7/2-7/8 Overview

The apostle “Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God” in Corinth (Acts 18:11 NIV). While he was there Paul probably wrote the letters to the Christians in Thessalonica. This week we will read 2 Thessalonians, and then briefly return to the book of Acts before turning to more of Paul’s letters in the New Testament in the coming weeks.

 

Below are some suggestions and questions to help you as you read scripture this week:

1. Approach scripture with humility. Seek to receive what the Bible reveals without trying to make it say what you want it to say.

2. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak a message to you through the verses you read.

3. What do these verses reveal about God?

4. What do these verses reveal about humanity?

5. What do these verses teach me about myself?

6. How do you see yourself in the story when reading biblical narratives?

In the verses of The Acts of the Apostles that we read at the end of last week it was noted that the apostle “Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God” in Corinth (Acts 18:11 NIV). Biblical scholars believe that Paul wrote his first letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, and perhaps the second one as well, during his time in Corinth. During the next two weeks we will read 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and then briefly return to the book of Acts before turning to another one of Paul’s letters.

6/18-6/24 Overview

In the verses and chapters of The Acts of the Apostles that we are reading this week Paul and his companions visit the Christians in the towns and cities where he had gone on his first missionary journey, knew companions join the group, including Timothy and Luke, there are new conversions with more people becoming believers, refreshing hospitality is given to the missionaries by a convert named Lydia, Paul and Silas are imprisoned and miraculously set free, a jailer and his family place their trust in Jesus for salvation and convert to Christianity, as the traveling continues Paul experiences a growing opposition to the gospel message, Paul shares a powerful Spirit-led sermon to the Gentiles in Athens, and the apostle receives a special message from the Lord during the night.

6/11-6/17 Overview

In the verses and chapters of The Acts of the Apostles that we are reading this week Paul and Barnabas complete their missionary journey and return to Antioch, some believers go to Antioch teaching that to “be saved” a person must become circumcised, Paul and Barnabas dispute and debate the teachings, discernment and a decision about Gentiles and Jewish faith practices for Christians is sought out by Paul and Barnabas when then they go to Jerusalem to speak to the leaders there, clarification is provided by the Jerusalem council led by Jesus’ brother, James, Paul and Barnabas part ways because of a disagreement about John Mark, and Paul begins visiting the churches that were formed during his first missionary journey.

6/4-6/10 Overview

On May 28th we celebrated the Day of Pentecost as a church family. The celebration continues on June 4th. We are celebrating the gift of God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church in Jerusalem as described in Acts 2, the wonderful things God has done, and the ongoing transformational work of the Spirit within Christians, the Church, and the world. May the Spirit of the living God fall afresh upon us.

 

In the verses and chapters of The Acts of the Apostles that we are reading this week, Barnabas and Saul are sent off on a missionary journey by the Holy Spirit from among the believers in Antioch while they are fasting and worshiping the Lord with the church (Acts 13:2). During their journey the two go to Cyprus to speak to the Jews in the synagogues, John Mark joins them for a short period of time, Saul begins to be called “Paul” (Acts 13:9), the journey continues to various locations, Saul/Paul heals a man who had been unable to walk since birth (Acts 14:8-10), the people of Lystra believe that Paul and Barnabas are Greek gods who have come to the earth, and Jews “from Antioch and Iconium” attempt to kill Paul by stoning him (Acts 14:19), but he survives.

5/28-6/3 Overview

During the earliest centuries of Christianity, Easter and the Day of Pentecost were the two most significant holy days of the Christian year. The celebration of Pentecost is a special and holy time for us as well! On May 28th we will celebrate the Day of Pentecost as a church family. The celebration will continue on June 4th. We will celebrate the gift of God’s presence with us through the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church in Jerusalem as described in Acts 2, and the ongoing transformational work of the Spirit within Christians, the Church, and the world.

 

In the verses and chapters of The Acts of the Apostles that we are reading this week Peter explains to the believers in Jerusalem what God has done in regards to the Gentiles in Cornelius’ household, Gentiles in Antioch turn to God through faith in Christ and join the church there, Barnabas recruits Saul of Tarsus to help him teach and lead the Christians in Antioch, the Holy Spirit enables some believers to have a prophetic spiritual gift, Christians financially support their brothers and sisters in Christ in need in other places, the first of the twelve apostles is martyred, and Simon Peter miraculously escapes from prison.

5/21-5/27 Overview

In the verses and chapters of The Acts of the Apostles that we are reading, this week Saul’s ministry continues even after Jews in Damascus conspire to kill him, Peter’s ministry reveals the Spirit and power of Christ working in and through him, and the first gentiles join the expanding church as the members of a household of a Roman Centurion respond to the Good News about Jesus through faith and receiving the Holy Spirit.

5/14-5/20 Overview

In the chapters for this week from The Acts of the Apostles, the church becomes “scattered throughout Judea and Samaria” because of increasing persecution (Acts 8:1 NIV), the Holy Spirit does mighty works through Philip among the Samaritans, an Ethiopian official who serves the queen is baptized as a believer becoming a catalyst for the spread of Christianity onto the African continent, and the persecutor of Jesus followers known as Saul of Tarsus has a life changing encounter with Christ which alters the direction of his life.

If you have not watched it yet, you are encouraged to WATCH the first of two Bible Project video summaries of the book of Acts to understand it more clearly before reading the verses on Monday. The video is available on YouTube: Book of Acts Summary (Part 1) by the Bible Project:

5/7-5/13 Overview

As we continue reading and studying The Acts of the Apostles, in the chapters for this week the apostles’ prayer from Acts 4:29-30 is being fulfilled, the apostles endure greater persecution, new leaders are chosen from among the believers as part of leadership delegation, and Stephen becomes the first martyr.

 

If you have not watched it yet, you are encouraged to WATCH the first of two Bible Project video summaries of the book of Acts to understand it more clearly before reading the verses on Monday. The video is available on YouTube:

Book of Acts Summary (Part 1) by the Bible Project:

4/30-5/6 Overview

The Acts of the Apostles began with Jesus’ final message to the disciples and his ascension, quickly transitioned to the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, and as we continue reading it will share decades of stories of the ongoing work of the Spirit within the apostles and disciples as they fulfilled Jesus’ commission to be his “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NIV). As we read throughout the coming days, weeks, and months, trust the Holy Spirit to guide you and the people of Avon UMC to continue being Jesus’ representatives and witnesses in our local community, throughout Greater Hendricks County and Indianapolis, among people we do not normally associate with, and further and further across the globe. Our journey through the book of Acts this week shares how the earliest Christians lived into a fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer from John 17.