Week 8 (5.29.2016) Ground Work: Read Acts 14:8-23 From Antioch of Pisidia, Paul and Barnabas traveled about 85 miles southeast to Iconium (modern day Konya) by way of the Roman highway called the Via Sebaste which connected Ephesus on the Western coast of Asia Minor with Syria in the East. This was the most important city Paul...

Week 7 (5.22.2016) Ground Work: Read: Acts 13:13-52 Paul and Barnabas visited Antioch of Pisidia (in Asia Minor or Turkey. This is a different city than Antioch in Syria) and Paul's sermon in the Jewish synagogue caused a great stir among the citizens. Paul recounted the history of God’s activity in and through various Jewish leaders. ...

Week 6 (5.15.2016) Ground Work: Acts 13:4-12 The first missionary journey is set to begin (Acts 13-14).  Saul will embark on three missionary journeys throughout the Acts of the Apostles.  The second (Acts 15:36-18:22) and the third missionary journeys (Acts 18:23-21:16) took Saul through Asia Minor and into Europe by way of Macedonia and Greece.  Saul and...

Week 4 (5.1.2016) Ground Work: Read Acts 11:19-26 As followers of Christ, we have God the Holy Spirit dwelling within us who is the source of power and direction for all that God wants to accomplish through our lives.  The day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit we call the feast of Pentecost which follows Easter...

Week 3 (4.24.2016) The Acts of the Apostles The Acts of the Apostles is the second book written by the Gospel writer Luke.  In the first book, Luke wrote his account of the life and ministry of Jesus.  The book of Acts, stands as the only book of its kind weaving the stories of Peter and the...

Week 2 (4.17.2016) Ground Work: Read Luke 19:1-27 Jesus showed us his eyes wide open when he looked up and saw Zacchaeus standing in a sycamore tree along the roadside of a crowed street in the village of Jericho (19:1-10).  At eye level, Jesus would have seen a myriad of faces eager to get a good look...

eyes wide open: an eight week study Week 1 April 10-16 Introduction You and I are called to be part of something so much bigger than ourselves.  Our world knowingly or unknowingly is crying in desperation for what lies deep within our soul: the life-giving gift and...

Week Eight: April 3 - 9 Read John 21 (The Addendum) At a later time, another editor added chapter 21 which is evident in the Greek with new words and phrases.  Let us take quick look at what this chapter tell us: Jesus appears to the seven disciples and charges Peter to feed and love the church. There...

Week Seven: March 27 – April 2 Read John 20 On the first day of the week, Jesus rose from dead, appeared to Mary Magdalene, the disciples and to Thomas.  The final two weeks will be a shorter study with a few notes, observations and a challenge or two.  Mary Magdalene was introduced to us in John...

Week Six: March 20 – 26, 2016 Read John 19:16b-42   Jesus was crucified, died and was buried.  These are the three movements in the death of Jesus to end chapter 19.  The scene begins with Jesus carrying his cross.  In reality, this probably means that Jesus carried the cross beam.  The vertical beam would already be in...