The Journey Begins: Immerse Luke & Acts - Episode 1

Get your copy of Immerse Luke & Acts or the complete Immerse Bible set at https://www.tyndale.com/ This episode kicks off the 'Immerse Luke & Acts' series with the background of Luke and Acts, the longest narrative in the New Testament. Initially addressed to Theophilus, a Gentile Roman official, this detailed account was created to reassure him and other Gentiles of their place in Jesus' movement. The episode delves into Luke's unique qualifications as an author, his collaboration with Paul, and the structure of the Gospel of Luke and Acts. Key events like the birth of John the Baptist, the annunciation to Mary, and the early ministry of Jesus are explored. Join us as we embark on this journey through the life of Jesus and the spread of the early church. If you or your church are interested in joining the 1 Million More Bibles movement by reading through God's Word together, visit https://onemillionmore.bible for free guides and tools.

00:00 Introduction to Luke and Acts
00:07 Theophilus and the Purpose of Luke-Acts
01:47 The Life and Ministry of Jesus
02:59 Phases of the Early Christian Movement
05:24 The Birth of John the Baptist
08:11 The Annunciation to Mary
09:44 Mary Visits Elizabeth
11:22 The Birth of John and Zechariah's Prophecy
13:44 Conclusion and Reflection

Immerse contains the full text of the New Living Translation with brief introductions to each book. Nothing has been added or removed from the Bible text. Click here to look inside.

Immerse: Luke and Acts is part of the Immerse: The Reading Bible, which takes you on a new and unique journey through the books of Luke and Acts in the New Testament. This fresh arrangement of the books highlights the depth of the New Testament’s fourfold witness to Jesus the Messiah. The Son of God, who fulfills all the longings and promises of the collected Scriptures. The goal of Bible reading is to understand the sacred writings in depth so we can learn to live with them. Using the text of the New Living Translation (NLT) from Tyndale Publishing, now you can experience Luke and Acts the same way the original readers did and be fully immersed in the most amazing story of all time!

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Luke & Acts instead of your regular chapter-and-verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural
   simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like
   songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 4 weeks—more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open, honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Luke & Acts, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”

4 Questions to get your conversations started:

1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

The Immerse Bible Series is the proud winner of the prestigious Bible of the Year award from the ECPA Christian Book Awards. Immerse: The Reading Bible is specially crafted for a distraction-free listening and reading experience, helping you dive in and get immersed in Scripture. You’ll have a great experience using Immerse by yourself. But for an even richer experience, try reading with friends.

Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience is an invitation to a different kind of community interaction with the Bible. Less like a Bible study, more like a book club.

– 4, 8, or 16-week Bible listening plans take you through a large section of the Bible like the New Testament or the Torah
– Meet once a week for a free-flowing discussion about the text
– Wrestle with questions and celebrate ‘aha!’ moments together