Ancient Future Ministries

What happens when the chief persecutor of Jesus followers becomes the chief apologist for this new faith? 

His old friends try to kill him and he has to escape by being lowered over the city wall in a basket. We need more people like Barnabas who are accepting of those who are different from our closed group. Barnabus type people bridge the distance between potentially opposing groups. We need more Bridgebuilders.

Additionally, this passage addresses miracles and how those miracles can transform the lives of those who need a miracle and those around them.

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 of Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.

Imagine your favorite political figure suddenly switching sides. Would you be surprised? Angry? Worried?

Now imagine that the person you most loathed and feared politically suddenly changed sides. Would you gladly accept them into your camp? Would you be leery of them and their secret agenda? Would you be fearful?

What about the person who suddenly changed sides? How would they feel?

These are just some of the issues that people faced when Saul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. 

Check out this podcast to see how the people in the First Century dealt with Saul changing sides.

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 of Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths. 

How does the Holy Spirit lead us? WHat would you do if you were placed in harm's way as a result of obeying the leading of the Spirit?

Do you have a hard time speaking to people who are different than you? Who are from a different culture, different social strata, or different race?

If you don't understand a passage of Scripture in the Bible, how do you discover the meaning?

How perfect do you have to be to accept Christ as your Savior? How perfect do you have to be to be after your conversion to be baptized?

These are the issues we tackle 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 of Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths. 

Saul - who later is called Paul is introduced in this podcast. Additionally, due to the persecution of the Jerusalem church, the Gospel spreads to Samaria the land north of Judea. One of the Hellenistic Jewish men chosen to help with the distribution of food to the widows preaches in Samaria and many Samaritans come to the knowledge of Christ.

SOme have asked why Peter and John arrive from Jerusalem and seem to take over. Since Peter is given the Keys to the Kingdom and opens the way for the Jews to come to Messiah Jesus he also opens the way for the coming of the Spirit upon theSamaritanss as well. The church is inclusive of all people from every nation, tribe, and tongue. Peter will also be important to officially opening the Gospel for the Gentiles as well in Acts chapter ten.

The other issue that we discuss in this podcast is the issue of Simony in the church. Who was Simon the Magician? What or who does he represent? And are there people today in leadership in the church that might be guilty of Simony?

These are the areas we look at 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 of Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths. 

Why is it that religious bigotry often comes from those who seem to know all the answers? What happens when we speak the truth and we are punished for it? 

I believe that it is easier to die for Christ than to LIVE for Christ. God does not call all of us to be martyrs but He does call us to be living sacrifices. While I am often able to offer the Lord my life too often I keep taking it back.  

May our prayer today be that of Jim Elliott (one of five martyrs in 1956 who gave their lives to reach the Aucas an Amazonian tribe) "I seek not a long life, but a full one, like You, Lord Jesus."

These are some of the issues 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 of Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths. 

Have you ever had to defend your faith? What would you say? How would you feel about people lying and misrepresenting what you said? How would you feel if your faith was being challenged by religious scholars who were actually wrong? What would you do? What would you say?

Stephen's defense is a recital of Israel's history. 

In this podcast we discuss his defense in light of who challenged him and what they claimed he had said.

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 of Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths. 

In this podcast we recap the first 7 verses where we meet Stephen. The rest of the chapter addresses his work in the church and his evangelism. Stephen's wisdom and logic cause his problems with one Hellenistic Jewish synagogue. Trumped up charges similar to the false charges leveled at Jesus.

How do you respond to those who disagree with your belief? How would you respond to false accusations? Should a believer defend himself? 

These are some of the issues we address 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 of Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths. 

How should we respond when we suffer persecution for the sake of Christ? Do we rejoice because we are counted worthy to suffer for His name's sake? Or do we complain about how hard our life is? How hard is our life when compared with what Christ Suffered for us?

On another note - how should we react to strife and dissension in the church? Especially if it involves people who are not the same as us? 

These are some of the questions we cover 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 of Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths. 

In this podcast we discuss prayer. We also look at how the church shared their positions and whether the church was socialistic in the first century. As we progress in the study of chapter five we also look at how Annanias and  Spphira stole from God and ultimately lied to God as a result of their theft. 

This study raises the question of how serious do we take the promises we make to God. 

Additionally, we look at the second persecution that the Apostles face and how they face opposition.

Looking at how early Christians viewed their faith and how their faith played out in their interactions with God and authorities show provide us with principles for us to live our lives by in the 21st century.

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 of Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths. 

When is it right to disobey authority?

If you do disobey authority, how do you do it Biblically?

Is it ever right to be a conscientious objector?

These are some of the questions we tackle in this podcast of Acts 4:18-22

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 of Scripture. Questions are encouraged and often lead to interesting rabbit trails that help us discover and process additional Biblical truths.