Ancient Future Ministries

Acts 25:1-27

After two years Paul is still under house arrest and a new Roman governor is appointed. He is not as corrupt as the last one. But new leaders who don't understand the political situation or religious issues. The Jewish leaders try to take advantage of this opportunity but Festus unwittingly thwarts their plot. 

Have you ever been misunderstood? How do you deal with these situations?

While Festus is better then Felix he is still a political animal. He refuses to release a person he recognizes as innocent. Sometimes we also struggle with people who are more interested making the smart move rather than the right one. 

Can we trust God to use civil government to work out His will?

Festus doesn't have a clue what the issues are revolving around the charges against Paul. Because Paul appeals to Ceaser Festus asks King Agrippa to provide insight into the charges against Paul He is desperate to have some kind of charges against him to ask Ceaser to adjudicate.

 

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Acts 24:1-27

Paul has a trial before Felix the Roman Governor. IT soon becomes apparent that Paul isn't guilty of any of the charges brought against him. Still, Felix refuses to release Paul for a number of reasons, both political and financial.

Have you ever been misunderstood by others?

Have you ever had to wait for justice? Paul waits for two years. 

This podcast deals with some of the ramifications of these and other questions.

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Act 23:1-35

Paul defends his belief before the Sanhedrin. He uses the "divide and conquer" technique by proclaiming that he was only guilty of being a Pharisee who believed in the resurrection which was a major tenet of the Pharisees. He explained that as a follower of the Way he believed that Jesus was the proof of the resurrection. 

 The Pharisees on the council agree with Paul and his explanation of his vision of God giving him a mission to spread the news of Jesus resurrection to all people until he includes the Gentiles in spreading the Good News. When the council hears this another riot breaks out in their chambers. 

A plot is hatched to kill Paul and approved by the Sanhedrin. The Romans learned of the plot and send Paul to Cesaria to Felix the Roman Governor. 

Why do the Jews want to kill Paul? Why did God use human means to save Paul? Is it right to use the legal system to protect believers?

These are just some the questions we discuss in this podcast. 

 These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Acts 21:37-22:29

After being arrested (saved from an angry mob) Paul requests permission to speak to the crowd. After verifying that Paul is not a radical Egyptian Jew who was leading a revolt against Rome his request is granted. Paul's defense is actually the testimony of his conversion experience. While many people might argue with you regarding theological points it is almost impossible to argue with your experience (although the mob disagrees with the conclusion of Paul's testimony). 

The crowd goes nuts when his story tells how God called him to share the message of the Gospel with Gentiles. The Tribune is unhappy with the turn of events and commands that Paul is "questioned" with a beating. Miranda rights are not something new to the world. Even back in the Roman empire, Roman citizens had rights that could not be "questioned" without due process.

This podcast discusses some heavy stuff from a religious and political perspective.

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Acts 21:27-36

What happens when people jump to conclusions? How do you handle problems that come as a result of the wrong assumptions?

In this passage, the Asian Jews jump to the wrong conclusion about Paul and some Gentile companions that have been traveling with Paul throughout the province of Asia and now in Jerusalem. Rome had granted the Jews the legal right to execute any Gentile that defiled the Temple by entering into the portion of the Temple reserved only for Jews to worship. Signposts have been uncovered by archeologists that warn Gentiles from crossing the line into forbidden areas of the Temple courtyards.  

It took a Roman Tribune, two centurion,s and their cohorts of between 160-200 legionnaires to quell the riot and arrest the cause of the uproar.

This podcast looks these events and some conclusions that come from our examination of this passage.

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Acts 21:1-26

As we look at this passage fromActs we are confronted with several important questions. Does Paul disobey the Holy Spirit's leading? And how do we explain women prophesying in the Christian community?

Additionally, we look at the political situation in Palestine and how that plays into the elders of the Jerusalem church in their request for Paul to undertake ceremonial purification at the Temple. I am sure that the elders of the church never anticipated the riot that ensued when Asian Jews found Paul in the Temple and misconstrued what he was doing there.

Be prepared to do some spade work in this podcast! 

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Acts 20:13-38

In this podcast we look at a number of issues. We discuss the various descriptive terms (elder, overseer[bishop], and shepherd [pastor])used of church leaders from Ephesus. Are the different offices or the same?

Paul gave his farewell address to the leaders of the Ephesian church. This speech is similar to the to the addresses he uses in his epistles. He speaks of the necessity of humility, his openness of proclaiming the Gospel, and the inclusiveness of his witness. 

In his talk, he uses six descriptions of his ministry. We describe him as an accountant, runner, steward, witness, herald, and watchman. giving special attention to the watchman motif. 

We discuss the dangers around us, among us, and within us! And finally, we look at five possible sins within us (carelessness, shallowness, covetousness, laziness, and selfishness.

What sins are we struggling with our lives?  With the help of the Holy Spirit, all of these sins can be overcome. 

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Acts 20:1-12

Paul's trip to Jerusalem to deliver the love offering from the Gentile church to help the Jerusalem church was fraught with danger. Paul had heard from God that he should go to Jerusalem but it appeared that others had heard from the Holy Spirit that Paul going to Jerusalem would end with his possible death. Did the Holy Spirit change his mind? Did Paul mishear the Holy Spirit? Did all the others?

Why was it important for the Gentile church to help support the Jerusalem church monetarily? 

Have you ever fallen asleep during a message? Was it as long as Paul's was? Why was Eutychus fortunate?

We discuss the various descriptive terms (elder, overseer[bishop], and shepherd [pastor])used of church leaders from Ephesus. Are the different offices or the same?

These are some of the things we discuss in this podcast.

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Acts 19:18-34

Have you ever noticed that economic interested are often the wrapped up in religious piety (or political piety)? We demand that something is done but for selfish reasons.

A couple of interesting things has about mobs can be discovered in this passage. People who join crowds often have no real idea what the issue is. Benjamin Franklin said that a mob was “a monster with heads enough, but no brains.”

In Acts everytime Paul is brought before the Roman authorities the charges were always trumped up! He was never found guilty of any of the charges leveled against him. Mobs respond to an emotional plea with little or no substance. 

One Bible scholar said "Max Lerner wrote in The Unfinished Country, 'Every mob, in its ignorance and blindness and bewilderment, is a League of Frightened Men that seeks reassurance in collective action.' It was a 'religious mob' that shouted 'Crucify Him! Crucify Him!' to Pilate, and eventually got its way. Had this Ephesian mob succeeded in its plans, Paul would have been arrested and executed before the law could have stepped in to protect him." 

25,000 people in an arena most of them with no idea why they were there but all of them expressing their opinion with no idea what the true issues were.

Wisdom is rarely found in mobs!

This week's podcast has some interesting discussion on these topics.

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Acts 19:1-18

What is baptism?

When does a believer receive the Holy Spirit? 

Do all people speak in tongues when they are baptized?

Is there healing power in inanimate objects?

Can a non-believer in Christ drive out demons?

These are all issues that are covered in this podcast.

These non-denominational Bible studies are led by Dr. Val and recorded live. Some 20-25 men meet weekly at 6:30 AM for an hour. They study and discuss a passage from Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.