Text Talk

Acts 9:26-31 We've met Barnabas before. The apostles called him a Son of Encouragement. We see more evidence of that in today's reading. What would it be like to have Barnabases in your life? What would it be like if you were a Barnabas? Let's talk about that today. Click here to read the written devo that goes along with this episode. Let us know what you are learning from the text...

Acts 9:10-19 Imagine being Ananias when God called you to go talk to the persecutor who drove you from your Jerusalem home (or at the very least drove a bunch of your closest friends from theirs). That is who we are talking about today. What did he do? He obeyed. What an example of faith. Let's talk about that. Click here to read the written devo that goes along with this episode. Let us know...

Acts 9:1-19 No doubt we are all shocked by Jesus's choice of Saul as one of His top ambassadors and apostles. And yet, that is exactly what we find in today's reading. Let's talk about what that means for us even today. Click here to read the blog post that goes along with this episode. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. Let us know what you are...

Acts 8:26-40 The Eunuch had traveled from Ethiopia to Jerusalem only to find he was kept on the outside. He was a second class citizen of the Jewish kingdom, not allowed to fully participate in the worship and in the temple. He was always kept on the outskirts of the assembly. Would it be the same with Christianity? Absolutely not. Even an Ethiopian Eunuch could be baptized for the remission of hi...

Acts 8:9-25 Edwin and Andrew discuss the contest between Simon the Sorcerer and Philip the Evangelist. Guess who wins? They can't help but get into a discussion of all the modern fakes and frauds today--supposed faith healers. They all use the same kind of tricks. But the power of the gospel outshines it all. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Join the F...

Acts 8:5 Preaching the Word means proclaiming the Christ. Edwin and Andrew talk about what is necessary in preaching Christ. If we are not careful, we end up thinking we are preaching the Word, but not because it lacks Jesus. On top of that, they notice that preaching Christ includes teaching on baptism. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Join the Facebook co...

Acts 8:4 Edwin and Andrew discuss the guide for preaching and teaching: the Word. This discussion turns into a great review of the previous 7 chapters of Acts, looking at how the Word has played a part in the growth of the kingdom and the salvation of the disciples. When the Word grows, the Kingdom grows. And vice versa. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Joi...

Acts 8:1-3 In Acts 8, having witnessed the execution of Stephen and watched the coats of those who cast the stones, Saul takes up the cause against the Way and begins a ravaging persecution that scatters the saints. However, as the Christians are scattered, they didn't keep quiet. They went about preaching and teaching the Word they had been taught. Edwin and Andrew discuss the example this s...

Acts 7:51-60 Stephen's audience had a choice. Listen to the message or kill the messenger. SPOILER: They killed the messenger. Stephen became the first Christian martyr following fully in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. You have a choice. You can either listen to the message or... Let us tell you which choice Andrew and Edwin want you to make. Even when He says things we don't like to hea...

Acts 7:35-39 Centuries before Jesus, Moses promised a coming Prophet. Stephen wants his audience to see that Jesus is, in fact, that Prophet. Jesus is the one they were waiting for. And they killed Him. Wow! What is truly amazing is Satan pulled this off not by getting the Israelites to ignore, despise, and reject Moses, but by getting them to put too much trust and faith in Moses. Double Wow! Let...

Acts 7:23-29 Edwin and Andrew notice two instances in which Stephen contrasts the use of man's hands versus God's. Guess which one was actually successful. In fact, it causes us to learn a significant point about how the Jews were actually perverting the temple. We often say they never got into idolatry after the Babylonian captivity. Stephen says otherwise. Do you disagree with anything...

Acts 7:44-50 We continue our look at Stephen's sermon. This time, we notice the theme surrounding the temple and the holy place. God met man in many places. The Jerusalem temple was not special because it was the Jerusalem temple. Rather, it was because of God. The Jews needed to quit focusing on the holy place but on the God who made the place holy. Let us know what you are learning or what...

Acts 7:30-34 Stephen's sermon is intense and deep. In this episode, Edwin and Andrew discuss one of the themes throughout the sermon. Don't focus on the man but on the God who uses the man. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning from the text or any questions you have. Send us an email at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org...

We are all facing a very difficult time as our communities strive to determine the best way to face the COVID-19 pandemic. We have health fears. We have economic fears. We have fears for our families, for our congregations, for our communities, for our jobs. It is always right to pray. Andrew and Edwin take some time pray in the face of this crisis.  If you have specific prayer requests in this di...

Acts 6:7 Here is the shocking part of Acts 6. Priests, who had been among the persecutors in the previous chapters, start to listen and obey the faith. Never prejudge. Keep spreading the Word. We'd love to know what you are learning from the text or what questions you have. Shoot us an email at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Read the blog post that goes along with this episode by clicking h...

Acts 6:1-7 We get back to the first half of Acts 6 today and notice the most shocking part. Somehow, the apostles' solution pleased the whole gathering. Edwin and Andrew examine some of the conditional attitudes necessary to produce that kind of unity and problem solving. May we have these same attitudes today. Let us know what you are learning from your Bible reading, even if you're not...

Acts 6:1-4 When the Jerusalem church faced their division-threatening problem, they had to make some significant changes. In fact, if we read too quickly, we may miss exactly how profound those changes were. They had to change how they related to one another and how they got the work done. Find out more in today's talk about the text. We'd love to hear what you are learning from the text...

Acts 6:8-15 Edwin and Andrew consider the second half of Acts 6. The first half dealt with problems within. This second half looks at the persecutions without. This isn't the first of the persecution they have dealt with. However, a significant shift takes place in this chapter. The persecution moves from the leaders (the priests and the Council) to the people (members of one of the synagogue...

Acts 6:1-7 Edwin and Andrew discuss the problem that almost divided the very first congregation. However, instead of being a problem that divided, it ended up becoming an opportunity that multiplied. Find out how the first Christians dealt with the first race problem that hit their midst in Acts 6. We'd love to know what you are learning from Acts. Or, if you have any questions about the text...

Acts 5:33-42 The apostles were arrested, threatened, and beaten. How did they respond? With rejoicing. Wow!!! What an amazing outlook. Edwin and Andrew discuss that great example. Then they kept on teaching. We need to follow in their footsteps. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Email us. We want to know what you're learning in Acts (or from where you a...

Acts 5:26-33 Edwin and Andrew continue this week's look at Acts 5 noticing the conviction Peter and the other apostles had to serve the Lord no matter what. Even when they were threatened, jailed, beaten, they were going to obey God rather than the Council. What an example that is for us. Further, they notice Peter describes Jesus as Savior and Leader. Lot's of people want a Savior, not...

Acts 5:17-21 Edwin and Andrew discuss one of the subtly funnies passages in the whole Bible. The Sadducees don't believe in Angels, but that didn't stop one from breaking the apostles out of jail. They also discuss some of the interesting similarities between how the priests acted over this jail break and the way modern skeptics act about Jesus and His resurrection. Read the written devo...

Acts 5:1-11 Edwin and Andrew hit the hot topic of Acts 5. Why on earth would the God of the New Testament kill Ananias and Sapphira. That's tough. That's shocking. Discover the differences between the God of the Old Testament and the New (hint, hint: There aren't as many as you might think). Also, find out what is actually pretty comforting about a God who shocks us. Check out the w...

Acts 5:1-11 Edwin and Andrew clear up the mistaken notion many people assert from the first couple of chapters of Acts. Which leads to a discussion of generosity and fellowship. Then, to top it all off, they notice that the Holy Spirit is God. We'd love to know what you are learning from Acts. Also, let us know any questions you have. Shoot us an e-mail at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Rea...

Acts 4:32-37 What an amazing statement about the first church. "There was not a needy person among them..." Edwin and Andrew unpack this statement, digging into its Old Testament background and explaining exactly the point Luke was making. It is powerful. They also take on a very common misunderstanding about the church in the modern world. You may want to consider it. Read the written d...