Acts (2010)

Imagine everything you believed being turned on its head! Jews who believed Christ was the promised Messiah were still connected to the Temple culturally and were just learning about the Holy Spirit and Christian baptism. Most of the rest of the world still worshiped pagan gods and goddesses. Into this maelstrom stepped the Apostle Paul who began leading people to Christ and forming churches. Dig into this riveting account of the history of baptism, the eight types of baptism, and what distinguishes believers' baptism from all others.

When did God hit the "pause button" on the role of the Mosaic Law in the lives of believers? Listen to this lesson to learn how the early years after Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension were a transitional passage as Church Age doctrine was being circulated. See how the Kingdom of God was still being offered to the Jews during this time span. Find out how the Apostle Paul adapted his observances to be able to reach both Jews and Gentiles with the Gospel message.

What if you were an Old Testament believer living away from Jerusalem in the first century? How long after Christ died, rose again, and ascended would you have heard about the changes that had taken place? Listen to this lesson to learn that the book of Acts tells of a gradual transition that was being made from the Mosaic Law to the Church Age. See how the Apostle Paul in his exhausted state was given three personal promises by God. Find out about Paul's vow and possible reasons why he shaved his head.

Looking for a little fun and action in a party town? In the 1st century you would head for the bustling, wealthy port city of Corinth with its many temples, games, and sensual pleasures. Find out how the Apostle Paul received personal guidance from the Holy Spirit to go there. Learn how he arrived dead tired and found a tent-making couple, Priscilla and Aquila, and joined with them in their business. See how he presented the gospel weekly by going to the synagogue and reasoning with the Jews in Corinth. Also includes 1 Corinthians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 2:9

Are you dreaming of an amazing world under one government where everyone speaks the same language? Listen to this lesson to learn that God, the Creator, did not design His world to function this way but instead established nations and oversees their rise and fall. Find out about the Divine institutions and how they provide protection and prosperity for people and nations who follow them. See how the Apostle Paul, without using experience, historical evidence or reason, witnessed to people who were suppressing what they already knew to be true about God.

"There's nothing new under the sun." Similar to many people today, the Athenians liked to dazzle everyone with grand words and brilliant insights. Listen to this lesson to see how the Apostle Paul bettered their arguments by tweaking superstitious beliefs so they could understand the gospel. Discover how all primitive religions believed that matter always existed which is a core belief of evolution today. See how clarifying the truths of the Creator God is a vital part of witnessing. Click here to access Dr. Dean's paper presented at the Conservative Theological Society referenced in this Bible class.

What gods do you worship? Success? Money? Happiness? The pagan Athenians worshiped all the gods, betting that some of them would come to their aid. Listen to this lesson to learn how the Apostle Paul used their worship of the unknown god to show there is only one true God, the God of Creation. Find out how everyone has enough evidence to know that God exists but suppresses that truth. Begin the fascinating study of the Chain of Being and see how evolution grew out of it. Click here to access Dr. Dean's paper presented at the Conservative Theological Society referenced in this Bible class.

Why do some people get mad as a hornet when talking about God? Listen to this lesson to learn the vital need for listening to others as they talk about what they already believe. See how the Apostle Paul skillfully used his insight into the Athenians to reason with them in a logical manner. Find out how he challenged them to worship the Creator rather than the creature. Discover key elements to sharpen your Bible study methods.

Would it surprise you to learn you could probably ace a pop culture quiz? Every day, without even trying, we soak up pagan ideas like a sponge. Listen to this lesson to learn how the Apostle Paul countered the trends of his day by teaching logical, reasonable truths from the Scriptures. Find out how we can learn to clarify our beliefs effectively so we stop one-shot, "drive-by" witnessing. See what it means to search the Scriptures daily like the Bereans.

Don't be spooked into seeing demons around every corner. When you have someone on your side who is bigger than the bad guys, you have nothing to fear. Listen to this lesson to learn about God's promises to protect believers from evil spirits. Find out what it means for our bodies to be temples of the Holy Spirit. Discover the significance of Jesus' parable about the empty house and His priestly prayer asking that we be guarded from the evil one.

When it seems like our life is spiraling out of control into chaos, where should we look for help? Fortune tellers, astrologers, mediums, and new age gurus promise us all kinds of answers. Listen to this lesson to learn what happened to King Saul when he went to the Witch of Endor for help. Find out the difference between demon influence and demon possession. Discover how God is always in control and we should never be afraid of the powers of evil.

Demons! Fortune tellers! Witches! Are they real or just something in scary movies, TV shows, and books? Listen to this lesson in Acts to learn how the Bible describes a very real spirit world and God's warning against the occult. Find out how worshiping anything in creation rather than the Creator opens us to demonic thoughts and influences. Discover God's assurances that He is in control and we have nothing to fear.

Dreams and visions sometimes gave the Apostle Paul his marching orders on his second missionary journey. Can we depend on them to give us a helping hand? Listen to this lesson to learn how direct revelation has ceased but how the Bible has all the answers we need now. See how the Holy Spirit made it possible for a wealthy businesswoman to understand the good news of the gospel. Find out about Paul's run-in with a slave girl and a demon and how demon influence can impact all of us today.

Had Paul lost it and was he out of his mind when he had Timothy circumcised? Hadn't he just argued successfully that circumcision no longer mattered? Listen to this lesson and follow the timeline of Paul's thinking. See how Timothy having a Jewish mother was important in Paul's decision. Learn the significance of circumcision to God's covenant with Abraham and how it has ethnic and cultural values today, but never for salvation or spiritual life.

My way or the highway! Is that your attitude when you disagree with someone? Listen to this lesson to learn how to be gracious to others and seek the absolute best for them even when they don't deserve it. Discover five spiritual skills you need to practice so you can love others as Christ loves you. Find out how the early church handled people problems and how even a sharp controversy between Barnabas and Paul was handled graciously.

How did the early church use the Old Testament to settle disputes about the Gentiles' role in the body of Christ? James in Acts 15 goes to the book of Amos and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit uses a "fuller sense" of the text to apply to the Church Age. Listen to this lesson to learn how Christ now being seated at the right hand of God instead of on David's throne means the church does not replace God's promises to Israel. Find out how the Masoretes translated the scriptures in the early centuries to leave out any references to the Messiah.

Knockdown, drag-out fights make rousing TV shows but don't do much to change opinions. When the early church began to have verbal brawls over the role of Jewish rituals, they decided to convene a council in Jerusalem to resolve the issue. The Pharisees had forgotten to check their rules at the door when they became believers and they wanted to impose them on new converts. Listen to this lesson to learn the different approaches Peter and James used to arrive at the conclusion that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. Find out about the four rules decided upon to bring goodwill between Jewish and Christian believers.

After we're saved, do we have to work our heads off and follow a lot of rules to please God? This was the burning question being debated in the early church. Many of the Jewish-background believers demanded that new Gentile converts be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law. Paul stood his ground, keeping his eye on the central issue of grace for both salvation and spiritual life. Follow the chronology of Paul's trips to Jerusalem and see the development of this issue as it is resolved. Understand the difference between legalists performing certain rituals to give them special standing in God's eyes and legitimate practices that lead to spiritual growth.

Paul's first missionary journey ignites an explosion of new believers in Jesus Christ across Asia Minor. Not willing to leave these converts in their "diapers", he and Barnabas face extreme danger as they go back and teach doctrine to start these "baby" believers on the road to maturity. Meanwhile, some Pharisee believers insist that the Gentile believers must be circumcised. Listen to this lesson to see how Paul demonstrates the role of a pastor and how circumcision was not just a religious ritual but was an act of patriotism to the Jews. Find out what the political landscape was like in the 1st century and follow the dynamic timeline of the early church.

The Apostle Paul's first missionary journey ends with an exhibition of sheer spiritual courage. He and Barnabas endure the wild swings of the pagan crowd in Lystra as they first yell out their adoration of them as gods and then erupt in a wild rage. After stoning Paul, they drag him out of town, but rather than lying low and hiding out, he and Barnabas continue on to Derbe before retracing their steps to teach and encourage the new converts. Explore the role of repentance in salvation, how God blesses all through common grace, and how to witness to those who have suppressed the truth.