Here Paul encounters a group of believers who knew only the baptism of John the Baptist. With insights from an early Christian writer, we explore the purpose and limitations of John’s baptism. The word spreads from Ephesus throughout the region, bearing fruit and creating conflict. Many publicly burn their very expensive collections of occult scrolls, […]
Paul’s second missionary trip is filled with adventures, and lessons for us. How do we handle disagreements between spiritual leaders? What can we learn from Timothy undergoing circumcision, "becoming all things to all men", to reach out to Jews? Here we see God using an unjust prison stay to bring a jailer and his family […]
Paul's Second Missionary Journey: Into Europe (Acts 15:36-16:40) View Lesson
Here we encounter Ananias and Sapphira, a married couple who brazenly lie to Peter in connection with a gift they gave to the church. They are each struck dead by God for lying, provoking great fear of God in the church. We take this graphic story as an opportunity to take a good look at […]
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends in fire on the apostles, a crowd gathers, and Peter preaches the resurrection of Jesus. He begins by explaining how Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Psalm 16: “You will not leave my soul in Hades...." Using related passages and insights from early Christians, we learn about […]
Pentecost: Peter Proclaims Jesus' Resurrection from the Dead (Acts 2:1-29) View Lesson
Why should we care about the ordination of the first priests? If we study this passage carefully, we may find ourselves hidden in the story. Like them, we have been washed, clothed with special clothing, anointed, and called to a ministry of sacrifice and prayer. Also, we will see that this anointing points to the […]
The ‘Spirit of Christ’ was in the prophets, who testified of Jesus' sufferings and the glories to follow. This includes things so remarkable that even angels desire to look into them! Peter’s masterful use of the Old Testament, whether addressing Jews or Gentiles, demonstrates the practicality and usefulness of the Old Testament to us today. […]
This lesson plunges us into deep waters: to understand the very nature and character of God. Is there a topic more challenging, more impossible to grasp? Yet the Hebrews writer tells the Christians that God "is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." In Exodus 31:18 we learn that the tablets of stone given […]
In this last lesson on the construction of the temple, we first take a look at the veil, which Hebrews tells us represents Jesus' flesh. With this in mind, we take a deeper look at the details of this veil to see if there are more parallels to Jesus. We also learn that the craftsmen who […]
Facing thirst, the Israelites complain and test the Lord. Moses is told to take his rod and strike a rock, from which water flows abundantly. We consider the significance of what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10: "that rock was Christ." Next, we review the battle against the Amalekites. Moses was told to maintain […]
Water from a Rock and Victory over the Amalekites (Exodus 17) View Lesson
Shortly after being delivered by God through the Red Sea, the Israelites complain when they face their first challenge in the Wilderness: no water to drink. Moses is told to cast a piece of wood into bitter (undrinkable) water, which miraculously becomes sweet. We consider two lessons from this encounter: first, the danger of complaining […]
First Steps in the Wilderness and a Water Crisis (Exodus 15) View Lesson