Acts Chapter 8: Philip the Evangelist

Hello Class!

Here are some notes from the last two weeks, November 22 and 29.

We have spent the last couple of sessions in Acts, Chapter 8. On the 22nd Llew and Shirley led the class in discussion of the main characters in the story, and also shared stories of baptisms. Thank you for taking charge of the class in our absence! On the 29th we continued this conversation, including some further insights about baptism as a ritual practice and some observations about the practice of laying on of hands. Finally we made note of the significance of the gospel message breaking out of Jerusalem into Samaria and, through the Ethiopian eunuch converted on the desert road, to nations south.

As a connection, the Sunday sermon text and message referred to the northern and southern kingdoms of ancient times. Samaria in the time of the early church had become the land of a people whose cultures mixed when the northern kingdom (Israel) was overcome by the Assyrians in the early 700's B.C. This is the place, in Jesus' time, Jews avoided because the people there practiced a Jewish faith that was viewed as impure; and in fact the people themselves held in prejudice because their line was mixed with Gentile conquerors from generations past. Tradition/legend holds that the Eunuch took the message of Christ to Ethiopia, from which seed grew a thriving and unique Coptic Christian community.

For the coming week's class, we will focus on our four application questions: What does the Scripture tell me about God; myself; my relationship with God; and, what will I do?

Have a wonderful week & we hope to see you this Sunday.

Dan and Laura

Acts: Deacons

Hi Class!

Thanks for another very interesting discussion last Sunday. Whether we call it serendipity or the Holy Spirit we enjoyed a fascinating intersection last week, as United Methodist Deacon Rev. Rhoda Pittman Markus visited our class. This was in conjunction with our study of the selection, ordination, and service of the first New Testament "Deacons" in Acts, chapters 6-7.

Rhoda shared personal insights and experiences of a modern Deacon, whose call is to link the ritual life of the church with our call to service in the world. For a fulsome description of the ministry of United Methodist Deacons you may enter the following web address in your browser: http://www.gbhem.org/site/c.lsKSL3POLvF/b.3474319/k.BF2A/Deacons.htm.

I believe, after I left for choir, that you heard a story regarding the blessedness and compliment of serving communion in her role as deacon, and mine as elder, when we served a congregation together.

For this week, please read ahead into chapter 8, accounts of the adventures of Philip, one of the early evangelists of the church who first went outside the "bubble" of what was then orthodox Judaism to share the Gospel of Christ in Samaria, and with an Egyptian on his way home from the great festival in Jerusalem.

Llew and Shirley have answered the call to be your facilitators this week. I know this will be an especially interesting session, combining the content and their leadership. Laura and I will miss you, as we will be in Boise following our talented son to his state piano competition.

Blessings to you all & see you soon!

Dan and Laura

Acts: The First Deacons Chosen

Hello Class!

Nice to be together Sunday for Acts chapter 6. We read about the need for troubleshooting distribution of food to widows in the community, arising from a dispute about fair sharing between Greek and Hebrew Christians. The Apostles came up with a plan to delegate this job to seven men of good repute, wisdom, and Spirit. All agreed it was a good plan, so seven were chosen and "ordained", or set apart and blessed for this work, by the laying on of hands. In Apostolic Church circles these men are recognized as the first deacons of the church. Stephen Ministry is, also, a program named for the Stephen who, after angering the Sanhedrin, became the first Christian martyr.

Discussion veered toward the subject of being "chosen" by God, and how, in particular, United Methodist pastors are selected to be assigned to specific churches. We (Laura and I) had the opportunity to tell some of our story of being "chosen" in the Spirit to move to Idaho Falls, and how I became your pastor.

Next week we'll continue reading through chapter 7, in which Stephen preaches to the Jewish leaders, is martyred, and persecution fractures the church in Jerusalem.

God bless you all & hope very much to see you Sunday!

Dan and Laura