St. Paul's — Growing Together

This episode is a special break from the Acts Bible study. Because of the situation around our country, state and community, we wanted to address how Lutherans respond to COVID-19.

If you have more questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us directly.

Links to Pres. Buss' video (https://www.facebook.com/LCMSNorthernIllinoisDistrict/videos/1095691900795526/) and Pres. Harrison's video (https://vimeo.com/397483968)

Find out more at https://growingtogether.pinecast.co

Acts - Chapters 24-26 (Episode 22)

For over two years Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea while his trial(s) continued. Repeatedly Paul was accused of various offenses, but the lack of evidence could not support a guilty verdict. Paul should have been released as a free man, but instead because the Roman governors did not want to stir up Jewish discord, they delayed, hesitated, and avoided making a decision until finally Paul himself appealed to Caesar to move his case forward. In the final chapters, Paul will have his chance to proclaim the Gospel in Rome, even though he is in chains.

You can find handouts from our class at https://www.stpaulslutheran.net/bible-study/bible-study

Find out more at https://growingtogether.pinecast.co

Acts - Chapters 22-23 (Episode 21)

Paul's arrest in Jerusalem could be understood as a major setback, but Paul didn't complain. Instead, Jesus Himself assured him that he would continue to give testimony all the way to Rome. But before that happened, Paul had to be taken away from Jerusalem, where his enemies were plotting his death. Safe in Caesarea, his trials continue under the custody of the Roman procurator Felix.

You can find handouts from our class at https://www.stpaulslutheran.net/bible-study/bible-study

Find out more at https://growingtogether.pinecast.co

Acts - Chapters 21-22 (Episode 20)

The final section of the Books of Acts is all about Paul's arrest in Jerusalem and the subsequent trials. In this section, we see once again how the opposition against Paul comes from Jews from Asia who stir up the crowds in Jerusalem to destroy Paul, but Paul is saved by the Roman tribune. As all of this goes on, one can't help but note the similarity between what is happening with Paul and Jesus' experience in Jerusalem, but what does that mean?

You can find handouts from our class at https://www.stpaulslutheran.net/bible-study/bible-study

Find out more at https://growingtogether.pinecast.co

Acts - Chapters 19-21 (Episode 19)

Chapters 19-21 contain a whirlwind of Paul's travels as the Third Missionary Journey comes to an end. As we push to the final section in the Book of Acts that focuses on Paul's arrest in Jerusalem and subsequent trials, we do so after noting Paul's final goodbyes to the churches of Macedonia, Greece and Asia.

You can find handouts from our class at https://www.stpaulslutheran.net/bible-study/bible-study

Find out more at https://growingtogether.pinecast.co

Acts - Chapter 19 (Episode 18)

Paul's Third Missionary journey largely consists of time spent in Ephesus. When Paul first rolls into town, he encounters a group of people who seem to welcome him, but had not yet heard the full message of Jesus, but instead appeared to be followers of John the Baptist. What all this means is a little confusing and so we wrestle with that account here.

** Apologies on the quality of the audio. The audio was not properly recorded and comes out somewhat garbled.

You can find handouts from our class at https://www.stpaulslutheran.net/bible-study/bible-study

Find out more at https://growingtogether.pinecast.co

Acts - Chapter 18 (Episode 17)

In Acts 18, Paul has the opportunity to move on from Athens to Corinth where he ends up sharing the Good News about Jesus for 18 months! As Paul heads back to Antioch, he stops briefly in Ephesus, previewing the next Missionary Journey, but also introducing Aquilla, Priscilla, and Apollos.

You can find handouts from our class at https://www.stpaulslutheran.net/bible-study/bible-study

Find out more at https://growingtogether.pinecast.co

Acts - Chapter 17 (Episode 16)

Paul's Second Missionary Journey is well underway as Paul crosses the sea to speak the Gospel to those in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea. But Paul's journey doesn't end there. Now Paul is sent from harm's way to the great city of Athens where he encounters a very different audience. But even here Paul questions and challenges the Athenians to open their eyes to the possibility that the God Paul proclaims is real.

You can find handouts from our class at https://www.stpaulslutheran.net/bible-study/bible-study

Find out more at https://growingtogether.pinecast.co

Acts - Chapter 16 (Episode 15)

In Acts 16, Paul begins his second missionary journey, revisiting some of the churches from his first missionary journey, but also striking out a new path to the world far beyond Judea. In this session, we cover a brief overview of Paul's journey as a whole and then go as far as Philippi where Luke records three very different encounters with people there.

You can find handouts from our class at https://www.stpaulslutheran.net/bible-study/bible-study

Find out more at https://growingtogether.pinecast.co

Acts - Chapter 15 (Episode 14)

The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 is often considered the centerpiece of the Book of Acts. Everything so far has been leading up to the Gospel being shared not just to Jews, but also to Gentiles and now once and for all the question of where Gentiles fit into God's plan of salvation must be answered definitively and so it is.

You can find handouts from our class at https://www.stpaulslutheran.net/bible-study/bible-study

Find out more at https://growingtogether.pinecast.co