Bible Discussion — Acts 25-26

11/19/2008, 2:30 pm -- by Bweinh | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com moves on to the next two chapters of Acts.

PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS:
Genesis: 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-18 | 19-22 | 23-26
27-29 | 30-32 | 33-36 | 37-39 | 40-43 | 44-46 | 47-50
Exodus: 1-4 | 5-8 | 9-11 | 12-14 | 15-18
19-22 | 23-26 | 27-30 | 31-34 | 35-40
Romans: Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7 | Ch. 8 (I)
Ch. 8 (II) | Ch. 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 | Ch. 13 | Ch. 14 | Ch. 15-16
Luke: 1:1-38 | 1:39-2:40 | 2:41-3:38 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
11 | 12 | 13 | 14-15 | 16-17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24
Esther: 1-2 | 3-5 | 6-8 | 9-10
Acts: 1 | 2 | 3-4 | 5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9-10 | 11-12
13-14 | 15-16 | 17-18 | 19-20 | 21-22 | 23-24

INTRODUCTION:
Connie:
Paul, still in chains, once again meets with Festus and is offered the deal of going back to Jerusalem to defend himself. He declines and appeals to Caesar, removing the burden of the decision from Festus. But before he heads for Rome, another king visits and asks for an audience.

SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Josh:
During this retelling of Paul’s testimony, he included the words from the Lord, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” Perhaps it had not been until then that Paul fully understood how hard it was, what the price would be for that persecution.

Connie:
Festus was concerned about how King Agrippa may have been perceiving Paul’s story, and tried to cut it off by calling Paul crazy. Agrippa responds with the famous “You almost had me at ‘hello’” line, later immortalized in Jerry Maguire.

Djere:
The trial before Agrippa and Bernice was a big show, in an arena filled with “prominent men of the city.” Weird.

BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Josh: The Learned and Mad
Connie: Conversion
Djere: Uncle Festus
Steve: Oh Felix

Continued here!

Bible Discussion — Acts 23-24

11/12/2008, 11:00 am -- by Bweinh | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com moves on to the next two chapters of Acts.

INTRODUCTION:
Connie:
Paul’s day in court dawned — but if he thought that meant his ordeal would soon be over, he didn’t know Felix’s nickname was “The Procrastinator.”

David:
In Isaiah 58:4, God rebuked Israel, saying, “Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness.” Here is perfect example of what God was talking about — fasting to kill Paul.

SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Steve:
The sheer volume of Roman might that accompanied Paul to Caesarea (23:23). It was 38 miles to Antipatris and another 26 to Caesarea — those were significant distances 2000 years ago. Were those soldiers headed up there anyway, or was it all for Paul?

Connie:
Paul’s reaction when he was first struck by Ananias. He was beaten many times, but this is the first time I can remember reading that he lost his temper and yelled back. And after he recovers, he says he was wrong; God’s word compels us not to react that way to those over us. Oy, such composure. He’s no Glenn Beck.

David:
I like how the chief captain lied in his letter to Felix, claiming he rescued Paul because he knew Paul was a Roman. He actually found that out after he was getting ready to scourge him.

BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Josh: House Divided; Bribing the Governor
Connie: Herod’s Praetorium
David: Judgment Hall
Steve: Drinking Oath

Continued here!

Presidential Haiku Prediction 7

11/3/2008, 4:08 pm -- by Josh J | No Comments

Today’s spam subject:
“McCane kicks Obama’s butt”
Can you say “Bradley“?

Spam Subject Line of the Day

10/30/2008, 11:15 am -- by Josh J | No Comments

McCane kicks Obama’s butt

Bible Discussion — Acts 21-22

10/29/2008, 11:26 pm -- by Bweinh | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com moves on to the next two chapters of Acts.

INTRODUCTION:
David:
Paul is the epitome of “all things to all people” in this section. He bows to pressure from James and the elders to partake in some sort of Nazarite vow; he speaks Greek to the captain who rescues him and Hebrew to the crowd of Jews who demand his head; he throws around his Roman citizenship and knowledge of Roman law when they bind him and try to scourge him, uncondemned. He could be quite the diplomat in a pinch.

SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Steve:
Paul’s defense was a reiteration of his testimony, and unsurprisingly, he didn’t get much farther than telling the Jews how he always knew the Jews wouldn’t listen to him.

Connie:
The comment from the guard leading Paul to prison, asking him if he was the Egyptian who led a rebellion and escaped to the desert with 4,000 assassins. Really? How did I miss that?

David:
Paul publicly confesses his complicity in the murder of Stephen in 22:20 — and he was bound with “thongs” in 22:25 (NKJV).

BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Connie: 4000 Assassins
Josh: Mob Justice
Steve: Mnason; A Citizen
David: The Elders

Continued here!

Bible Discussion — Acts 19-20

10/22/2008, 2:24 pm -- by Bweinh | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com moves on to the next two chapters of Acts.

INTRODUCTION:
David:
Paul brings the word of God to Ephesus, then hurries off to a feast. In the interim, Apollos comes to Ephesus and teaches with eloquence — but lacks the power of the Holy Ghost. Paul returns, bringing the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and spends two full years with the Ephesians.

Some surmise that in Revelation, when the Ephesian church is commended for exposing false apostles, that Apollos is meant. I don’t think so. Paul followed up on Apollos in Corinth too, telling them: “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”

Steve:
GREAT IS ARTEMIS OF THE EPHESIANS!
GREAT IS ARTEMIS OF THE EPHESIANS!
GREAT IS ARTEMIS OF THE EPHESIANS!

Connie:
Paul’s ministry tour is coming to an end. Our chapters this week deal with the riot at Ephesus and a study in diplomacy, and the final goodbyes before Paul heads to Jerusalem, which (the Holy Spirit has told him) holds “chains and tribulations.” But he doesn’t let up at all, promising to “finish the race with joy.”

SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Steve:
It’s amazing to me that the same televangelist hucksters who use 19:12 to defend their practice of praying over cloths and sending them to their sick and needy donors completely ignore the lesson of the next four verses — by accepting praise and elevating their own names above that of their Creator.

Connie:
20:2 isn’t complete. It ends with “he came to Greece,” but verse three begins, “and stayed three months.” How absolutely odd. The OCD person inside me needs an explanation or a rewrite.

My commentary says it was because of the winter. So maybe verse three should read: “Because of the wintry weather, Paul stayed in Greece for three months,” then proceed on with the narrative. Much better, eh?

BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Connie: Sopater
Josh: Take No Prisoners
Steve: Uproar; The Plots
David: Tyrannus

Continued here!

Bible Discussion — Acts 17-18

10/16/2008, 12:30 pm -- by Bweinh | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com moves on to the next two chapters of Acts.

INTRODUCTION:
David:
We get to meet a man named Apollos, Paul’s chief rival for the claim of authorship of the book of Hebrews.

Connie:
As Paul evangelizes his way through the countryside, we get a fascinating look at early 1st-century life and philosophy. It sounds a lot like our country today. Substitute making the rounds on The View (NYC), Leno (LA), and Oprah (Chicago) for Athens, Berea, and Corinth, and you have a similiar situation.

Some receive him, listen patiently, and gain eternal life. Others mock and ignore, even going so far as to try to prevent others from hearing. Sounds a lot like the talk show circuit to me.

SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Steve:
When Paul was persecuted in Corinth, the story ended very differently than many other places — the ruling Greeks let him off scot-free and instead beat the troublemaking synagogue leader!

Connie:
Paul gets a haircut! Fulfilling a vow, Paul has his hair cut off (18:18). Matthew Henry says the reason was to celebrate God’s protection as he fulfills his mission from vv. 9-10.

BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Josh: Jason’s House
Steve: Strange Ears
Connie: Apollos
David: O Ye Jews. Also, I don’t know about a title, but it would be hard to have a band without “fellows of the baser sort”…

Continued here!

Spam Subject Line of the Day

10/16/2008, 12:10 pm -- by Josh J | No Comments

Why to wait?

Bible Discussion — Acts 15-16

10/8/2008, 2:30 pm -- by Bweinh | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com moves on to the next two chapters of Acts.

INTRODUCTION:
David:
In Chapter 15, the church tackles the Gentile question, but in chapter 16, Paul still feels compelled to have Timothy (of mixed race) circumcised to avoid Jewish criticism. Then Paul visits Troas and the narrative changes to first-person, giving us a clue as to when Luke physically joined the group.

Connie:
In this corner, Peter, the leader of the Jews, overpressured by the masses over silly doctrinal annoyances. And in the white trunks, Paul coming out to fight for the Gentiles. We all know who’s going to win; we just wonder what all the fuss was to begin with. Peter should’ve been able to handle this in his sleep.

SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Josh:
Luke slips into the first-person plural perspective. I wonder how much he experienced firsthand, how much he witnessed, and how much was passed on to him. In chapter 16, “we” were met by the slave girl, but after Paul drives out the spirit, “they” were arrested and flogged. That’s the way to do it, I suppose.

Steve:
Some men from the Jerusalem area set out on a long journey for the express purpose of trying to convince the new Gentile churches that their circumcision was required by the Law of Moses. Seems like a pretty clear-cut case of misery loving company.

Connie:
Paul wasn’t afraid of a fight. Once he got into it with Peter and won, it was all gravy after that. The next chapter begins with another argument, this time with Barnabas. It must’ve been a lonely time.

BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Steve: Thyatira
Connie: Council at Jerusalem
Josh: Things Strangled
David: The Residue of Men

Continued here!

Bible Discussion — Acts 13-14

10/1/2008, 1:30 pm -- by Bweinh | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com moves on to the next two chapters of Acts.

INTRODUCTION:
David:
These two chapters contain the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas. John Mark, author of the Gospel that bears his (second) name, began that journey with them, but left abruptly after a confrontation with a sorcerer. This would later cause much contention between his uncle Barnabas and Paul.

Connie:
The Gospel has been preached faithfully by the Jerusalem church across many cultures, in all Judea and Samaria. Now, through Paul and Barnabas, it will begin to fulfill the “ends of the earth” phase of the Great Commission.

SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Connie:
Paul’s amazing recovery after being stoned, dragged out, and left for dead. The account says that the disciples gathered around him and he rose up, walked into the city, and — the very next day — left on another long trip.

I don’t know the recovery rate after being stoned and left for dead, but it sure isn’t normal to jump up and go on your merry way as soon as the mob leaves. This was real life, not TV. There was healing here.

Steve:
After healing a crippled man, Paul and Barnabas had to keep the crowd from sacrificing bulls to them. Sounds like a slapstick scene: two men running around, mobbed by frenzied admirers, grabbing sword-wielding arms and setting cattle free.

BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Steve: Proconsul; A Plot Afoot
Josh: Not Quite Dead; Marvel and Perish
Connie: Derbe Dudes
David: Devout & Honorable Women

Continued here!

Spam Subject Line of the Day

10/1/2008, 12:38 pm -- by Josh J | No Comments

“Make your fat friends envy you”

Spam Subject Line of the Day…

09/28/2008, 9:26 pm -- by Josh J | No Comments

“Your chemist wants to know if you are interested in bad health”

Bible Discussion — Acts 11-12

09/24/2008, 12:00 pm -- by Bweinh | No Comments

This week, Bweinh.com tackles the next two chapters of Acts.

INTRODUCTION:
David:
One important thing here is the evolution of church leadership. It changes from “the Apostles” or “the 11,” and becomes “the apostles and brethren,” drawing in the other mature church members. This group emerges as an entity and has no problem asking Peter to explain his actions in Joppa. Peter was not at all offended, and seemed perfectly willing to have his authority questioned. Some first Pope.

Connie:
The church continues to grow. Peter successfully defended his Gentile tour, and Barnabas and Saul continued theirs, but Herod thought it was time to put a stop to all this nonsense.

Who will win? Never bet against God’s House.

SOMETHING YOU’D NEVER NOTICED BEFORE:
Connie:
God waited until the night before to save Peter from James’s fate: death. That’s what the guards got for letting him escape.

And Peter was so confident in whatever the next day held for him that he was sound asleep. The angel practically had to dress him verbally: “Tie your belt, lace your shoes. Come on, get your coat, for Pete’s sake!” Peter didn’t fully wake up until he was in the streets and the angel was gone; now that’s the peace that passes understanding.

David:
The last verse of chapter 12 tells us that Paul was in Jerusalem during the murder of James and the imprisonment of Peter.

Steve:
It must have been Peter’s “angel” at the door? What was that supposed to mean?

BEST BAND NAME FROM THE PASSAGE:
Connie: Four Squads
Steve: Blastus
Josh: Herod and the Worms

Continued here!

Why We Believe: Vol. 10

09/23/2008, 1:00 pm -- by Josh J | No Comments

At long last, on this, his 30th birthday — we present Josh’s testimony, the latest in our testimony series.

Of all the things for which I have to be thankful in this life, there is one unparalleled: the faith of my parents. What would prove to be the very foundation of my own life, my earliest understanding of God, that He is and who He is, was rooted not in the fact that my parents told me about Him (although they certainly did that), but in that they live their lives as though He is an absolute certainty.

Not that I never doubted. I distinctly remember when I was about four years old, wondering if the whole thing was a conspiracy. Those books in the back of the pew could be made up, and my parents could be in on it. Even my childish mind soon came to the conclusion that the thought that God does not exist is far more preposterous than the thought that He does.

Not that I fully understood. I was told that church was God’s house, but I wasn’t sure where He was, since I’d been all over that building and never once run into Him. I finally figured He must spend most of His time in my mother’s office, the one room I wasn’t allowed to enter. I passed by the door with great reverence.

But I knew that God could make His dwelling in my heart, if I accepted the gift of His Son. And so, as a little boy, I said the sinner’s prayer, and that little boy received salvation.

Of course, that little boy isn’t here anymore. He’s been gone for some time now.

I was 16 the first time I realized that I took my faith for granted, that the God of salvation accepted by a young boy would have to be accepted by a young man. As my understanding increased, as my person matured, as my life changed altogether, I would have to decide anew for whom that life was going to be lived.

The Lord continued to place people in my life to give me the love, encouragement, and instruction I needed to point me to Him, to keep growing, to keep surrendering. The fellowship of believers has reflected Him to me, and I am privileged to be a part of that fellowship, to reflect Him to others.

And so I seek after the Lord, and I find Him faithful. I seek His will, and He directs me, He sustains me, He supplies my needs. I stumble, and He restores me. I walk with Him today, and by His grace I will walk with Him tomorrow.

One Hundred Words (34)

09/18/2008, 11:00 am -- by Josh J | No Comments

It’s not that I think I’m anything great. Honestly, I’m not here to brag. But sometimes, I put my pants on both legs at the same time. I did it just this morning.

It’s not even that hard, if you’re sitting down. In fact, I find it easier than if I were to put them on one leg at a time while standing up. On they went, both legs at once, without a thought nor scarcely any effort.

But again, I’m nothing special. Please believe me. I put my jacket on one arm at a time, just like anyone else.

–JDJ

Bible Discussion — Acts 25-26

Bible Discussion — Acts 23-24

Presidential Haiku Prediction 7

Spam Subject Line of the Day

Bible Discussion — Acts 21-22

Bible Discussion — Acts 19-20

Bible Discussion — Acts 17-18

Spam Subject Line of the Day

Bible Discussion — Acts 15-16

Bible Discussion — Acts 13-14

Spam Subject Line of the Day

Spam Subject Line of the Day…

Bible Discussion — Acts 11-12

Why We Believe: Vol. 10

One Hundred Words (34)

What's New

Email Us

Archives

Bweinh! Staff

Our Sites

Sites We Like