Acts 8:5 Preaching the Word means proclaiming the Christ. Edwin and Andrew talk about what is necessary in preaching Christ. If we are not careful, we end up thinking we are preaching the Word, but not because it lacks Jesus. On top of that, they notice that preaching Christ includes teaching on baptism. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. Send us an email and let us know what you are le...
Apr 08, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Acts 8:4 Edwin and Andrew discuss the guide for preaching and teaching: the Word. This discussion turns into a great review of the previous 7 chapters of Acts, looking at how the Word has played a part in the growth of the kingdom and the salvation of the disciples. When the Word grows, the Kingdom grows. And vice versa. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. Let us know any questions you h...
Apr 07, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Acts 8:1-3 In Acts 8, having witnessed the execution of Stephen and watched the coats of those who cast the stones, Saul takes up the cause against the Way and begins a ravaging persecution that scatters the saints. However, as the Christians are scattered, they didn't keep quiet. They went about preaching and teaching the Word they had been taught. Edwin and Andrew discuss the example this sets for us. Read the written devotional that corresponds with this episode by clicking here. We'd love to...
Apr 06, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Acts 7:51-60 Stephen's audience had a choice. Listen to the message or kill the messenger. SPOILER: They killed the messenger. Stephen became the first Christian martyr following fully in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. You have a choice. You can either listen to the message or... Let us tell you which choice Andrew and Edwin want you to make. Even when He says things we don't like to hear, we need to listen to the Lord. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Le...
Apr 03, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Acts 7:35-39 Centuries before Jesus, Moses promised a coming Prophet. Stephen wants his audience to see that Jesus is, in fact, that Prophet. Jesus is the one they were waiting for. And they killed Him. Wow! What is truly amazing is Satan pulled this off not by getting the Israelites to ignore, despise, and reject Moses, but by getting them to put too much trust and faith in Moses. Double Wow! Let's not make the same kind of mistakes. Read the written devo that goes along with today's episode by...
Apr 02, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Acts 7:23-29 Edwin and Andrew notice two instances in which Stephen contrasts the use of man's hands versus God's. Guess which one was actually successful. In fact, it causes us to learn a significant point about how the Jews were actually perverting the temple. We often say they never got into idolatry after the Babylonian captivity. Stephen says otherwise. Do you disagree with anything you hear on Text Talk, we'd love to hear about it. We'd also like to know what you are learning from your Bib...
Apr 01, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Acts 7:44-50 We continue our look at Stephen's sermon. This time, we notice the theme surrounding the temple and the holy place. God met man in many places. The Jerusalem temple was not special because it was the Jerusalem temple. Rather, it was because of God. The Jews needed to quit focusing on the holy place but on the God who made the place holy. Let us know what you are learning or what questions you have about the text. Send us an email at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Read the written ...
Mar 31, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Acts 7:30-34 Stephen's sermon is intense and deep. In this episode, Edwin and Andrew discuss one of the themes throughout the sermon. Don't focus on the man but on the God who uses the man. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Let us know what you are learning from the text or any questions you have. Send us an email at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Join the Text Talk Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. Come be a guest among the ...
Mar 30, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 31
We are all facing a very difficult time as our communities strive to determine the best way to face the COVID-19 pandemic. We have health fears. We have economic fears. We have fears for our families, for our congregations, for our communities, for our jobs. It is always right to pray. Andrew and Edwin take some time pray in the face of this crisis. If you have specific prayer requests in this difficult time, please, feel free to email them to us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org...
Mar 28, 2020•14 min
Acts 6:7 Here is the shocking part of Acts 6. Priests, who had been among the persecutors in the previous chapters, start to listen and obey the faith. Never prejudge. Keep spreading the Word. We'd love to know what you are learning from the text or what questions you have. Shoot us an email at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Read the blog post that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a ...
Mar 27, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Acts 6:1-7 We get back to the first half of Acts 6 today and notice the most shocking part. Somehow, the apostles' solution pleased the whole gathering. Edwin and Andrew examine some of the conditional attitudes necessary to produce that kind of unity and problem solving. May we have these same attitudes today. Let us know what you are learning from your Bible reading, even if you're not reading Acts right now. Or let us know any questions you have. We may be able to do a bonus episode respondin...
Mar 26, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Acts 6:1-4 When the Jerusalem church faced their division-threatening problem, they had to make some significant changes. In fact, if we read too quickly, we may miss exactly how profound those changes were. They had to change how they related to one another and how they got the work done. Find out more in today's talk about the text. We'd love to hear what you are learning from the text or what questions you have about it. Shoot us an email at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org Join our Facebook c...
Mar 25, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Acts 6:8-15 Edwin and Andrew consider the second half of Acts 6. The first half dealt with problems within. This second half looks at the persecutions without. This isn't the first of the persecution they have dealt with. However, a significant shift takes place in this chapter. The persecution moves from the leaders (the priests and the Council) to the people (members of one of the synagogues). That changes everything. We'd love to know what questions you have about Acts (perhaps we can do a bo...
Mar 24, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Acts 6:1-7 Edwin and Andrew discuss the problem that almost divided the very first congregation. However, instead of being a problem that divided, it ended up becoming an opportunity that multiplied. Find out how the first Christians dealt with the first race problem that hit their midst in Acts 6. We'd love to know what you are learning from Acts. Or, if you have any questions about the text we're reading, let us know that as well. Shoot us an email at TextTalk@ChristiantMeetHere.org Read the w...
Mar 23, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Acts 5:33-42 The apostles were arrested, threatened, and beaten. How did they respond? With rejoicing. Wow!!! What an amazing outlook. Edwin and Andrew discuss that great example. Then they kept on teaching. We need to follow in their footsteps. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Email us. We want to know what you're learning in Acts (or from where you are reading your Bible). Or let us know any questions you have. We'd be excited to give a shout out in a f...
Mar 20, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Acts 5:26-33 Edwin and Andrew continue this week's look at Acts 5 noticing the conviction Peter and the other apostles had to serve the Lord no matter what. Even when they were threatened, jailed, beaten, they were going to obey God rather than the Council. What an example that is for us. Further, they notice Peter describes Jesus as Savior and Leader. Lot's of people want a Savior, not as many want a Leader. How about you? Check out the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking...
Mar 19, 2020•12 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Acts 5:17-21 Edwin and Andrew discuss one of the subtly funnies passages in the whole Bible. The Sadducees don't believe in Angels, but that didn't stop one from breaking the apostles out of jail. They also discuss some of the interesting similarities between how the priests acted over this jail break and the way modern skeptics act about Jesus and His resurrection. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. We'd love to hear from you. Send in your questions about ...
Mar 18, 2020•13 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Acts 5:1-11 Edwin and Andrew hit the hot topic of Acts 5. Why on earth would the God of the New Testament kill Ananias and Sapphira. That's tough. That's shocking. Discover the differences between the God of the Old Testament and the New (hint, hint: There aren't as many as you might think). Also, find out what is actually pretty comforting about a God who shocks us. Check out the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. We'd love to hear from you. Send in your questions ...
Mar 17, 2020•13 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Acts 5:1-11 Edwin and Andrew clear up the mistaken notion many people assert from the first couple of chapters of Acts. Which leads to a discussion of generosity and fellowship. Then, to top it all off, they notice that the Holy Spirit is God. We'd love to know what you are learning from Acts. Also, let us know any questions you have. Shoot us an e-mail at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org. Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. We'd love for you to join us for a...
Mar 16, 2020•12 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Acts 4:32-37 What an amazing statement about the first church. "There was not a needy person among them..." Edwin and Andrew unpack this statement, digging into its Old Testament background and explaining exactly the point Luke was making. It is powerful. They also take on a very common misunderstanding about the church in the modern world. You may want to consider it. Read the written devo that goes along with today's episode by clicking here. This podcast is sponsored by the Christians who mee...
Mar 13, 2020•12 min
Acts 4:23-31 When Peter and John were released from their arrest, the first thing they did was find some friends. However, it wasn't so their friends could hide them. It wasn't just for emotional support. They weren't just trying to find a group that could get together and badmouth the powers that be. They found their friends and prayed. Edwin and Andrew talk about finding those kinds of friends and about being those kinds of friends. They also talk about the tremendous growth this showed in Pet...
Mar 12, 2020•13 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Acts 4:13-22 Peter and John were commanded by the Jewish Council to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. But Peter told the the Council to go jump in a lake. Well, those weren't his exact words. However, he didn't mince words with them. He didn't lead them on or lie to them. He told them, "If you let us go, we're going to speak. We can't help it." Edwin and Andrew discuss this conviction and this excitement and encourage us all to keep speaking. Read the written devo that goes along with this epi...
Mar 11, 2020•13 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Acts 4:5-12 Edwin and Andrew discuss salvation in Jesus, the exclusive nature of Jesus and Christianity, and what it means to do things in Jesus's name. This episode unveils one of the silliest mistakes folks make today when it comes to their attitude toward Christianity. Find out what it is. You don't want to miss this. Read our written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here. This podcast is sponsored by the Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue in Lutz, Florida. Find out ho...
Mar 10, 2020•12 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Acts 4:1-4 Edwin and Andrew home in on the annoyed Sadducees and encourage us to be annoying. Okay, okay, they don't actually want you to try to be annoying, but find out what annoyed the Sadducees and what we need to do when people are annoyed by teaching the truth. Check out our written devo that goes along with today's episode by clicking here. Find out how to be a part of our Bible classes or worship assemblies by clicking here. We'd love to hear from you. Let us know what you're learning fr...
Mar 09, 2020•12 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Edwin and Andrew kick of this discussion by considering what an amazing blessing it is that Peter, even though he didn't quite understand what he was saying at the time, explained the lame man's healing is an indicator that the blessing promised to Abraham is for all families of the earth. Then, they conduct another thought experiment. What would happen the first time the lame man ever fell down? Find the written devotional that goes along with this episode by clicking here. We invite you to joi...
Mar 06, 2020•13 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Edwin and Andrew go through a thought experiment. When the healed man woke up the next day, what did he need to do? How do you think he reacted? What would have happened if he had decided to not walk, get carried by his friends, and just keep begging at the temple gate? Wouldn't that be silly? Find the written devotional that goes along with this episode by clicking here. The Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue invite you to join us at any of our Bible classes and worship assemblies. Find o...
Mar 05, 2020•13 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Edwin and Andrew talk about what the lame man needed to do after a week, a month, a year, a decade. Then things get really good as this springboards into the reason Peter, through Jesus, had authority to raise up the lame man. We find out exactly who Jesus is from Peter in his sermon based on this miracle. Find the written devotional that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Find out how to join us in any of our Bible classes or worship assemblies by clicking here. Michael Eldridge wro...
Mar 04, 2020•12 min•Season 1Ep. 13
We're going to talk about that healed lame man some more. Today's discussion demonstrates the cooperation between the lame man's faith-filled response and the power of God's grace. This says a lot about our salvation. Check out the written devotional that goes along with this episode by clicking here. Find out how to visit our Bible classes or worship assemblies by clicking here. Michael Eldridge wrote and sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here. Also: A huge H...
Mar 03, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Peter and John heal a lame. Edwin and Andrew talk about it. In today's discussion, Edwin and Andrew highlight the parallels between miracles of healing and our own spiritual healing in salvation. Learn how the goal of Peter healing this lame man mirrors the goal of God saving us by His grace. Check out the written devotional that goes along with this episode by clicking here . Please, join us among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue for any of our Bible classes or worship assemblies. C...
Mar 02, 2020•13 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Today, Edwin and Andrew discuss the very first offer of the gospel. When the people heard and then responded, what was their motivation? Even more important, what was Peter's answer? And why is Peter's answer so different from what most preachers and churches say today? No punches are pulled today. Today, we get to meet Edwin and Andrew's alter egos. They've been told together they make the perfect Arnold Palmer. One of them is the sweet tea, the other is the lemonade. Can you figure out which? ...
Feb 28, 2020•14 min•Season 1Ep. 10
