Befriending the Bible

This episode will introduce you to the meaning of "Gospel", an overview of the Gospel of Mark, and the author's presentation of Jesus and the disciples. The session concludes with the approach in terms of sessions that will follow according to the literary outline of Mark.

Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

This final podcast looks back over our study of the Acts of the Apostles. It offers an overview of Acts, Luke's approach, some of the key insights of Luke's work and the theological contributions which the Acts of the Apostles offers its listeners, not only the original audience but ourselves.

Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

We finally arrive at the last two chapters of Luke's wonderful story of the growth of the Jesus movement from Jerusalem, Judea, into Samaria and 'to the ends of the Earth'. Paul and his traveling companions leave Caesarea where he has been tried and appealed to Caesar. An absorbing story follows of Paul's voyage, shipwreck, rescue, experience of hospitality, ministry of healing and preaching, finally arriving at his final destiny, Rome. Here he lives under house arrest, welcomes visitors, and proclaims the Kingdom of God and the Gospel of Jesus. Luke's story ends with Paul preaching "openly and unhindered"--an image of the future of the Jesus movement.

Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

Paul is under arrest in Caesarea in Herod's Praetorium. He is accused by his co-religionists of being unfaithful to his Jewish heritage. Luke uses these chapters to sum up Paul's mission and Luke's agenda--to bring light to the Gentiles. In Paul's apologia, his defense speeches, the Lukan hero reminds the listeners of Acts what the whole purpose of Acts is about. The people of the Way are an authentic expression of Jewish life who are not charlatans or fomenters of unrest. Rather they, through the example and witness of Paul in these chapters, are innocent of any accusations leveled against them.  In his defense, Paul appeals to be tried by Caesar in Rome. Luke prepares us for the final two chapters of Acts and the dramatic voyage that Paul will undertake as he sails to Rome.

Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

As Paul concludes his third missionary journey he travels (by ship) from Miletus arriving finally at Jerusalem. He meets the Jesus leaders, before sharing his story of encounter with the risen Jesus. Paul also undergoes a civil trial, rescued by the tribune. Finally, after learning that Paul is a Roman citizen, born at Tarsus, 'no mean city', and discovering that there is a plot to kill him, the tribune sends Paul with an extraordinarily large military escort to Caesarea. Here Paul is incarcerated in Herod's praetorium. We await what unfolds!

Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

We pick up Luke's story at Acts 11.19 as the Gospel spreads further beyond the Jewish world, into Phoenicia, Cyprus and to the major city of Antioch. Antioch will become a center for the Gentile Jesus movement, sponsored by Barnabas, the representative of the Jerusalem leadership, and Paul. From Antioch, Barnabas and Saul undertake their first missionary journey, sailing first to Cyprus, then on to Asia Minor (Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Perge). The two finally return to Antioch with the story of their preaching tour and celebrating "all that God had done with them, and how God had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles" (14.27).

Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

Luke continues to narrate the experiences of the Jerusalem Jesus household. Inner tensions emerge between Greek and Hebrew-speaking widows revealing 'cracks' in the 'idyllic' Jesus household (6.1-6). The apostles respond and Seven, including Stephen and Philip, are appointed to address the issue. Stephen is arrested by the religious authorities (6.8-15). In his long speech--the longest in Acts--Luke offers a way of interpreting the Israelite story that affirms Jesus as authentically linked to Israel and the growth of the Jesus movement (7.1-53). Stephen's critique of the religious leaders results in his death, dying like Luke's Jesus with forgiveness on his lips for his executors (7.54-8.1a). Present at Stephen's execution is Saul (later called Paul), who will become Luke's hero as Acts unfolds. Philip continues to preach the Gospel, first in Samaria (8.4-13) and next to an Ethiopian government official on his way from Jerusalem back to Ethiopia (8.20-40). Philip's baptism of the Ethiopian indicates that the Good News of Jesus is moving beyond the Jewish world into the wider reaches of the Mediterranean world. We await now what happens.

Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

After spending time in Corinth, Paul begins his third missionary journey (18.23), traveling on to Ephesus and, after a few other excursions, to Miletus en route to Jerusalem where he farewells the Elders from Ephesus with a beautiful, powerful and pastoral address. 

Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

Acts 15 is a watershed moment in Luke's narrative journey with us. The Jerusalem Jewish leaders of the Jesus movement formally decide to incorporate Gentile Jesus followers into the movement. This cements the welcome which Jesus members must have to non-Jews. The decision, with certain restrictions, is communicated back to Antioch and is received warmly. Paul undertakes his second missionary journey with Silas and Timothy (15.36f), travelling overland to the places visited earlier and then is invited to journey to Europe (16.9-10). He preaches in Philippi (16.11-40), Thessaloniki (17.1-9), Beroea (17.10-14) and finally Athens (17.15-34). With Paul in Athens conversing with its philosophers and attracting adherents, the Gospel has now reached one of the major cultural centres of the ancient world.  

Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.

Luke's fascinating story takes a significant turn (for the better!) in these chapters of Acts. Saul (later, "Paul") converts, not from Judaism to "Christianity" but from being a persecutor of Jesus followers (now called people of "The Way") to becoming a disciple of Jesus (9.1-19). He begins preaching about Jesus, is treated with suspicion, is threatened by his Jewish co-religionists and is whisked away, secreted out of Damascus, back to his hometown of Tarsus (9.20-30). Peter next returns to Luke's story. He heals in towns away of Jerusalem and closer to the Mediterranean (9.32-43), lodges with an unclean tanner where he has a perplexing vision, and then to Caesarea into the household of a Gentile. He is convinced that God's Spirit is at work among these Gentile Romans and baptises the household. This is a major turning point in Luke's story  (10.1-48). Through Peter's action, Gentiles are now incorporated into the Jesus movement, originally Jewish. Peter later explains his actions to the Jerusalem leadership (11.1-18) who declare "To the Gentiles also God has granted repentance until life" (11.18). 

Notes (from the Catholic Parish of Lockleys in South Australia--www.lockleysparish.com) that accompanies this presentation can be found here.