With a full house and full hearts, we began our adventure in the Book of Acts with purpose to follow NT Wright’s directive to consider it the Acts of Jesus (II) and to put ourselves in the story. After a brief Bible Overview (it always seem good to put whatever book we’re studying into perspective of the Bible as a whole) then hit the ground running – contemplating and considering Jesus’s ascension, directive to the Disciples, prayer, and more.

Rather than go into everything now, feel free to take a listen. We want you to know that these recordings are for each group with each lesson we do, so that if you can’t attend or want to listen back to catch something that was said – we’ve got you covered. They aren’t shared on a wider platform out of respect to all involved

So, here you go:

A C T S   O V E R V I E W

What a treat to get to see & meet everyone this morning AND learn about all the fun happy places we have. For those in need for crock pot recipes (because Fall is here – right?? – at least football is! :) and have included one from Food Network’s Melissa d’Arabian — who you can meet next week at the girl’s night event we’re helping host (did you see how we did that? a little teaser with our lesson-link).

Today, Candy led us through an overview of this terrific book we will be studying. She took us to Luke’s Gospel showing us how Acts takes up right where it ends. We got to see that Acts is a continuation of Christ’s work on earth – through his church in the power of the Holy Spirit, that raised Jesus from the dead to never die again. What a victory – and how exciting to get to see over the next few months how that played out in the spreading of the Good News.

But rather than go into it all here, feel free to take a listen

This week Candy leads us through a fun discussion on identity as we learned much from Gideon (“mighty warrior”), David (“king”), Jeremiah (“prophet”), Shadrach-Meshack-Abednego (fire survivors). And about ourselves. Considering what our identity – as defined and determined by God – says.

You are known and unconditionally loved. It might be hard to believe, especially during years when acceptance, belonging, being known seems to endlessly dart just outside of our reach. But such love from the One who defines love is worth considering since He is Truth.

But now, this is what the Lord says … “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.…  you are precious and honored in my sight, …because I love you”  Isaiah 43:1-2,5

Our worth has been determined – our identity defined by Truth:

• Truth that you are uniquely gifted with unique purpose.
• Truth that in Christ we have been set free.
• Truth that God sees us as precious, priceless

Our identity is in God, defined by God. We are known to God, by God, by name . What does God reveal in Scripture about our name? Our name is Oak of Righteousness (Isaiah 61:3), Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted (Isaiah 62:12)  – and Child of the King.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyvNg1kk9tQ

We had a terrific time contemplating the words by, through and in as they relate to our acting – not in our strength but God’s strength in us.

This week Candy leads a lively discussion of God’s perfect and certain provision even in the midst of the bleakest of circumstances – ex: the nation of Israel enslaved in Egypt for 400 years, feeling unheard and forgotten. But they were (as we are) neither unheard or forgotten or without out. For the Living Hope is always sustaining us. But rather than go into it all, here’s a link to our chat:

What a fun morning contemplating captive thoughts. We looked at Isaac, Jacob and Joseph – each of their lives with regard to blessings and reminders in the midst of things gone and done wrong. We had a great time peeling back the layers of family dysfunction, good intentions gone bad and only knowing a part rather than the whole story to see revealed God’s faithfulness in each and every situation, all day every day.

Anchoring our thoughts in Truth goes a long way to being able to linger in peace and joy regardless the circumstances or situation. But rather than go into it all now – here’s our chat:

This week we chatted about obedience – wearing surrendered-step shoes. Obedience, not as a measurement of achievement (remember, in the world’s economy our identity is achieved – but not in God’s economy where our identity is received and our worth determined by Him who calls us by name, and determines us “precious”), but obedience as a tool to increase our faith through opportunities to trust.

But rather than go into it all, here’s our super-fancy audio:

Kay led us last week through Week 1: God-centered, far-sight, eternal perspective lenses with Abel, Enoch and Noah as Hebrews 11 guides. Then had some major issues with recording our chat, the most of which had something to do with turning it on.

We talked about considering the lenses through which we view life. How God doesn’t ask us to do something without the plan or on our own. That God’s covenant is made by Him, kept by Him – for us, not dependent on us, but so often played out through us (Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, David, …). God is specific and true to his plan. He operates in realms and ways never before seen or conceived by man. And in the most amazing way – He touches lives of those involved through situations and circumstances that point to the greater story behind the story – as He will in spades through Abraham’s surrendered-steps (next week’s lesson)

Thanks for sharing your Tuesdays with us. What could be more fun than contemplating Scripture together?! :)

Candy led us this week in a terrific overview of the books of Hebrews to tee us up for our weeks in chapter 11 – considering the “ancients” who have gone before us: their faith and God’s faithfulness in their lives.

Then we walked through Day 1 together, lingering in the enormity of God found in Genesis 1, displayed in Hebrews 11:3

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.“

But rather try to cover it all now, here’s the link to our fancy recording ;)

Candy wraps-up and addresses suffering: