Acts Lesson 5: A New Birth {The Church is Born}

Acts Lesson 6: The First Church Sermon {Peter’s New Sword}

This lesson (from Acts 2:14-36) is our look at the first sermon of the Church Age!  It was preached by Peter, who (amazingly) only 53 days earlier had committed the greatest denial of the Lord Jesus in history (it was the greatest because it was committed by a believer - and one who had the fantastic spiritual privilege of being the leader of the Lord's Apostles).  When we hear what "foot-in-mouth," impetuous Peter preached - now that he had been fully and gracious restored to his position in the Apostolate by the resurrected Lord Himself (John 21:15-19 - see our podcast Lesson #  from the Life of Christ study), we realize the answer to Christ's prayers for Peter (who Satan had desired to sift as wheat).  Peter's Spirit-filled, Spirit-led message was entirely Christ-centered, which is what all preaching should be!  It was also very practical, which all preaching should be!  His sermon is filled with application (what to do with the Truth one learns about Christ). Learn what Peter meant when he quoted from the Prophet Joel in his sermon!  Learn what the terms "day of the Lord" and "prophesy" in his sermon refer to.  Learn, too, about the tremendous fruit from this very first Church sermon in the lesson to follow, Lesson 7, "Early Church Growth".

Acts Lesson 5: A New Birth {The Church is Born}

Learn about the amazing morning when the Church was born in light of its prophetic significance!  It will amaze you how God fit everything the Jews did that day in celebration of the Feast of Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) - like read from the Books of Ezekiel and Habakkuk, which speak of whirlwind and brightness around an amber-colored fire that infolded itself, and a voice of a great rushing wind, and of a time of silence, followed by speech and God remembering mercy in His wrath. We discuss the difference between the baptism of the Spirit and the filling of the Spirit in this lesson.  We also discuss an interesting comparison/contrast between the work of God at Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) and the work of God on Pentecost (Acts 2:2-13).  We also discuss "the tongues" that the believers in Christ spoke when the Holy Spirit gifted them for the special occasion!

Acts Lesson 4: A Meaningful Day {The Fully Come Pentecost} SEVEN FEAST DAYS’ OVERVIEW!

A great SUMMARY of the 7 GOD-GIVEN FEAST DAYS, which serve as PROPHETIC PICTURE-TYPES of the MAJOR EVENTS in His OVERALL REDEMPTION PLAN (4 Spring Feasts: Christ's First Coming / 3 Fall Feasts: His Second Coming).  The Feast of Weeks (in Hebrew, Shavuot and in Greek, Pentecost) is the fourth Spring feast given to Israel by God in Leviticus 23.  It comes 50 days after the third Spring feast, the Feast of Firstfruits.   It was on the 50th day of her "new life" (freedom from her bondage to Egypt) that God, from Mount Sinai, gave Israel the Torah (the Law).  The rabbis declare this to be the "birth" of Judaism.  Is it not fascinating that the same feast day is celebrated by the Jews as the birth of Judaism and by Christians as the birth of the Church!   The Spirit's arrival on Pentecost 50 days after Christ's resurrection on the Feast of Firstfruits was the fulfillment of the Feast of Weeks.  This is what Luke meant when he wrote, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come" (Acts 2:1).  A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO LEARN!

Acts Lesson 3: A Productive Wait {Selection of Matthias to Replace Judas: Right or Wrong?}

This lesson is on Acts 1:12-26 and what the disciples of Christ did after His Ascension.  They were told by Him to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father.  We discuss all those we know were included in the 120 disciples, as well as others we speculate may have been included. We learn about their unified minds (they were all in "one accord") and their passionate prayers and the very high regard they had for the Word of God!  We also discuss the decision of the eleven Apostles to appoint a replacement for Judas, who had betrayed the Lord (and had then hung himself).   We discuss the three qualifications needed to be one of the Twelve.  We also discuss how it was that Matthias, whose name means "gift of God," was chosen - and if this choice was "of God".  Was not Paul the Lord's choice for Judas' replacement?  Tune in to find out!

Acts Lesson 2: A Last Look {The Ascension - Up, Up, and Away!}

The Lord's final post-resurrection appearance.  It took place in Jerusalem, where He was again with His Apostles, teaching them for the last time about Himself from the Old Testament Scriptures.  When He completed His teaching session, He took His men to the Mount of Olives; the same place He had gone 43 days earlier to pray in Gethsemane and then allowed Himself to be arrested.  It had been the appointed hour for Him to be lifted up on a cross to die for the sins of the world.  Now, in His glorified, resurrected body, it was the appointed hour for Him to again be lifted up, but not on a cross!  This time, He would defy gravity and return to the glory He had with His Father in Eternity Past.  Do you know what the last act of the Lord Jesus was before He left this earth?  He lifted up His forever nailed-scarred hands to bless the men He entrusted with the task of blessing the world with the message of the blessed Gospel of salvation in Him! Learn about Christ's Ascension, and the important words of two angelic messengers to the Apostles about His one-day Return!