No Likie Thessaloniki - Athens Okay, But Berea Is Best

This would have been the study page for the Thursday Night Small Group meeting January 31, 2013, but few could make it.  So now it's the study page for the Thursday Night Small Group meeting February 7, 2013.  The passage for this week is Acts 17.  A lot happens and not all of it is sensible.

Be sure to read the passage several times through.  Also, bracket a few of those passes with the end of chapter 16, and the first part of 18, just for context.  See if you can find a map which details the area traveled through by Paul.  Here's a great opportunity to pay attention to pronouns and person once more.

Once you've been through the passage a few times yourself, go through again considering the questions below:

• From verse 1, who is now no longer traveling with Paul and Silas?
• How long does Paul and Silas discuss in the Thessalonikian synagogue?
• Who do the "Jews" find to help them form an angry mob?
• Who do they substitute for Paul since they can't find he and Silas?
• What do the authorities do in response to the mob?
• What do the believers do in response to the local peace disturbance?
• What proves the Bereans were "more noble" than the Thessalonikans?
• How different is the make up of believers in Berea than Thessalonika?
• What disturbs the peace in Berea?  Who is the disturbance centered around?
• Look at a map.  How much further is it to Athens from Berea than from Thessalonika to Berea?  What send him that far away?
• What "sharpens" Paul's spirit in Athens?
• He discusses in the synagogue here too, but where else is he discussing Jesus?
• Where is "Mars Hill" or the Areopogus in Athens? How about in relation to the market?
• What "Scripture" does Paul use in his "defense"?
• Where would Paul have learned of these 'poets'?
• Is Paul finished, did he just lose his audience, or what?
• How successful is his defense?

That'll do for now.  Be sure to bring your own questions as well.

See you Thursday!

Choices Withheld, Guided to Jail

This is the study page for Thursday, January 24 covering Acts 16.  This is the second missionary journey of Paul.  There is a map below of a possible route he may have used.  Other maps may show a more probable route.

As you read the chapter look for things that you didn't expect to find; things that make you go "huh".  There should be several.  Also look a map and see how things are arranged around the Aegean Sea to get a sense of where things happened. Jot down observations and questions, and bring them to the meeting Thursday.

After reading through the chapter a few times and jotting down your own observations, consider the questions below:

• Who did Paul find in Lystra?
• What was his "parentage"?  Why does this become important?  Why circumcise him if he's already well thought of by the churches in the area?
• What did Paul and Silas do at the churches where they had been before?
• What was the response of these churches to the letter from Jerusalem?
• When they start passing through Phrygia and Galatia, in what direction are they heading?
• Why not go back the way they had in the last journey?
• Where are they trying to go?  Why can't they get there?
• Where do they end up?  Where is this place along the Aegean Sea?  Read this entry on the Blue Letter Bible site (it's short).
• Consider a sunset?  From where they are, where would the "sunset" be?
• Who joins them as they travel from there?
• Where do they go from Troas?
• From the "New City" where do they end up?
• It says that Philippi was a "colony".  Read this entry on the Blue Letter Bible website about Roman colonies.  
• Remember what you read about Troas, they seem to have gone from one colony to the other.  What's the benefit of doing that?
• What seems to be missing in Philippi?  Why would that be?
• They find people praying along the river.  What is interesting about the one who becomes their "patron" in Philippi?
• The girl following them has a "python spirit".  Read this entry on Python.  So, what is she?
• What is the problem with the "free advertising" they receive from the slave-girl?
• What happens to Paul and Silas when the girl is freed from the spirit?
• What is odd about the reaction of the crowd and the magistrates?  What element to the story seems to be missing?  What would you deduce if you connect this event with the lack of a Synagogue?
• Once jailed, how do Paul and Silas respond to their circumstance?
• What happens at midnight?
• Why would everyone stay if all the doors and bonds open?
• What does the jailer ask Paul and Silas?  What is interesting about how he addresses them?
• Whatever the jailer really meant, what is his response to their answer?
• What do the magistrates do the next day?  What does this tell you about what they thought about what they had done?
• What is Paul's response to the "policemen"?  Why not bring this up earlier?
• What do Paul and Silas do after their release?  Is it what they were "asked" to do?  Where else did they respond this way?  What was their point?
• What's different about the status of the believers in Philippi now that the jailer is among their number?
• Why would that be important?

That should take care of the hour or so we'll be studying.  Be sure to also make your own notes and bring them.  There's a lot of stuff in this passage I'm missing, so please help fill in the blanks.

Getting On the Same Page

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Small Group Meeting on January 17.  We'll be studying Acts 15, and getting as far as we can through.

This is a fascinating chapter.  It might be a good idea to read Galatians before we meet (it's not long).  The  reason is that it deals with the primary issue in Acts 15, but there are interesting...differences.  As you read Acts 15, look for interesting details, ask "why" a lot, and try and get a sense of what it would have been like to over hear some of these "conversations".  Ask questions about the people involved.  Imagine them in the conversations, what might have been their "body language" in the midst of them.

After you read through the chapter a few times, read through again and consider these questions:

• How does Galatians 2 differ from this event here, and what are the similarities?
• What is the claim/teaching of these from Judea?  Why teach that?  Where did they get it?
• How do Paul and Barnabas respond when they teach this?
• What does the church decide to do?
• What did they do on the trip up to Jerusalem?
• How were they received?  What did they do upon arrival?
• Who opposes them?  What does that reveal about the "source" of the original teachings?
• Why would they be so adamant about this issue?
• So how does the church in Jerusalem respond to the debate?
• What does Peter contribute?  Why is it odd that he has to do this?
• What do the people do after Peter's done?
• So after Peter, Barnabas, and Paul, who speaks?  What does it tell you about him that he speaks last?
• Read Amos 9.  So, how does James' quote work here?  Is it close?
• Why those four things to abstain from?
• One of them should have really helped Paul deal with an issue in Corinth, which one?
• What is James' reasoning about only four things to require?
• They send the letter back with Barnabas and Paul, and who else?
• Does this "Barsabbas" fellow sound familiar?  Where have we run across his name before?
• What strikes you as odd about the "letter"?  How do you think Paul felt about it?
• How does the church in Antioch respond?
• Who's idea was it to go back through and visit the churches?
• What do Barnabas and Paul disagree about?  So where is Mark?  Where did we think he was?
• Why is Paul so adamant?  Look at Luke 9:61-2, what sort of support does Paul have?  But this is in no other of the Gospels, so perhaps it is a perspective of Luke?
• Who does Paul take with him instead of Barnabas and Mark?  I thought he went back to Jerusalem, who is this guy?
• So who goes where?

The map used in the previous week might help here, but isn't necessary.  Do look up people in a Bible dictionary (Blue Letter Bible site has several if you don't have one).

See you all Thursday!

Wow, Tough Crowds

This is the study page for the Thursday Night small group meeting.  The passage is Acts 14, and it completes the account of the first missionary journey of Barnabas and Paul. 

It might be helpful to read the last portions of chapter 13 to get a better sense of the setting for 14.  Read the chapter a few times.  Be sure to look for incongruities.  Look around in the setting for what they might mean or indicate.  Look up some background material on the region (it's weird).  See the page for the previous chapter to get some ideas of where to look for background material. Jot down questions and observations.

Once you've read through a few times, go through once more considering the questions below (if you haven't already).

• What had prompted Paul and Barnabas to come to Iconium?
• What was similar about the response in Iconium to what they had experienced in Pisidian Antioch?
• How long were they in Iconium before they had to leave?  Why did they leave?
• Where did they go after Iconium?  Look at a map, how far did they go?
• What does Paul do in Lystra that he doesn't do elsewhere (at least recorded)?
• How do the people react to Paul's healing of the lame man?
• What does their names for Paul and Barnabas reveal about how they are perceived by the crowds?
• What does that reveal about the faith of the multitude of people?
• Who shows up with a bull and wreath?  Why is that weird?
• What do Paul and Barnabas do when they realize what the crowd is doing?
• Luke doesn't say, but how long might have passed between verse 18 and 19?
• He also doesn't say how long it took for those from Iconium to stir up trouble, but what impression do you get about the time frame?
• When and where do they go from Iconium?  How far is that? (look at a map)
• After all the description in Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, what's the deal with Derbe?  Was it even successful?
• Where did they go after Derbe?  Why not just head for Antioch from there?
• What did they do along the way back from Derbe?  What did they do in each church?  Why was that important?
• When they get back to Antioch (where they started from) what sort of reception do they receive?
• How long did this trip take?

 That should do for now?  Be sure to use other resources for background and setting, both cultural and geographical.

We may do this on January 3 or we may wait a week and do it on January 10. 

Led by Stars and Dreams

This is the study page for the Thursday Bible Study group meeting December 27, 2012.  We will be in Matthew 2 (possibly 1 as well).

Read both chapters, 1 and 2 for context.  Read them several times, and look for odd things that don't match either within the text or with what we studied last week (this past Thursday).  There are quite a few deviations from the account in Luke beyond the obvious ones.

I hope to have a video to share about the star the Astrologers saw.  If not, we'll just plod ahead like we usually do.  If we do, it will probably take the whole time.  It's interesting and deviates from a lot of what is accepted theory about the timing of Jesus' birth.  For that reason (and that it's astronomy), I really like it.

After you jot down observations of your own, read through the chapters and consider the questions below:

• What's with the number 14?
• How does God seem to work with Joseph throughout both chapters?  What might that tell us about Joseph?
• Why are they in Bethlehem?  When did they get there?
• Where do the Astrologers go when they get to Judea?  Why go there?
• What does their inquiry tell you about what they don't know?  So, what did they learn from the stars?
• Why does Herod ask the religious people?  Why would he ask them about "the King of Jews"?
• If the religious people know where, why do they remain in Jerusalem?  What does that tell us about their estimation of the Astrologers?
• What really guides the Astrologers, and what is their response to it?
• Where are Joseph and Mary living when the Astrologers arrive?
• What do the visitors do when they see Jesus and His mom?
• What other options for routes do the Astrologers have to return to the east?
• Where does God send the family?  Why there?
• What does Herod do once he realizes he's been duped?  Why those particular ages?  What does that tell us about the timing of the stellar event?
• Why would there be little to no reliable extra-biblical historical record of such a massacre?
• Why does the family finally return to Israel?  Why not Bethlehem?
• How familiar does Nazareth seem to this story?
• Why Nazareth?  What's the "prophetic reference"? 
• If this is a reference to a "Nazarite Vow" (Numbers 6:1-21), what is the problem?

We will either go over these passages or the video.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

For To You Is Born...

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting, Thursday, December 20.  The passage is Luke 2 instead of Acts 14.

Read through the chapter several times.  It may be helpful to read Chapter 1 because that has a lot of detail that is assumed in this chapter.  As you read through Chapter 2, look for things that seem odd, or out of place.  Look for things that "don't match" and consider who is doing what and to whom are things being done.

After reading through a few times yourself, writing down observations and questions, consider the questions below as you read through again.

• When did all this happen?
• What's the census for?
• Why go to the family cities?
• What is the status of Joseph and Mary?
• What might have been some difficulties along the road from Nazareth?
• What was everyone doing in Bethlehem?
• If shepherds were out in the fields, what was the weather like, most likely?
• What can you guess about what the angel looked like?
• Once the angel makes the announcement, who shows up?  What do they do?
• Once they leave, how long does it take the shepherds to find the manger?
• What do they do once they find the baby?
• What do the shepherds do after seeing the child?
• What does Mary do after they leave?
• What is the common theme with anyone connected to the child?
• Why the eighth day for circumcision?
• Look up Leviticus 12:1-8, why the pigeon or turtle dove?
• What is Simeon's guarantee from the Spirit?
• What things are included in Simeon's address to Mary?
• What is Anna's "job"? Is it unusual for a woman to be a "prophet"? (see 2 Kings 22:8-20)
• What does Anna do with Jesus?
• What theme continues with those encountering Jesus?
• After the "purification" and "dedication", where did they go?
• So how long were they in Bethlehem? 
• What sort of parenting do Joseph and Mary provide to Jesus the Teenager if they leave without Him?
• Why would they be so lax?
• How many days was He missing in total?  How did He survive that long?
• What was Jesus doing in Jerusalem?  
• What is the significance that He was sitting and asking questions?
• What did the teachers think? Look up "astonished"/"amazed" (G1839).  What was the problem with which they grappled?
• What were Jesus' parents response?  What is odd about Mary's question?
• What does Jesus' answer to her reveal about what He knows about Himself?
• Knowing what He does about Himself, what would His 'submission' have looked like?

That's probably enough.  Keep some of these items in mind for the following week.  I suspect there will be some questions to be addressed next week about timing.

See everyone Thursday!

Blessings of Christmas upon each of you!

From Saul to Paul to "Point"

This is the study page for the Thursday night study on December 13.  The passage is as much of Acts 13 as we can get through.

Read the chapter through a few times.  It might be good to read on to 14 as well, but at least several times through 13 will be helpful.  As you read, look for incongruities, odd wording or sentence structures, things that aren't explained, or are explained but not as expected.  Write these things down and also questions you have as you read.

As you read through a final few times, consider the questions below:

• It says these were "prophets and teachers" but who does which?
• Who is first? Who is last?
• What does "Niger" mean?  (G3526)
• Who is "Herod the Tetrarch"?
• If Manaen was raised with this Herod, where was he raised?
• Why is it fitting that Barnabas would sail first to Cyprus?
• What does Bar-Jesus (G919) mean? How is that ironic?
• What does "Paulus" (G3972) mean?
• What does Elymas (G1681) mean? How is that a translation/interpretation of Bar Jesus?
• Saul, aka "Paul" (also G3972) has the same name as the Proconsul.  How might that be significant?
• What amazed Sergius Paulus, Proconsul of Cyprus?
• Now who is first? Who is last?
• What happened to "John"?
• Where is Pisidian Antioch? Why would this be a good place to start a church?  What about the people might have made it difficult?  What about them might have made it easier?
• Paul gives a short account of Israel's history, then notes John the Baptist.  Why mention him?
• Paul quotes a few Psalms and some prophets.  Look up the references.  How does he do with the meaning of those passages?
• As Paul and Barnabas leave, how do the people respond?
• Look up "God-Fearing" or "devout" (G4576) - what does that tell you about these "proselytes"?
• What happens the next Sabbath? What does that tell you/confirm to you about these people?
• Why are the Jews upset?  Why be jealous?
• What is Paul and Barnabas' response to the "blaspheming Jews"?
• So, which group seems to respond the most to the gospel?
• Yet, who do the religious leaders stir up against Paul and Barnabas? Again, the (G4576) word is used.
• Now where are they off to?

That should be enough for us.  Remember to use any maps you have access to, and any other references you find helpful.  This is just the start of a new aspect to the work of the Holy Spirit recorded in Acts.  We will see much more of this in the coming weeks.

Consider for next week, what do you think about switching to a study of Jesus' birth until New Years'?  That could be fun, and certainly timely.  Let me know what you think.