of Peter and the commission Jesus gives every believer, "Follow me."

In John 20, the responses of believers to the empty tomb and news of Jesus raised from the dead suggest principles of faith in line with the two great themes of John's Gospel.

In John 19:17-42, Jesus reverses the shame of the cross to magnify the glory of his name, providing for us not only forgiveness but also a new status of honor free from guilt and shame.

In John 18:28-19:16, the trial of Jesus turns into an honor/shame struggle between the Roman governor and Jewish officials who both misunderstand who is truly in control of events.  

In John 18:1-27, we begin the story of Jesus' final hour with John's depiction of his arrest and first trial. Adding to the witness of the other Gospels, John reminds us that Jesus may go to the cross meekly, but he is absolutely not weak. Jesus maintains control throughout.  

In John 17:20-26, Jesus prays for us, for all who will believe because of the apostles' witness, and as he prays, Jesus describes his vision for unity and witness in Christian communities based on the truth of God's name and reality of abiding in him.  

In John 17:6-19, Jesus makes three prayer requests for his disciples as he commissions them to go into the world though not be of the world. If Jesus were to pray for you, what would he ask for?

In John 17:1-5, Jesus begins his prayer of sanctification for New Testament believers with a prayer for his own glory. How does God's desire for his own glory relate to his pursuit of a people called by his name?

In John 16:16-33, in the midst of the disciples' confusion, we are compelled to address the nature of prayer as Jesus promises for the fourth time, "If you shall ask the Father for anything, he will give it to you in My name."

In John 15:18-16:15, we consider the disciple's relationship to the world as both separate from the world and also committed to engagement with the world in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In John 15:12-17, we recognize the fundamentals of discipleship as abiding and loving while also addressing what Jesus meant when he said, "you will do greater works."