Saturday Morning Men’s Bible Study – Reacting to Acts
Acts chapter 14 continues the story of Paul’s First Missionary Journey, which began in chapter 13. Paul and Barnabas travel westward from Pisidian Antioch to the smaller cities of Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. There was a Jewish synagogue in Iconium, but Lystra and Derbe seem to have been purely Gentile territory. Can we make any connections between the events that are described here in Acts 14 and the letter that Paul subsequently wrote to the Galatians?
Paul got out of Iconium before they could stone him, but in Lystra they actually stoned him and left him for dead. How could the people who wanted to worship him as a Greek god end up stoning him? Luke does not give us many details about what happened in Derbe. When Paul left Derbe, why did he go back to Lystra? Why didn’t he keep going west to Tarsus? What can we learn from Paul’s experience that will be helpful to us as we share our faith with neighbors and friends today? Your comments and questions are encouraged.
We plan to meet in the Fireside Room on June 5, but Pastor Albrecht will be attending Protes’tant Conference on June 19, so we will not meet that day. We begin at 8:00 AM and try to finish by about 9:30. All men are cordially invited to join us. For more information, please contact Todd Readinger at 651-699-7239. mja
Saturday Morning Women’s Bible Study Looks at a Portrait of Peter in Acts
Lord willing, the women will meet on June 12 and 26 to continue discussing the story of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. Last month we discussed the sermon Paul preached on Mars Hill in Athens. Evidently it was not too long afterward that Paul moved on to Corinth. Why didn’t Paul stay longer in Athens? Luke does not say anything about Jewish opposition driving him out of town.
When Paul arrived in Corinth, he met Aquila and Priscilla. Thus began a long and fruitful partnership. Not only did Paul make tents together with them, but they also supported and encouraged Paul as he proclaimed the Gospel in Corinth. Then Silas and Timothy came from Berea and before long Paul turned from the Jews to the Gentiles. The ruler of the local synagogue joined the Christian congregation that was meeting next door, and many other Corinthians received Holy Baptism.
Does it seem as though Paul had more “success” in Corinth than he had had in Athens? Why do we have two letters in our New Testament that Paul addressed to the Corinthians, but no letter that Paul addressed to the Athenians?
All women are welcome. Arrive at your convenience any time after 8:00 AM. Pastor Albrecht joins the group at about 8:30. For further information, please call Donna Albrecht at 651-746-4841. mja
Tuesday Morning Bible Class: Daniel – God Is Judge
Last Summer we made it through the eighth chapter of Daniel, so this year we plan to begin with chapter nine. This chapter begins with Daniel reading the book of Jeremiah and pondering God’s promise that the Babylonian Captivity would last for 70 years. According to Daniel’s calculations, it seemed that the time had almost come for the people of Israel to return to the Promised Land. So Daniel prayed a long and passionate prayer for his people. This is a good illustration of the principle that Bible study and prayer always go together. Daniel’s prayer includes confession of sins and repentance, as well as his request that his people be allowed to return and rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.
While Daniel was praying, God sent the angel Gabriel to give Daniel an answer to his prayer. This is the prophecy of the “Seventy Weeks.” There seems to be a correlation between the 70 years of the Babylonian Captivity and the “Seventy Weeks,” but what is it?
It is generally agreed that the “Seventy Weeks” begin at the time of Daniel, but when do they end? Do the “Seventy Weeks” last until the first coming of Christ or until the Last Day?
The Hebrew expression that is often translated as the “Seventy Weeks” is actually the “Seventy Sevens.” We have 490 units of time, but are those 490 units equal to 490 years? How does the calendar that Daniel used in Babylon compare to the calendar that we use today?
These are just a few of the questions we will consider this summer. Your questions and comments are encouraged. We meet in the Fireside Room on Tuesday mornings at 10:00. All are welcome.
Audio recordings will be available. You can pick up a CD in the Fireside Room Kitchen or you can listen to the recording on our Saint James web site, or you can download the audio file and listen to it on your iPod. mja
