This month our Bible Study Group is taking a look at Acts, chapters 13, 14, and 15. Not in New York? Join us on Google Hangouts, or via conference phone, on Sunday, June 14th, at 1:00pm. Remote Attendance Instructions
Acts of the Apostles 13, 14, and 15
The labels with which people associate are many: black or white, American or Middle Eastern, Christian or Jew. These labels draw invisible lines between us, separating humanity into smaller and smaller groups, and creating conflicts that turn us against each other. When we stand back and look at these divisions, it becomes clear that the differences that separate us are far fewer than the similarities which unite us as one human family. However, in the heat of battle, we can become so consumed in the details of one belief versus another that our common humanity is lost.
The difficulty of this struggle is what makes the work of Paul and Barnabas in the book of Acts so amazing. Paul and Barnabas were Jews, but in Acts chapter 13 God gave them a unique mission. They were commissioned to spread the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, groups which before would not even think of associating with one another. Their message was that there are not two distinct groups of people, one meant to receive the word of God and one that is left out, but one family of man, united in the Christ-love that Jesus expressed.
This message met a great deal of resistance from within and outside of the early church, so much so that Paul was stoned by dissenting Jews in chapter 14. Did this violent outburst put an end to the demonstration of God’s love and unity? Absolutely not. The disciples knew God’s promise that “neither death nor life… nor any powers… will be able to separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38, 39). They gathered round Paul, prayed, and raised him from the dead. This demonstration showed that just as death cannot separate us from God’s love, conflict, violence, and the labels we ascribe to ourselves cannot separate us from living together in peace with our fellow man.
Join us in the Sunday School on Sunday, June 14th at 1:00pm as we read and study Acts, chapters 13 through 15, and learn how to apply the same dominion the Apostles demonstrated to our own lives!
Remote Attendance
To join our Google hangout, make sure you have a Google+ account, and add Third Church to one of your Google+ circles. Once you have done this, send your name, email, and Google+ account to ThirdChurchOffice@juno.com with the subject line “Bible Study 6/14″ and we’ll send you further instructions on how to join.
To join on the phone, use the dial in number and access code below:
Dial-in Number: 1-310-372-7549
Access Code: 607611