Acts Of The Apostles Laura L. Zielke

This week we finished our study of the second chapter of Acts (phew!) by examining the summary paragraph which Luke wrote to separate the events on Pentecost from the healing of the lame man at the Temple. We see a sketch of what daily life was like in this nascent community as they shared their... The post Acts 2:42-47 ~ A New Remnant appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we took a break from our verse-by-verse study in order to process what we’ve been studying the past couple of weeks. There are only two sacred ordinances which the Lord Jesus established for His followers: Baptism  and Communion . Since these are observed differently depending on one’s denomination, we took the entire class time... The post Acts 2:38 ~ The Beautiful Mystery of Baptism & Communion appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we continued our examination of Peter’s answer to the crowd’s question: “What should we do?” We did a quick review of last week’s lesson, and had a great discussion about the salvation process. I think I’ve muddied the waters by using the words “step one” and “step two” in the exegesis of this passage,... The post Acts 2:37-41 ~ Step 2: Be Baptized appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we began our examination of the response of the crowd to whom Peter was preaching in Acts 2:14-36. We enjoyed a lively discussion about evangelism and salvation. We agreed that it is the Holy Spirit who is consistently drawing people to the Lord. We discussed the first step towards salvation: Repentance. Please Note: This step... The post Acts 2:37-38 ~ Now What? Step 1: Repent! appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we took a few minutes to finish up our rabbit trail from last week. We looked at five ways to understand Jesus’ descent into hades. After that, we continued our verse-by-verse study of Peter’s first sermon in Acts 2. We looked at how he built his argument from beginning to end PROVING through... The post Acts 2:29-40 ~ Peter Concludes His Sermon + Bonus appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we continued in our study of Peter’s first sermon—yes, I know… this is becoming a thing! Well, listen, we like to take our time and really dig into the Word, and the class is discussion-based. So, you might as well grab a cup of your favorite beverage, a Bible, and a notepad for... The post Acts 2:25-36 ~ Prophecy Fulfilled (and a Rabbit Trail) appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we continued in our study of Peter’s first sermon which he preached on Pentecost. We didn’t get very far, but we had great discussions and a few rabbit trails. We looked at how Peter flipped the table on those who were accusing them of drunkenness by accusing the accusers of murder! We also... The post Acts 2:22-24 ~ Death Could Not Hold Him appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we took a second look at Joel’s prophecy as quoted in Acts 2:17-21. We looked at the chiastic construction of verse 19, and then we focused on the apocalyptic imagery of Joel’s prophecy. We discussed the timing of Peter’s claim that the prophecy had been fulfilled. We may not all agree, but that is beside the... The post Acts 2:14-21 ~ Prophecy Fulfilled appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we got back into our routine of verse-by-verse study of Acts. We read through the entirety of Peter’s first sermon/speech, and then closely examined verses 14-21. We discussed the inspiration of the Scripture and Luke’s dedication to accurate transmission of facts and the challenge of summarizing this speech. We also learned an eight-syllable... The post Acts 2:1-41 ~ Peter’s First Sermon (Part One) appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we continued our break from verse-by-verse study, and instead, we surveyed the large number and wide variety of public speeches in Acts. We also discussed various approaches to the source material for them including: verbatim inspiration, fabrication, and research-based summation (still inspired). We reflected on the freedom the Lord allowed for the writer’s own... The post Acts 2:14 ~ The Speeches of Acts appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we took a break from our verse-by-verse study of the book of Acts, and instead, we discussed the gift of Tongues. We discussed the various ways we have personally witnessed and/or experienced the gift. We created a safe space for class members to share diverse points of view. The discussion led us to 1... The post Acts 2:5 ~ The Gift of Tongues appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we continued our study of the first Christian Pentecost. We discussed the coming of the Holy Spirit in more depth, and enjoyed a few rabbit trails along the way. We discussed how it was possible that there were so many “foreign” Jews living in Jerusalem and from whence they came. We discussed what drew the crowd,... The post Acts 2:1-13 ~ Arrival of the Holy Spirit (Part 2) appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we studied, in a general overview-ish type of way, the watershed event that Christians often refer to as Pentecost. We learned that Pentecost was actually a centuries-old annual festival celebrating the end of the wheat harvest and a time of spiritual (covenantal) renewal for the Jewish people. But on this particular Pentecost—fifty days... The post Acts 2:1-13 ~ Arrival of the Holy Spirit (Part 1) appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we studied the process of choosing a replacement for the position that Judas left vacant after his betrayal and suicide. We examined the prerequisites of those put forth as candidates, the narrowing down of the field, the prayer, the casting of lots, and the choice. We also discussed the controversial suggestion (a) that this... The post Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 ~ To Replace or Not to Replace? That Is the Question! appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week we studied Peter’s stepping into leadership, what happened to Judas, and why his position was replaced. Since Matthew’s account of Judas’ demise differs from what Luke recorded, we examined the so-called discrepancies to see if they could be reconciled. We also took a side trip (a.k.a. rabbit trail) to discuss the evolution of... The post Acts 1:15-20 ~ What Happened to Judas? appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week, we studied the Ascension of Jesus Christ—it’s necessity and historical relevance. Then, we began to look at the make-up of Jesus’ followers who remained in Jerusalem after this amazing event. We compared the lists of apostles in Matthew, Luke, and Acts, noting one obviously missing person. >> Click to read this week’s passage... The post Acts 1:9-15 ~ It Was NOT a Nimbus appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week, we started our verse-by-verse study in Acts. We looked at the overlap between the final verses of Luke’s Gospel and the first few verses of Acts–similarities and differences–and explored the Ascension as the “watershed” between this two-volume work. We talked about what “convincing proofs” are, and why Luke’s record of post-resurrection appearances and... The post Acts 1:1-8 ~ He’s Really Alive! appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week, we finished up the introduction to our new study of the “Acts of the Apostles” with a broad overview of the book and the six-panel structure which shows the continual growth of Christianity from A.D. 30 through A.D. 62-63. This introductory study will cover date, authorship, purpose, key themes, and audience. You’ll need... The post Introduction to Acts, Part 2 appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.

This week, we begin our study of the “Acts of the Apostles” with a broad overview of the book and it’s position in the New Testament. This introductory study will cover date, authorship, purpose, key themes, and audience. We will also explore the strong connection between Acts and the Gospel of Luke. >> Click here to... The post Introduction to Acts, Part 1 appeared first on Laura L. Zielke.