We begin our new series by examining the two creation accounts and the countercultural narrative of God's creation of male and female. God made men and women in his image and tasked them, as partners, with fruitfulness and dominion. 

From Jesus' prayers in the gospels to the church gathered to pray in homes and the temple, God's people are a people of prayer. As we wrap up our series on Acts, we're looking at one last theme: prayer. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, and as they took the gospel ot the world, they taught us to pray as well. 

We are continuing to look at the major themes of Acts. This week we look at Christ's calling to bear witness. The church sent missionaries to the world, but each also took responsibility for bearing witness wherever they were. We look at what it means to be participants in that work today.  

We are concluding our Acts study by looking back at the major themes of the book. This week, we are looking at the prominence of food and meals. The church ate together, and it was at the table that the church grew in unexpected ways. Why do meals together still matter for the church today?

As we wrap up our study of Acts, we are taking a few weeks to look back at the major themes of the book. This week, we look at the prominent work of the Spirit, and why it is significant that the Spirit is not just poured out on leaders or apostles, but on all flesh: young and old, male and female, influential and common people.

Paul finally arrives in Rome. But for all the difficulty in arriving, the final image is humble. Paul does what he has done in nearly every city before. Instead of a dramatic ending, Acts concludes with an image of faithfulness and the promise that nothing can hinder the gospel from going forward.

Shippwrecked on the island of Malta, Paul still faced danger. Bitten by a snake, Paul was again saved by God's power and used it as an opportunity to bear witness to those on the island. Pastor Barry Kinzer walks us through the passage. 

Paul finally set sail for Rome, but it did not take long for him to run into more trouble. This time it was a major storm at sea. Though experienced, the crew was overwhelmed and hopeless, believing there was no chance of survival. But Paul had heard from the. He and all who stayed with the ship would be saved. 

Before Festus and Agrippa, Paul made another defense. But this time, Paul spent the majority of his speech explaining once again how he had encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and how Jesus had called him to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul offers us two ways of looking at life: our own attempts to build the life we want and a submission to the leading and calling of God to follow his plans. 

Paul had been told that he would bear witness before kings and rulers. As Felix was removed from power, Paul found himself transferred to the control of Festus, who was soon joined by Herod Agrippa II. Luke takes a whole chapter to set up the scene, complete with royal robes, processionals, and palaces. We see why that setting mattered to Luke and why it still matters today.