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On-Going Mini-Series

Bible Studies

Codes & Descriptions

Class Codes
[A] = summary lessons
[B] = exegetical analysis
[C] = topical doctrinal studies
What is a Mini-Series?
A Mini-Series is a small subset of lessons from a major series which covers a particular subject or book. The class numbers will be in reference to the major series rather than the mini-series.
Acts (2010)

Acts (2010)

September 2010 - March 2014

This study covers the book of Acts. The title, "Acts of the Apostles," distorts the thrust of the book. Only two apostles are the focus of the book, Peter, then Paul. John is mentioned as is James, but the others are not. The more appropriate name should be "Acts of the Holy Spirit". Because the Holy Spirit is the one performing the Acts, by empowering the early church, specifically, through Peter, then Paul, to take the message of the risen Messiah from the Upper Room in Acts 1, to Paul's private house prison room, in Acts 28.

To the uttermost parts of the earth ...

Video DVDs of these lessons can be ordered here and here.

To view all video Bible studies in the Acts series, click here (Vimeo) or here (YouTube).

To listen to this series as a podcast, copy and paste the following URL into your podcast software.
www.deanbibleministries.org/podcasts/2013acts.xml
 
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 13:40-52
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 6 mins 41 secs
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 14:1-7
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 7 mins 13 secs

As the church expands, we see a trend toward the future disconnect of Christian Jews as a sect meeting in the synagogue. The move is from a Jewish framework to a Gentile framework. Great multitudes of Jews and Gentiles in Iconium responded to Paul’s message in their synagogue. The Jews who were not obedient to the message of God’s grace stirred up a serious division. Paul and Barnabas had to flee to Lystra and Derbe where they continued to preach the gospel. Study all that is understood in the word believe. Is the word here for unbelieving the opposite of believing? How is this word translated in other passages?

Tuesday, March 26, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 14:12-28
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 59 mins 30 secs
Paul and Barnabas Bear Witness to God’s Grace

Fleeing Iconium one step ahead of a murderous plot against them, Paul and Barnabas arrive in Lystra. There they heal a crippled man. The pagan crowds see this and go wild, wanting to worship them as gods with parades and sacrifices. Paul seizes the opportunity to tell them the gospel. Since the people have no Jewish background, Paul must start at ground zero with their innate understanding of God through creation. This lesson answers many questions relevant to our lives today. What does Paul mean when he says this man was crippled from his mother's womb? Is he implying that life begins at conception? Why isn't everyone healed? How should the gospel be presented to those who have no background in reference to the true God? How can creation be used as a tool when we are talking about God to multi-cultural, multi-religious people like the ones we encounter in our daily lives?

Tuesday, April 02, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 14:12-28
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 8 mins 16 secs
The Apostle Paul's first missionary journey ends with an exhibition of sheer spiritual courage. He and Barnabas endure the wild swings of the pagan crowd in Lystra as they first yell out their adoration of them as gods and then erupt in a wild rage. After stoning Paul, they drag him out of town, but rather than lying low and hiding out, he and Barnabas continue on to Derbe before retracing their steps to teach and encourage the new converts. Explore the role of repentance in salvation, how God blesses all through common grace, and how to witness to those who have suppressed the truth.
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 14:21-15:4
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 1 mins 24 secs
Paul's first missionary journey ignites an explosion of new believers in Jesus Christ across Asia Minor. Not willing to leave these converts in their "diapers", he and Barnabas face extreme danger as they go back and teach doctrine to start these "baby" believers on the road to maturity. Meanwhile, some Pharisee believers insist that the Gentile believers must be circumcised. Listen to this lesson to see how Paul demonstrates the role of a pastor and how circumcision was not just a religious ritual but was an act of patriotism to the Jews. Find out what the political landscape was like in the 1st century and follow the dynamic timeline of the early church.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 15:1-4 & Galatians 2:1-10
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 3 mins 2 secs
After we're saved, do we have to work our heads off and follow a lot of rules to please God? This was the burning question being debated in the early church. Many of the Jewish-background believers demanded that new Gentile converts be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law. Paul stood his ground, keeping his eye on the central issue of grace for both salvation and spiritual life. Follow the chronology of Paul's trips to Jerusalem and see the development of this issue as it is resolved. Understand the difference between legalists performing certain rituals to give them special standing in God's eyes and legitimate practices that lead to spiritual growth.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 15:6-31
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 4 mins 7 secs
Knockdown, drag-out fights make rousing TV shows but don't do much to change opinions. When the early church began to have verbal brawls over the role of Jewish rituals, they decided to convene a council in Jerusalem to resolve the issue. The Pharisees had forgotten to check their rules at the door when they became believers and they wanted to impose them on new converts. Listen to this lesson to learn the different approaches Peter and James used to arrive at the conclusion that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. Find out about the four rules decided upon to bring goodwill between Jewish and Christian believers.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 15:14-21 & Amos 9
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 6 mins 28 secs
How did the early church use the Old Testament to settle disputes about the Gentiles' role in the body of Christ? James in Acts 15 goes to the book of Amos and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit uses a "fuller sense" of the text to apply to the Church Age. Listen to this lesson to learn how Christ now being seated at the right hand of God instead of on David's throne means the church does not replace God's promises to Israel. Find out how the Masoretes translated the scriptures in the early centuries to leave out any references to the Messiah.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 15:22-41
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 7 mins 17 secs
My way or the highway! Is that your attitude when you disagree with someone? Listen to this lesson to learn how to be gracious to others and seek the absolute best for them even when they don't deserve it. Discover five spiritual skills you need to practice so you can love others as Christ loves you. Find out how the early church handled people problems and how even a sharp controversy between Barnabas and Paul was handled graciously.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 16:1-5
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 11 mins 26 secs
Had Paul lost it and was he out of his mind when he had Timothy circumcised? Hadn't he just argued successfully that circumcision no longer mattered? Listen to this lesson and follow the timeline of Paul's thinking. See how Timothy having a Jewish mother was important in Paul's decision. Learn the significance of circumcision to God's covenant with Abraham and how it has ethnic and cultural values today, but never for salvation or spiritual life.