Tag: acts of the apostles

Posted on

Bible Challenge Week 45: The Church – To the Uttermost Parts of the Earth

It was to Peter that Jesus gave “the keys to the Kingdom,” to unlock doors previously closed.  The door was the good news of the gospel, first open to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles.  Peter opened both doors.  But the one who stormed through the second one was the young man called Saul, later an old man known to us as “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ.”  In a total of four journeys, he would carry the gospel of Christ all the way to the capital of the Empire, and maybe even beyond.

It’s an exciting story we unfortunately don’t have the time to tell in one session.  But for a printable one-page download of this week’s challenge, with scripture passages to read, questions to discuss, and family activities, click here:

Bible Reading Challenge Week 45: The Church – to the Uttermost Parts of the Earth

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 44: The Church – To the Gentiles

Next: Week 46: The Church – Christ the Center

Posted on

Bible Challenge Week 44: The Church – to the Gentiles

The shocking death of Stephen acted like a catapult, flinging Christians out from Jerusalem in all directions.  That was God’s purpose, to carry out the next stage of his plan.  That next stage shouldn’t have been a surprise–the LORD had been hinting about it at least as far back as Abraham: “In you all nations shall be blessed.”  Prophets from Jonah to Isaiah had prophesied about God’s mercy extending beyond the Jews, out to “the nations.”  But as usual, the disciples were slow to catch on, including Peter.

What God is about to do will cause anger, confusion and bewilderment . . and finally acceptance.  In the 2000 years since, all nations have indeed been blessed.

To find out more, click below for the printable .pdf, with scripture references, discussion questions, and activities:

Bible Reading Challenge Week 44: The Church – To the Gentiles

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 43: The Church – From Jerusalem to Samaria

Next: Week 45: The Church – To the Uttermost Parts of the Earth

Posted on

Bible Challenge Week 43: The Church – From Jerusalem to Samaria

The church is growing because the gospel is spreading.  But just what is “the gospel”?  There’s a lot of confusion about that today, just as there was in the first century.  And just as there is in today’s church, the first-century church faced its problems.  Some of them were unique to those early days, but other problems are still with us: hypocrisy, glory-seeking, false teaching, and sudden, wrenching losses.  You would think that twelve divinely-appointed and sanctified apostles, who had spent the last three years with Jesus himself, would be able to run things perfectly.  In some ways it’s a reassurance to know that even the best, most saintly saints can’t do everything right.

It’s reassuring because the growth of the church didn’t depend on them.  Who was really in charge?

Click below for a printable download with scripture passages, thought questions, and family activities:

Bible Reading Challenge Week 43: The Church – From Jerusalem to Samaria

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 42: The Church – He’s Alive!

Next: Week 44: The Church – To the Gentiles