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.

The Annunciation, Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1898

Advent ‘09 The Expectation is a discussion series that will be following the Lectionary leading up to the remembrance of the birth of Jesus. The purpose of Advent similar to lent is to prepare one’s heart each year for the coming of Jesus into the world. Are you expectant? Or are you filled with expectations? Will you allow this king to be your king even in the form of a baby? Let’s join into the discussion!

Overview:

Week 1: Jeremiah 33:14-16 The Righteous Branch

Week 2: Luke 3:1-6 The Voice

Week 3: Luke 3:7-18 The Expectant Waiting

Week 4: Luke 1:39-45 Believe

Week 5: John 1:1-14 Tabernacle among us!

photo by Blujeeves

Here is a discussion series that looks at a few of the scriptures that have inspired hymns over the years. We sing them all the time, but now we have an opportunity to read and discuss the scriptures that we sing.

Series Overview:

Week 1: Revelation 4.1-6 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty (UMH 64).

Week 2: Luke 7.18-23 Oh For a Thousand Tongues To Sing (UMH 57).

Week 3: 1 John 4.7-21 My Jesus I Love Thee (UMH 172).

Week 4: Isaiah 11.1-12 Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel (UMH 211).

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?

David!
King David is one of the most know people in the bible, from his unsuspecting heritage to his well known mistakes he still has the title of a man after God’s own heart. For the next few weeks we will be talking about some of the large events happening in his life and trying to make sense of the myth and or truth behind this famous King.

BibleGateway.com

Overview:
Week 1: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 The Heart View
Week 2: 1 Samuel 17:32-58 Who’s Son is This?
Week 3: 1Samuel 20:1-4 & 12-17 & 27-42 True Friendship
Week 4: 1 Samuel 24 Character of Grace
Week 5: 2 Samuel 11:1-16 & 22-27 Displeasure
Week 6: 2 Samuel 12:1-14 Honest Consequences

Please feel free to start or join a discussion in the comments on this post.

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!

this was suposed to go out last week, but alas I missed it. Oh well, here it is a week late.

Acts 2

¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹(both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹²Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

¹³Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.^[b]”

¹⁴Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
¹⁷” ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
¹⁹I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
²⁰The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
²¹And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’^[c]

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!