Athey Creek | Video Podcast

While praying on a rooftop, Peter receives a vision in Acts 10:9-20 that would interestingly impact the early church and Christianity to this day. As we study Peter’s vision and its implications, we examine how the Lord can still give us dreams and visions as we seek Him and how we can have confirmation that they are from Him.

Things take a significant turn for the early church in Acts 9:20-43 as Saul, once their primary persecutor, converts to Christianity and exits the scene to prepare for his future ministry. Meanwhile, we catch up with Peter, who continues to follow Jesus' example while boldly sharing the Gospel throughout the region.

Saul of Tarsus is on his way to threaten and murder the Christians in Damascus when he has a life-changing encounter with God in Acts 9:1-19. In this dramatic account of his conversion, we see God knock Saul down to show him the error of his ways and extend his free gift of salvation to even the most unlikely person.

When Saul's persecution begins to scatter the church, Philip travels to Samaria, where he encounters a sorcerer and an Ethiopian eunuch. As we meet this interesting cast of characters in Acts 8, we study the varied responses to Philip's preaching while learning important lessons about evangelism, salvation, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

In an incredible God-ordained circumstance, Philip finds himself in the desert sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a traveling Ethiopian in Acts 8:26-40. In the same way, we are also called to share the message of salvation through Jesus with the people God places in our path. With Philip as our example, we learn how God often orchestrates circumstances for us to present the Gospel, how we should respond when we find ourselves with an opportunity, and how to obtain the power to be bold as we share.

Stephen concludes his sermon in Acts 7:37-8:3 with bold accusations against the religious leaders for continually failing to truly follow God’s law, turning to idolatry, missing His glory, and being spiritually dead. As their outrage culminates in Stephen’s death by stoning, we are introduced to Saul, who launches a rampage of persecution against the early church.

As Stephen is stoned to death, he utters some truly remarkable last words in Acts 7:59-60 that reveal the powerful transformation Jesus had upon his life. In much the same way, Jesus wants to change us too. As we study, we learn how He can bring about this change in our lives by rescuing us from our sins and giving us new hearts that will help us face any circumstance while glorifying God —just like Stephen.

In one of Scripture's most powerful sermons, Stephen recounts Israel's history to reveal how it foreshadowed Jesus as the Messiah while addressing the people's repeated rejection of God’s plan. As we study the first half of his message in Acts 7:1-43, we cover their history from Abraham to Moses to see the prophetic implications, the beginning of God's plan for the Jewish people, and how Jesus was pictured throughout this history.

Accused of blasphemy by the religious leaders, Stephen begins his defense in Acts 7:2-8 with a history lesson on God’s promise to give Abraham’s descendants the land of Israel. Starting with Stephen’s statement, we trace Israel’s history to the present day to explore who should possess the land and why, the current narrative in the Middle East, and how these controversies are leading to God’s ultimate plans for the Jews in the End Times.

The early church is growing and doing great things in Acts 6, but complaining begins to creep in as organizational challenges arise. As we study their problem, we see how church leadership addressed the issue and how their solution continues to influence the organization of the church even today.

While Stephen is preaching about Jesus in Acts 6:8-15, a group of men come against him by spreading lies and accusing him of sharing misinformation. And unfortunately, twisting the truth is the oldest trick in the book and is still in play today. As we study how truth is distorted, we learn how to combat these attacks by knowing what Scripture actually says and how we can become people full of faith and power, like Stephen.

The early church is flourishing in Acts 5 as many come to know the Lord, miracles abound, and the Gospel is boldly proclaimed. However, Satan attempts to stop the growing power of the church with attacks from both within and without, and the opposition becomes increasingly hostile.

Ananias and Sapphira appear to be outstanding members of the early church in Acts 5:1-11, but an act of hypocrisy and deceit leads to their dramatic destruction. By examining why God made an example of them—and others throughout Scripture—we uncover why hypocrisy in the church is so serious, the importance of fleeing from unrighteousness, and how God’s grace and mercy cover us when we are overtaken by our faults.

The religious leaders are furious with Peter and John in Acts 4 for preaching the name of Jesus Christ and respond by arresting them and forbidding them to do so. Despite this mounting persecution, Peter and John are ultimately released, and the church gathers to pray for boldness, asking the Holy Spirit to fill them with the courage to continue declaring the truth and power of Jesus Christ to everyone – including those opposing them.

After healing a crippled man and preaching about Jesus to the astonished crowd, Peter and John find themselves in big trouble with the religious leaders. As Peter defends their actions in Acts 4:1-14, he boldly declares who Jesus is and that salvation can only come through Him.

After healing a crippled man, Peter addresses a marveling crowd in Acts 3, telling them about the promised Messiah whom they rejected and crucified and how He fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. As we study his powerful message about Jesus, we learn about the power of faith, the necessity of repentance, and how Jesus’ death ultimately blessed the entire world.

In Acts 3:1-11 we meet a crippled man begging near the Temple gates. As Peter and John come across him, they offer him something far greater than silver or gold. As we see the man healed and enter the Temple with rejoicing, we uncover valuable lessons about salvation, listening to the Holy Spirit, and what our praise should look like.

The disciples and their fellow believers were gathered together on Pentecost in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit rushes upon them as a mighty wind. As we watch the aftermath of this event unfold, we begin to explore what speaking in tongues and prophesying means and hear Peter preach a powerful Scripture-based sermon that would lead many to Christ and launch the early church.

What should a church look like? Are the things a church chooses to focus on really important? How can we know if a church is doing what God desires? Fortunately, Acts 2:41-47 helps us answer these questions by giving us a clear model of what churches should be doing and what matters when it comes to how we worship, teach, and engage with each other.

Luke begins his account in Acts 1 by recounting the events following Jesus' resurrection, His ascension, and the actions of the disciples afterward. As we dive into this study, we explore how Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit sets the course for the book, what the disciples did while they waited, and how Jesus' ascension helps us understand the rapture, end times events, and His Second Coming.

We begin our study of the Book of Acts by exploring Luke's prologue in Acts 1:1-3 as an introduction, followed by a high-level overview of what the rest of the book holds. Join us as we examine God's model for the church and learn the incredible history of how Christianity took root and spread across the world.

As we conclude our study of the Gospels in John 21, we witness two poignant scenes between Jesus and His disciples on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Through these final object lessons, Jesus prepares them for what lies ahead, and we see the foundation of the church take shape as the disciples are reminded of their calling to be fishers of men and shepherds of the flock.

After fishing all night and catching nothing, the disciples encounter Jesus, who bids them to come ashore and eat with Him in John 21:3-12. And this isn’t the first time Jesus has extended a similar invitation. As we study, we learn what Jesus offers us and what we can gain when we follow His call to come.

In John 20:19-31, the disciples are assembled in fear when Jesus suddenly appears in their midst and transforms their cowardice into courage and fear into faith. As we study, we discover what Jesus did to bring about this change and how we can receive this peace as well.

How do we know the account in John 20:1-10 of Mary Magdalene, John, and Peter finding the empty tomb and Jesus risen from the dead is actually true? As we study, we discover that Jesus' resurrection is one of the most well-supported events in history, backed by evidence from a variety of sources.

Mary Magdalene, John, and Peter arrive at Jesus' tomb early Sunday morning, only to find the stone rolled away, the grave clothes left behind, and Jesus' body missing. As we watch the scene unfold in John 20:1-18, we observe each person's reaction, explore the symbolism within the empty grave, and celebrate that Jesus Christ is risen!

In John 20, we hear the account of Jesus’ empty tomb and His resurrection—the most important event in all of history. But just why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ such a significant event? As we study, we look at seven things the resurrection accomplished that we can be thankful for and learn how we can obtain hope and eternal life because of it.

The time for Jesus’ crucifixion has finally arrived in John 19:17-42 as He is taken to Golgotha and placed on a cross between two criminals. In John’s brief but poignant eyewitness account, we see the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, Jesus’ deep care for others, and the hypocrisy of the religious leaders.

In John 19:14-22, the Jews reject Jesus as their king and insist that He be put to death. And unfortunately, we see a similar pattern of this demanding behavior throughout their history. As we study, we see how else they rejected God, why He sometimes gives us what we want, and how, even when things go awry because we think we know better, God can still redeem the situation to fulfill His plan.

A brutal scene unfolds in John 19:1-17 as Jesus is mocked and beaten, while an indecisive Pilate worsens the situation, resulting in a riled-up crowd calling for Jesus’ death. Yet, as we study, we see how this had to happen to fulfill prophecy perfectly and bring healing and salvation to all.

As Jesus hangs on the cross in John 19:25-30, He speaks some of His final words about His mother and the end of His earthly ministry. The other Gospels complete the account of His last sayings. As we examine Jesus’ seven final statements, we see how each fulfills a specific purpose, revealing what He was accomplishing and how we should respond.

Judas’ betrayal is complete in John 18 as a mob comes to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, kicking off a series of sham trials before both Jewish and Roman courts. Meanwhile, Simon Peter provides an example of what not to do as he recklessly wields his sword to defend Jesus, only to deny Him three times shortly after.

The Jews thought they had everything about Jesus figured out in John 18:31-32, but they were very mistaken in their assumptions and were acting hypocritically and ignorantly. However, as we study, we see how their errant beliefs actually helped fulfill prophecy and aligned with Jesus’ ultimate purpose of dying on the cross for the salvation of all who believe.

Jesus says a prayer in John 17 that serves as a beautiful model for our own prayers. As we study what He prayed about, may we also strive to glorify the Father, remain united with fellow believers, and focus on hearing and proclaiming the Word.

As Jesus prepares to face His darkest hour, He lifts His eyes to Heaven and begins to pray in John 17:1. Though this may appear to be a simple action, it holds profound significance, reminding us where to turn when we face hard times or need guidance in making difficult decisions.

As Jesus tells His disciples what will happen in John 16, they misread the situation and think they understand what will happen even though they are still confused. As we strive to learn from their mistake, we see how we should correctly view the things that happen in our lives, how the Holy Spirit will guide us, and how abiding in Christ gives us full assurance that we can handle anything we face in this world.

In John 15:18-27, Jesus tells His disciples that they should expect to be hated by the world because they are His followers. This statement has proven true throughout history and continues today. So, how should we respond as Christians if we can expect to be hated by the world? In our study, we learn why it matters that we are different and how to shine the light of Christ effectively and boldly through the way we live.

Jesus gives an analogy about a vine and branches that the disciples would clearly understand in relation to Israel, but it also has just as much relevance in our lives today. As we study this picture in John 15, we learn the historical significance, how it relates to salvation, and what it means to abide in Jesus and be fruitful followers.

As we continue studying what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-18, we hone in on the work of the Holy Spirit coming upon us. As we study, we seek to clear up confusion, correct errant teachings, and search the Scripture to see the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they manifest in our lives.

As Jesus instructs His disciples in John 14:15-31, He shares how the Holy Spirit has been made known in the past, present, and future. As we learn how this impacts our lives today, may our hearts be a home for the Holy Spirit to dwell in as we obey His commands, flee from sin, and share the hope of Jesus with others.

The Bible tells us not to be ignorant about the Holy Spirit, and Jesus emphasizes the Holy Spirit as a major part of His final teaching to the disciples. So then, why is there still so much misunderstanding and misapplication? As we begin to look into what Jesus taught in John 14:15-18, we learn the purpose, attributes, and significance of the Holy Spirit.

As Jesus and His disciples enter a dark season leading up to the cross, Jesus takes time to teach and encourage them in John 14:1-15. As He tells them where He is going, what will be accomplished during what is to come, and how they can follow Him, we learn how to endure hard times, the eschatology behind Jesus’ statements, and most importantly, what we must do to be saved.

After a dramatic dinner, the disciples are left feeling confused, distressed, and despairing over the events they are watching unfold. Perhaps you can relate to those feelings as troubling things happen in your life and the world around you. Fortunately, Jesus gave the remedy to combat a troubled heart in John 14:1, and as we follow His commands, we can find peace, hope, and comfort in any situation.

Jesus identifies Judas as the one who will betray Him and gives him leave to carry out this dastardly deed in John 13:18-38. As we study, we learn why Judas was chosen for this role, what the other disciples thought of the situation, and how this evil act would eventually lead to the most significant event in the history of the world.

Jesus gives His disciples a new commandment to love one another in John 13:34-35. But just what does Jesus mean by this directive? As we break it down, we see to whom this applies specifically, what it looks like practically, and why it is an essential aspect of our Christian walk.

After a discourse on who He is and why He came, Jesus begins celebrating Passover with His disciples by washing their feet in John 12:44-13:17. As we watch this scene unfold, we see what Jesus was demonstrating by this act, the importance of being cleansed by the water of the Word, and how we can have a servants heart like Jesus.

Jesus tells the multitude how He will die on the cross and the purpose of His death, leaving them to debate and decide what they will believe about Him. As we study their decision point in John 12:32-43, we see what prevented them from following Jesus, learn why salvation may not always be an option, and examine our own hearts as we choose what decision we will make about Jesus.

A series of events unfold in John 12:1-33 that point to Jesus as the Messiah and foreshadow His coming death on the cross. As we watch Mary anoint His feet with costly perfume, see how He perfectly fulfills Old Testament prophecy, and hear Jesus directly predict His death on the cross, we learn about true worship, God’s glory, salvation, and the defeat of Satan.

In Jesus' final "I Am" statement in John 15:1-5, He declares He is the true vine, His Father is the vinedresser, and we are the branches. As we examine all the elements of this symbol, we learn what it means historically, prophetically, and presently, as well as the importance of staying connected to the vine so that we may bear good fruit.

Mary and Martha are mourning the loss of Lazarus as they wonder why their brother had to die and why Jesus delayed coming to them in John 11. As Jesus shows up on the scene and brings Lazarus back to life, we see the importance of waiting on God's timing, how this miracle was for God's glory, and how this would become the catalyst that begins Jesus' journey to the cross.