The Acts Podcast: Recent Episodes
South Side Christian Church
This podcast is a deep dive into the book of Acts. We will work through the entire narrative of Acts and explore important themes, highly debated topics, the social-political context, and how Acts applies to the local church today. A podcast by South Side Christian Church
Join Brooks and Brandon on the grand finale as they discuss the final two verses from the book of Acts and give their overarching takeaways from the entire book. They explore topics such as Christmas cookies, Paul's legacy, why Luke ends Acts the way he does, and how the Gospel remains unhindered.
Join Brooks and Brandon as they draw near the end of the road in Acts. Paul finally makes it to Rome. We explore the way that Luke is using themes and imagery to teach about Paul following in Jesus way as he enters into Rome.
Join Brooks and Brandon as they explore the nautical world of the first century, shipwrecks, OT allusions, Luke's possible exploits, and God's commitment.
Join Brooks and Brandon as they talk through Acts 24-26 including encounters with Felix, Festus, and Agrippa.
Join Brooks and Brandon as they explore Paul's trial before the Sanhedrin, the failed plot to kill Paul, and Paul's arrival before Felix in Caesarea. Also Brooks shares about his love of stretchy pants and Brandon discloses his love of seasonal drinks. New this week, Jill Dicken brings the heat with her dramatic reading of Acts 23.
In this episode we explore the cost of gospel ministry by exploring Acts 20-21. As Paul heads towards Jerusalem he interacts with the Ephesian elders teaching them how to listen to God and guide his church. Then we explore how the Spirit plays in the early church through both the direction of Paul and the prophecy of Agabus.
In this live episode we explore how the world of Ephesus that Paul encounters in Acts 19 relates to the world of digital technology we find ourselves in today.
In this episode we discuss the literary approach of using each city along Paul's journey to demonstrate different ways that the Gospel encounters each culture specifically in Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. We dig into the history of these cities, the different prevalent schools of philosophy, and their reception or rejection of the Gospel.
Join the discussion as we expound on Acts 15-16. Areas of discussion include:
The Python Prophet, Suicide in the Ancient Roman World, Lydia the Purple Cloth Dealer, and much more.
Join Brooks and Brandon as they discuss topics including God's covenant with Noah and the Levitical law in background to the Jerusalem council. They also debate whether Paul agreed with the outcome of the council. Plus, there are some wonderfully hidden circumcision and meat puns.
In this episode Brooks and Brandon follow Barnabas and Paul through Cyprus into Paphos then sailing across to Perga, Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, Derbe and then home to a different Antioch. In each location, they explore briefly the background of the cities they entered and what Luke is trying to teach literarily with these stories. There is also the first announcement of available merch! Better listen to the end to see what you can get for free!
Join Brooks and Brandon as they discuss the often overlooked, yet vitally important role that Barnabas plays in the life of the early church and the first missionary journey into Asia Minor. We also dive deep into the background, history and context of Antioch of Syria. We also bring up an important topic on the podcast: merch.
This episode explores the history of Herod and the Herodian dynasty. We also discuss the way Luke is using the character Herod to teach an important theological lesson about God's power and the force of God's mission.
We discuss our way through the narrative of Cornelius' vision, Peter's vision, and the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles. We also discuss some of the elements of these passages that often go overlooked like the white sheet, animals, and the power of Peter's sermon.
Brooks and Brandon discuss a variety of issues as they work through the Acts 9 conversion and early ministry of Saul (Paul). Topics included:
Paul or Saul? Why the name change?
What is the background of the double name calling in scripture?
How does Saul's early ministry travels reflect God's redemptive plan?
Music by Black Stone Cherry.
Brooks and Brandon dive into a few major themes and important ideas across the first eight chapters in Acts. Topics include all the everyday, unnamed people, the geographical spread of the gospel, God's unstoppable mission and church, the ascension, and the importance of prayer and waiting. Also don't miss the important announcement about a fall event at South Side Christian Church midway through the discussion.
In this episode we explore two narratives of Philip the Evangelist. The first is how the Gospel gets going among the Samaritans and how exactly a Sorcerer gets involved. The second narrative centers around a high ranking official from Ethiopia. In both encounters we explore how Philip continues the role of Jesus in sharing the good news.
In this episode we discuss four questions from Acts 6-7:
- Who is Stephen and where does he come from?
- What is the point of Stephens sermon? How would you assess it homiletically?
- Why does Stephen see Jesus standing at the right hand of God?
- What is the connection between the death narrative of Stephen and Jesus?
For a bonus we explore the first person described as being full of the Holy Spirit in the Bible and his connection with Stephen.
We discuss four major questions as we work through the passage.
- What role does money play in the life of the early church? Why does Luke give us so much insight into issues surrounding money?
- What is up with God killing people?
- In the first few chapters of Acts we encountering some important figures in Jerusalem, what do we know historically about Ananias, Caiaphas, Gamaliel, Theudas, and Judas the Galilean?
- What role did the first "deacons" play in the Jerusalem church? Were they even deacons at all?
Questions and Notes:
- How do we see Peter develop through all of Luke-Acts? What is the “got it” moment for Peter?
- Why does Luke point out that the man was lifted by his right hand?
- What is the importance of the ascension of Jesus?
- Why does Luke note the three o’clock in the afternoon prayer time and it’s theme in Luke-Acts?
Join us as we discuss four questions:
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What are the background texts to Acts 2:1-13?
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How does Peter use scripture in his sermon?
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Where does baptism come from suddenly for Peter? Why Baptism?
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Why is table time so important for the early church and us today?
Brandon and Brooks then discuss four major questions from the first chapter of Acts:
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Why did Luke write this and who is Theophilus?
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What do you think are the emotions found in Acts 1 from not only the disciples but Jesus as well?
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What's up with this Matthias thing? Who is this guy? Why do they cast lots?
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Why make them wait? What's the importance of waiting?