Acts: Episode I!

When was the last time you read the accounts of all of the different “acts” of the apostles after Jesus left? If your like most of us, it’s been a while. There are just the first few verses, but it gives a beautiful insight into the minds of the disciples after Jesus left. Oh, and it is a little thing called the birth of the church.

Overview:

Week 1: Acts 1.1-8 So, Now What?

Week 2: Acts 1.9-14 What Are You Look At?

Week 3: Acts 1.15-26 11+1=12.

Week 4: Acts 2.1-13 Windy Words.

Week 5: Acts 2.14-21 The Last Days.

A discussion series on a few favorite texts from the very people that live in Th3 Waters! Maybe the meaning we’ve always known and loved is different when we read it in context? Maybe it is even richer and more loved in its original and literary context? Lets see together.

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Overview:

Week 1: Luke 12:35-48 Much is Given, Much is Required (v48).

Week 2: Matthew 28:16-20 All Authority in Heaven and Earth (v18).

Week 3: 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:-7 Love! (vs4-7).

Week 4: Matthew 9:27-37 Compassion (v36).

Week 5: Psalm 91:1-16 Because He Loves me! (v14).

Scenic Telephone Box by fakelvis

The Calling!
A discussion series on the different ways God called people to live their lives in a different way for Him. Are we still listening for God to call us to live differently? Would we follow his calling or allow Jesus to pass us by and not follow?

Overview:
Week 1: Genesis 12:1-9 Abram there?
Week 2: Exodus 3:1-15 & 4:1-14 Hello, Moses?
Week 3: Mark 1:14-20/ Matthew 4:18-22/ Luke 5:1-11 I’m looking for fishermen.
Week 4: Matthew 9:9-13 Matthew, Follow Me!
Week 5: Acts 9:1-19 Is Saul… I mean Paul there?
Week 6: Mark 10:17-31 Wait, you called me, right?

In this new series we will be exploring the book of Ephesians and discussing a single chapter each week for 6 weeks… Since each chapter is a little long to post each week, here is the weekly guide with text and titles below, and a link to BibleGateway.com so you can search for the text on your own.

BibleGateway.com

Sacrifice. It seems like this word has been selectively forgotten in the western world. The lack of sacrifice among those called, “Christians” is something that needs to be remembered and even more so, lived out. Sacrifice. May this study encourage us to live into one of the greatest attributes of Jesus! Sacrifice!

Overview:
Week 1: Ephesians 1 Blessings Abound
Week 2: Ephesians 2 One Grace, One Humanity, One Kingdom
Week 3: Ephesians 3 Join the Change, Be the Change
Week 4: Ephesians 4 So, This is Who Your Supposed to Be
Week 5: Ephesians 5 Dealing With the Darkness and Division
Week 6: Ephesians 6 Power, Peace, Prayer

If you have any discussion for any of these weeks please feel free to discuss them in the comments of this post. Thank you!

Here is the text for this week:

Acts 3:1-10

1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Please feel free to create a dicussion in the comments. Blessings all you all!

Hey everyone:

Here is the text for this week! Blessing on yall!

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Acts 16:25-34

25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

Hey eveyone! Here is the next week’s text. This one is fun! Hope yall enjoy it!

Acts 10:9-16 & 30-48

9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14″Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
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30Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39″We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues[a] and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47″Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Footnotes:

a. Acts 10:46 Or other languages

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John 1:10-18

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[a] nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[b] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,[c][d]who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

Footnotes:

a. John 1:13 Greek of bloods
b. John 1:14 Or the Only Begotten
c. John 1:18 Or the Only Begotten
d. John 1:18 Some manuscripts but the only (or only begotten) Son

Follow the link to a great reminder to those of us who mightneed onearound this time of the year:

Advent Conspiracy Promo Video