Congratulations on finishing this womens online Bible Study course. Acts: Awakening to God in Everyday Life by Melissa Spoelstra has opened our eyes to many Bible truths. Join us for more online Bible studies– we saved you a seat at the Bible Cafe table.
This study on Acts has helped us understand “God’s ultimate authority.” My prayer is that it helped you change your mindset about a current or past struggle in your life. We can feel great comfort knowing God is in control in Heaven and on Earth.
Paul says in Acts 20:26 (NLT)…”I preached… that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do.” According to this verse, we prove we have changed by the good things we do. As we shed the fruit of the world we put on the Fruit of the Spirit. All good works are motivated by our love for Christ.
As Melissa Spoelstra explains, “Paul’s mission was to open spiritual eyes.” My prayer is that Bible study opens your eyes to the Truth. When you are praying over a situation or event, ask God to help you see with your spiritual eyes. Let the Holy Spirit be your Counselor. “And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.” Isaiah 35:5 NLT
In James 4:8 NKJV, we are instructed to “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” What is one practical way you can draw nearer to God? Open your Bible, say a prayer, worship Him, and meditate on a verse. When you are intentional, He is drawing closer. Be blessed!
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 NLT
How do you feel about having a Holy Spirit boldness as the day of His return is getting closer? Are you boldly making disciples, or hiding your faith? Are you walking with Jesus, or walking with the enemies of God? Are you seeking Him, or seeking the world’s opinion and favor?
Let’s agree to be awake to His day of return. We will not slumber when the Bridegroom arrives.
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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.
Let’s continue our womens online Bible Study for Acts: Awakening to God in Everyday Life by Melissa Spoelstra. We are making great progress in the Bible Cafe™ study. Keep reading your lessons and join us for online Bible study.
As an early missionary, Paul had to embrace flexibility when he encountered opposition. Would it be easier or harder to embrace flexibility today? When you consider the historical context, Paul was limited to the face-to-face conversation and did not have technology as we do today. His opposition was not someone sitting behind her computer screen having a meltdown about something he said. But, in this historical culture, there were more serious punishments than we have today. Freedom of speech was limited.
Like the apostle Paul we are called to make disciples today. Some of the recent challenges we face today are pushing against freedom of speech. We are filtered on social media, silenced for speaking our religious beliefs, and mocked as Christians. Yet we can individually make disciples as people get to know us, see the Fruit of the Spirit inside us, and desire a relationship with God. Never give up making disciples. Be His witness and voice in a darkening world.
Open your Bible to Acts 20:24 NLT: “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” This is all the motivation you need. Share the Good News.
Today I enjoy sharing the testimony of my life before Christ and my life now- with Christ. This transformation took time as I studied my Bible, prayed, and became a stronger believer. When my faith matured my testimony became a blessing to others. This is my prayer for you too! Know Jesus and share your story. Be blessed.
What hinders us from sharing the Gospel, making disciples, and leading others to Christ is pride. The insecurity of saying our story doesn’t matter or that we will be mocked for telling it. The fear of rejection keeps our mouths silent when God calls us to ask them for His witness.
Acts 23:11 reminds us to “be encouraged, be a witness, and preach the Good News.” Let’s make this choice today!
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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.
Grab a hot coffee or tea and join us at the Bible Cafe™. This week we are discussing week four of Acts: Awakening to God in Everyday Life by Melissa Spoelstra. As we gather in womens online Bible Study we study, connect, and grow.
In our womens small groups, we talked about songs, hymns, or Bible passages that strengthen and encourage us. My friends, what a marvelous blessing to see your playlist and your life verses. I wrote down many of your suggestions after our small group meeting. The Womens Bible Cafe™ community has some very helpful conversations each week- thank you!
One of my favorite lessons this week is when Melissa Spoelstra cautioned against gossip to maintain church harmony. For me, gossip is a stronghold that I had to overcome in my life. Looking back I see how gossip became familiar in my family gatherings. It was so familiar, we never questioned our gossip talk at the family table. Now after studying this at the Womens Bible Cafe, I see the stronghold and the fruit of the world. It’s a conviction to change the words we speak and be mindful about carrying on conversations with people who are not in the room or at the table.
This same stronghold can seep into churches too. Gossip can attach itself to a prayer request. Or an observation about the pastor that is spoken with a negative heart. We need to examine our conversations in church and at home. Open your social media page and you are bombarded with gossip disgusied as “news.” My sweet friends, guard your heart and mind against the temptation to share gossip!
The early Church worked out disagreements by talking, listening, connecting with Scripture, and giving grace. Wouldn’t it be great if we use the same toolbox in our modern churches too?
Open your Bible to Galatians 1:10 NLT: “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” This tells us that people-pleasing becomes a stumbling block to our spiritual growth. Again, we need to examine our hearts and see if we are walking by the fruit of the world. People pleasing satisfies pride and selfish ambition. These are not Fruits of the Spirit.
As the New King James Version warns, let’s not become a bondservant of people. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 NKJV
As we mature in faith, we will become better at overcoming the temptations of gossip and people-pleasing. Think about when you first came to faith, and where you are today. This is your spiritual journey.
Turn your Bible to Acts 17:11 NLT: “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” What can we learn and apply to our own lives from the Bereans? We can search the Scriptures as a measuring tool for truth.
Read Ephesians 4:14 NLT: Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever, they sound like the truth.
This needs to be in your spiritual toolbox. Seek the wise and do not take advice from the foolish. Be intentional to spend time with people who lead you to your Bible.
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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.
Join the Womens Bible Cafe™ discussion for Acts: Awakening to God in Everyday Life by Melissa Spoelstra. Our online Bible Study groups are reading and discussing the Book of Acts. Come join us for the Acts Online Bible Study.
This week we talked about our childhood traditions and memories. Once we became adults, we implemented some of the traditions in our own family or created new traditions. For example, as a child, we spent summers at the lake house visiting my grandparents. After they passed away, my Mom continued the tradition and we looked forward to spending summers at the lake with our children. Every summer included a memory that we talked about throughout the year, as cousins gathered for laughter, iced tea, and mischief.
Open your Bible and turn to Acts 10:34 NLT: “God shows no favoritism.” Sometimes in our families or our careers, we see favoritism. Over the last several years in television entertainment, we have seen judging competitions with favorite contestants. Maybe you have a favorite author, musician, or celebrity. But here in the Bible, God has no favorites. What a comforting thought to know that we are all His beloved children.
Now turn your Bible to Acts 10:42-43 NLT: “And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
Who will be judged and who will have their sins forgiven? If you look closely at the verse, “everyone who believes in Jesus” will be forgiven. But look at the words before this- “He will be the judge of the living and the dead.” This takes the pressure off you (and me) to judge others. We can stop making decisions about who is forgiven, what sins are worse than others, and who is going to eternal hell. Leave those decisions to Jesus!
Turn your Bible to James 2:12-13 NLT: “So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.” Based upon this verse, mercy has great importance in how we are judged by God! Perhaps we can take an inventory of how we give mercy to others and improve on the assignment from above.
Melissa Spoelstra writes a beautiful prayer on page 84 of the workbook. After reading this prayer, what religious tradition is God asking you to “hold loosely?” Maybe it’s time to look at the heart of God once again and seek His will. The best way to do this is with prayer. Ask Him how you can encourage others who have walked into challenges similar to yours. Be His witness or ambassador when you share your transformation story. One of the challenges for today’s Christians is finding the balance between Pharisees and Biblical grace. Look at passages in your Bible for direction and clarity.
If you look at the spiritual activities list on page 92 of your workbook, you will find ideas for intentional faith. Perhaps you can add some of these to your spiritual toolbox in the weeks ahead!
Your testimony has the power to awaken others to God in everyday life. Let others know how He has moved in your life and how you are changing and maturing your faith. Be visible for Christ.
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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.
Gather for womens online Bible Study as we discuss Acts: Awakening to God in Everyday Life by Melissa Spoelstra. In this womens online Bible Study we are learning to prioritize studying God’s Word. Womens online Bible study helps us create habits for gaining wisdom through Scripture. This is a perfect study for beginner Bible study or advanced Bible study- everyone is welcome.
This week Melissa Spoelstra writes, “As we look at the historical movements of the church, we see the pendulum has swung back and forth from an overemphasis on truth to an overemphasis on grace.” Where do you think we are today? Perhaps this is more about leadership in the church. What message are the leaders preaching? The church is concerned about offending others and being persecuted. Are the prophets in the modern church hiding? Are the pastors passing the responsibility to the small groups to confront the truth? The answer will depend on the denomination and the current atmosphere.
As we study the Book of Acts we see the apostles were unselfish in caring for others. This is where the Church can step up and serve. As you read in your Bibles this week, they helped one another. And so they organized their tithes and resources to help those who belonged to the Church. I wonder what would happen if we did this today? My church has a benevolence fund yet often helps outside the Church walls to serve the city. More people are receiving help from nonprofits and government programs, than they receive from their local churches here.
In our Acts Online Bible Study, we studied how the apostles spoke truth to spread the Gospel. Today, do people prefer comforting lies or Biblical truths? Perhaps they seek the Truth spoken in LOVE vs the truth spoken as judgment. Our hearts need to be pure and filled with the Fruit of the Spirit, just like the first apostles of the early church.
Open your Bible and read Acts 8:29 NLT: The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” How might you respond when nudged by the Holy Spirit to approach a person of great authority? This reminds me of the time I approached my manager at my real estate office and confronted her about the Bible. At the risk of losing my position and career, I spoke the truth and have never regretted my decision.
Turn to Acts Chapter 8 and we encounter the sorcerer (v. 9-24) and the eunuch (v. 26-36). The sorcerer was kicked to the curb and the eunuch was baptized. These men had different outcomes because of their faith. The sorcerer wanted to profit from his faith and the eunuch wanted to know Jesus. To believe.
Acts 9:15 refers to Saul as a chosen vessel of God. But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name…” Acts 9:15 NKJV
How do we recognize His vessels today? Remember, the first church apostles were able to see the heart of pride and greed in the sorcerer. As vessels for the Holy Spirit and Ambassadors for Christ, the first Church learned discernment. My prayer is that you will learn it too for God’s glory.
May His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.
CHRISTINE ABRAHAM is the Bible Cafe™ Founder and helps people understand the Bible, fellowship in small groups, and develop a lasting relationship with Jesus. She earned a Graduate of Theology degree in Biblical Studies from Liberty University. Christine has directed more than 100 Bible Cafe™ studies. She is a popular Christian Life & Leadership Coach. She lives in California with her husband and two rescue dogs.
