Acts Bible Study: Day 29 Today’s passage: Acts 19:1 to Acts 20:1 Focus verse: When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:6) Next Paul heads to Ephesus. He finds a dozen believers there but is shocked that they haven’t received the gift […]
Acts Bible Study: Day 26 Today’s passage: Acts 16 Focus verse: After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. (Acts 16:23) As Paul heads out with his new apprentice, Silas, they go to Derby and then on to Lystra. In Lystra they meet Timothy. […]
Acts Bible Study: Day 14 Today’s passage: Acts 8:26–40 Focus verse: Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road.” (Acts 8:26) Though God’s doing amazing work in Samaria through Philip, God doesn’t have him stick around to help the people grow in their new faith. Instead, God sends […]
The Promised Gift of the Holy Spirit Today’s passage: Acts 1:4–5, along with Luke 24:49 Focus verse: “John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:5) After Luke concludes his introduction to the book of Acts, straightaway he shares a story about Jesus and his […]
Luke Bible Study, Day 7 Today’s passage: Luke 3:21–38 Focus verse:“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22) When the people ask John if he’s the Messiah, whom the Old Testament prophets foretold, he tells them he’s not, but he’s indirect about it. By way of an answer, […]
The Father Is the Destination and the Savior Provides the Path Jesus tells Thomas, “I am the way.” The only way to get to the Father is through the Savior (John 14:5-6). He’s not a way. He’s the only way. Though many people uphold the Christ as the primacy of the Trinity, we must remember […]
Understand How to Respond to This Perplexing Practice A perplexing verse in Paul’s letter to his friends in Corinth mentions being baptized for dead people. What in the world does this mean? It sounds heretical. Can we be baptized for dead people? Well, I suppose so, but we shouldn’t expect it to accomplish anything. Should […]
Valued friends invite us to visit a church they’ve been going to for about six months. This surprises me: not the invitation part but that they’re going to an organized church and not the house church they’ve been involved with for several years. They now attend both, interweaving their participation as their schedule permits. Gifts […]
As a reference, I share attending our home church on Easter Sunday. This marks the end of 52 Churches and the start of More Than 52 Churches. Though I strive to remain objective in visiting churches, our home church forms the lens I look through. Consider these seven discussion questions about Church #53. 1. I […]
Our journey of visiting fifty-two churches in a year is over. I’m sad and excited at the same time. Our reunion with our home church community looms large. We will be home for Easter Sunday. It’s Easter, and we’re returning to the people we love and have missed. I expect a joyful homecoming and a […]