As they begin to grow the Church, the first apostles and elders meet to decide who's in and who's out. Two thousand years later, we're still figuring it out.

How do we understand what we're reading?

The Holy Spirit is the presence of God alive in each of us, teaching us truth and fully equipping us for life in the Kingdom—if we'll submit to it.

Although we may at times feel as though we're in deep over our heads, Jesus invites us to go deeper with Him into the Scriptures and into Christian fellowship.

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything.

Most often, nobody but Jesus gets it.

What don't we see when we see Jesus?

There are no islands in the Kingdom of God. True Kingdom living is about community, connection and recognizing that we need each other.

Alienation hurts. That's true for us, and it's true for God. So the Father takes the initiative: God — unwilling to leave us dead and lost — is like the woman, the shepherd and the father who spare no effort to secure reconciliation and celebrate when what is lost is found at last.

Jesus is serious about repentance.