Observe the Word

Acts 28:7-31 The Kingdom of God

In Acts 28:7-31 Paul arrives in Rome preaching the kingdom of God. We have been told Paul must stand before Caesar and the gospel must reach the remotest parts of the earth. How does the ending of Acts provide resolution to Luke's narrative while leaving these crucial events unresolved?

Acts 27:1-28:6 God’s Sovereignty Over the Journey

In Acts 27:1-28:6 God's sovereignty over the events of Paul's life reaches a climax as God leads him into a violent storm and brings him safely through, destined to preach the gospel in Rome.

Acts 25:1-26:32 The Gospel’s Message for the World

In Acts 25:1-26:32 Paul stands before King Agrippa. Once again he is made the focus of judgment. But Paul does not offer up his own behavior for evaluation or defense. Paul offers to the gathered dignitaries for their consideration his message to the world, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Acts 23:12-24:27 The Gospel’s Attitude to Morality and Law

In Acts 23:12-24:27 Paul's gospel is on trial being judged according to its attitude to law and morality with a contrast between Paul's own behavior and the behavior of his opponents.

Acts 21:17-23:11 The Gospel‘s Respect for Conscience

In Acts 21:17-23:11 Paul's gospel is on trial being judged according to its respect for conscience in relation to the non-essentials of ritual practice and the essentials of faith in Jesus and the resurrection.

Acts 20:1-21:16 Defense by Miracle, Message and Prophecy

In Acts 20:1-21:16, Luke ends the first movement of Part VI with a three-part defense of Paul's gospel ministry: a miracle of resurrection, a speech to partners in the gospel, and prophecies identifying Paul's coming trials as part of God's sovereign plan.

Acts 19:21-41 The Defense of Paul and the Riot in Ephesus

In Acts 19:21-41, Luke begins Part VI the final major section of the letter in which he provides a defense of the gospel by defending the gospel's messenger Paul. Each of the five movements in this part contains a danger avoided, beginning here with a riot.

Acts 19:1-20 The Holy Spirit and the Name of Jesus

In Acts 19:1-20, Luke completes Acts Part V with a focus on how the Kingdom of God, being established in Ephesus, clashed with the spiritual forces of darkness in that city.

Acts 18:1-28 Jesus Christ and the New People of God

In Acts 18:1-28, Luke continues to define and defend the gospel as Paul's preaching encounters Gentile culture with an emphasis in Corinth on the particularly new covenant expression of the local community of God's people.

Acts 17:1-34 Gentile Philosophy, Politics and Religion

In Acts 17:1-34, Luke uses the gospel's encounter with Gentile philosophy, politics and religion to highlight the Christian beliefs that God is the one true creator God and Jesus Christ is Lord and judge of all peoples.

Acts 16:6-40 The Holy Spirit and the Powers of Darkness

In Acts 16:6-40, Luke begins Part V of Acts with a problem in Philippi that provides insight into the Holy Spirit's work in the life of a believer contrasted to the pagan experience of spiritism.

Acts 15:22-16:5 The Jerusalem Council - 2nd Question

In Acts 15:22-16:5, the apostles and elders in Jerusalem send a letter to Gentile believers urging obedience to certain commands. Why? This is a 2nd question of covenant issue.

Acts 15:1-21 The Jerusalem Council – 1st Question

In Acts 15:1-21, the missionary expansion of the gospel among Gentiles forces the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem to address the theology of Gentile inclusion beginning with the first question of covenant.

Acts 14:1-28 Paul’s Strategy – Iconium to Derbe and Back Again

In Acts 14:1-28, we consider seven strategic actions that help us understand the missionary ministry of Paul.

Acts 13:13-52 Paul’s Speech in the Synagogue of Promise and Fulfillment

In Acts 13:13-52, we consider in this unique example of Paul preaching in a synagogue the proclamation of promise fulfilled in Jesus and the response of both Jews and Gentiles in Pisidian Antioch.

Acts 12:25-13:12 The Holy Spirit Initiates Gospel Mission to Gentiles

In Acts 12:25-13:12, from the church of Antioch gospel mission to Gentiles begins, being initiated and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 12:1-24 The Power of God, the Power of Man, and Angels

In Acts 12:1-24, two stories sharing the common factors of King Herod and an angel present for us the ongoing struggle between the power of man and the power of God.

Acts 11:19-30 The Healthy Christian Community at Antioch

In Acts 11:19-30, the first report of a church plant of Gentiles in the major urban city of Antioch provides a widow into an early, healthy Christian community suggesting principles to apply in our own communities.

Acts 11:1-18 Cornelius’ Household and Speaking in Tongues

In Acts 11:1-18, Peter reports back to the believers in Jerusalem concerning the events at Cornelius' household, raising questions for us about the modern day understanding of the gift of tongues and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:1-48 Culture, Covenant and the Inclusion of Gentiles

In Acts 10:1-48, Peter is shaken by the implications of the New Covenant when God forces him to acknowledge the end of the ceremonial cleanliness code and to consider his own inner prejudice against non-Jews.

Acts 9:32-43 Gospel Witness Through Signs and Charity

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.

Acts 9:1-31 The Persecutor Transformed Into Ambassador

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

Acts 8:25-40 Inclusion of an Ethiopian Eunuch

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.

Acts 8:1-24 The Samarian Awakening

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.

Acts 7:1-53 Stephen's Speech

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.

Acts 6:8-15 and 7:54-60 Stephen's Arrest and Death

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.

Acts 5:17-6:7 Further External and Internal Conflict

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.

Acts 4:32-5:16 Internal Threat of Hypocrisy

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.

Acts 4:1-31 External Threat from the Jerusalem Establishment

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?

Acts 3 A Sign of Healing and Witness to Jesus Christ

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. 

Acts 2:22-47 Pentecost and Witness to Jesus Christ

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.

Acts 2:1-21 Pentecost and the Holy Spirit

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.

Acts 1:12-26 The Replacement of the Twelfth Apostle

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.

Acts 1:1-11 The Commission of Jesus Christ

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.

John 21 The Journey of Faith

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."

John 20 The Empty Tomb and Risen Lord

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.

John 19.17-42 The Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus

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.

John 18.28-19.16 The Trial of Jesus

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.

 

John 18.1-27 The Arrest of Jesus

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.

 

John 17.20-26 Jesus Prays for Us

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.

 

John 17.6-19 Jesus Prays for His Disciples

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?

John 17.1-5 Jesus Prays for His Glory

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?

John 16.16-33 Ask the Father in My 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."

John 15.18-16.15 Witness in the World

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.

John 15.12-17 Fruit That Remains

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."

John 15.1-11 Abiding in Christ

In John 15 Jesus provides for us the simple and deep discipleship image of the vine and the branches. We will consider the heart of abiding in Christ, the acts of abiding in Christ and the fruit of abiding in Christ.

John 14b and 16a The Promised Holy Spirit

In John 14:16-31 and John 16:5-15 Jesus we consider the promise of Jesus to send the Holy Spirit, who is the promised Holy Spirit and what roles does the Holy Spirit fulfill in the lives of believers.

John 14 Jesus Comforts His Disciples

In John 14 while comforting his disciples Jesus further develops the nature of discipleship, emphasizing the message of the disciple and the submission of the disciple.

John 13.21-38 A New Commandment

In John 13:21-38 Jesus issues a new commandment for his disciples to love one another even as he has loved them. The command comes in a somber atmosphere as Jesus announces his plan to leave the disciples and foretells of his betrayal and denial.

John 13.1-20 Jesus Sanctifies His Disciples

In John 13:1-20 we begin the section of John's Gospel that focuses on true discipleship with three lessons from Jesus' symbolic act of washing his disciples' feet.