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Acts is the sequel to Luke's gospel and tells the story of Jesus's followers during the 30 years after his death. It describes how the 12 apostles, formerly Jesus's disciples, spread the message of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean against a background of persecution. With an introduction by P.D. James
What does it mean for a community to follow Jesus? With full benefit of the Holy Spirit, the earliest believers shaped communities of faith from Jerusalem to Rome and all points in between. The Acts of the Apostles, Part One (Acts 1:1–15:35) invites us to witness the Spirit at work as the apostles of Jesus become evangelists and pastors, as communities of believers expand to include Gentiles, and as local challenges test the staying power of the young church. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 5 lessons.
The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.
With a scholar's mind and a pastor's heart, N. T. Wright guides us through the New Testament book of Acts, moving us from the world in which it was lived into the world in which we must live it again. Twenty-four sessions for group or personal study.
The national directory addresses the dimensions and perspectives in the formation of deacons and the model standards for the formation, ministry, and life of deacons in the United States. It is intended as a guideline for formation, ministry, and life of permanent deacons and a directive to be utilized when preparing or updating a diaconate program in formulating policies for the ministry and life of deacons. This volume also includes Basic Standards for Readiness for the formation of permanent deacons in the United States, from the bishops' Committee on the Diaconate, and the committee document Visit of Consultation Teams to Diocesan Permanent Diaconate Formation Programs.
The Acts of the Apostles is an unjustly under-read text of the New Testament. Its story is by now old news. From its humble beginnings as a sect within Judaism, Christianity survived its first uncertain decades and emerged as one the most important world religions. Yet bypassing Acts because we know the ending misses out on the unfolding drama of the time. The first apostles struggled against the Jewish authorities and even quarreled among themselves, often with an acrimony that modern Christians find unsettling. We should think of the earliest decades of Christianity as a white hot crucible of conflict rather than a flower quietly unfolding and blooming. Putting this text in the hands of intermediate Latin students allows them to build on their years of study of a difficult language with a reading that is not only well within their grasp but is also of enduring importance.
Fr. Lawrence Farley explores the Acts of the Apostles as St. Luke's sequel to his Gospel--an apology for the Christian Faith as the fulfillment of Judaism, a gospel for all peoples, and a faith that poses no threat to Roman government or society. It's also the greatest adventure story of all time.About the Orthodox Bible Study Companion Series: This commentary was written for your grandmother and for your plumber. That is, it was written for the average layperson, for the nonprofessional who feels a bit intimidated by the presence of copious footnotes, long bibliographies, and all those other things which so enrich the lives of academics. Working from a literal translation of the original Greek, this commentary examines the text section by section, explaining its meaning in everyday language. Written from an Orthodox and patristic perspective, it maintains a balance between the devotional and the exegetical, feeding both the heart and the mind.
This groundbreaking commentary is the first to provide a detailed social and rhetorical analysis of the book of Acts. At the same time it gives detailed attention to major theological and historical issues.
The book of Acts not only tells the history of the early Church, but also shows how the power and personality of those first Christians can be available to us today.
What beliefs are core to the Christian faith? This book is here to help you understand the reason for your hope as a Christian so that you can see it with fresh sight and invite others into the conversation. A lot of Christians take their story—the narratives that give rise to their beliefs—for granted. They pray, go to church, perhaps even read their Bible. But they might be stuck if a stranger asked them to explain what they believe and why they believe it. Author, pastor, and theologian Mike Horton unpacks the essential and basic beliefs that all Christians share in a way that is easy to understand and applicable to our lives today. And in a way that will make you excited to be a Christian! Core Christianity covers topics like: Jesus as both fully God and fully man. The doctrine of the Trinity. The goodness of God despite a broken world. The ways God speaks. The meaning of salvation. What is the Christian calling? Includes discussion questions for individual or group use. This introduction to the basic doctrines of Christianity is perfect for those who are new to the faith, as well as those who have an interest in deepening their understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
