Day 23: Acts 27-Romans 4

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text:

1. What happened to everyone who was onboard Paul's ship?
2. Why did the natives of Malta think that Paul was a god?
3. Where is Paul located at the end of the book of Acts?
4. How does Paul define the gospel?
5. What is the sign of a true Jew?

Please feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 22: Acts 21-26

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. Why was Paul arrested in the temple in Jerusalem?
2. To who does Paul appeal for protection and judgment?
3. How were the Jewish leaders going to do away with Paul?
4. What did Felix do to Paul?
5. Before what king does Paul appear? Who is with him?

Feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 21: Acts 16-20

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What do we know about Timothy's background?
2. Paul and Silas' chains were loosed. Why didn't they leave the prison?
3. When Paul enters any city where does he first go? Why?
4. How does Paul get around to telling about Jesus in Athens?
5. What caused the riot in Ephesus?

Feel free to share your questions or insights by leaving a comment.

Day 20: Acts 10-15

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What was the purpose of Peter's vision of the sheet full of food?
2. Where is the name Christian first used?
3. How did Peter get out of prison?
4. How were Barnabas and Saul set apart for mission?
5. Why do you think Saul's name is changed? What does it become?

Feel free to share your insights and questions by leaving a comment.

Day 19: Acts 5-9

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text:

1. Why did Ananias and Sapphira drop dead?
2. Why were 7 people chosen to serve?
3. What did Simon the magician ask?
4. What did the Ethiopian ask Philip to do?
5. What happened to Saul on the way to Damascus?

Feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 18: John 20-Acts 4

Sorry this is so late getting up! Anyway, here are today's questions:

1. What is the purpose of the book of John?
2. What are Jesus' instructions to Peter?
3. The beginning of Acts refers to a first book. It has the same name as the author of Acts. What is it?
4. Who replaced Judas and how was he chosen?
5. What happened on Pentecost?

Feel free to share your questions or insights by leaving a comment.

Withness 5: Who's Your Barnabas - You Need an Encourager

There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means 'son of encouragement'). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. Acts 4:36-37

Why would Barnabas' act be an act of encouragement?

Read Acts 9:26-27 and Acts 11:22-26

What forms of encouragement are described in these verses?

Why do you think Barnabas' ministry of encouragement was so important for the early church? For Paul?

Why is the ministry of encouragement still important today for you as a believer? For the church?

Read Acts 15:36-41. This no doubt represented a very painful time in Paul & Barnabas' ministry. Yet we still see the "son of encouragement" doing his thing, taking John Mark, who had disappointed in the past, and giving him another opportunity to move into the mission field.

Does it surprise you that Paul & Barnabas parted ways over a disagreement? What are the possible negative implications of what happened? Read Acts 16. What positive comes out of their disagreement?

Leonard Sweet points out that the word encouragement comes from the French word for "heart". Encouragement means to put "heart" into someone. Sweet asks, "What can we fill our hearts with that will allow them to stretch toward God's beauty and blessings?"

Chapter 15: Community - Living with Freaks

David here. I hope you have been enjoying reading Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz over the last couple of months. I don't think there has been one chapter that has not spoken to me or to a place that I have been in my spiritual life, and this chapter is no different. In Chapter 15, Miller confronts his introverted, self centered nature and moves in with a few fellow Christians who are members at his church. The struggles he faced as being an alone introvert moving into a house with five or six others were very difficult for him. He brought up many interesting topics during this chapter. Let's see what you think.

(1) Miller begins the chapter with this quote, "I thought the backbone of faith was time alone with God..." How do you view your faith - more of a public thing or a private thing? What seems to nurture your spiritual life better - being in a group, or being alone?

(2) Miller discusses how that when he initially moved into the house with 5 other guys, he was exhausted. Not from the move, but being in the presence of others all the time. A true introvert at heart. Are you an introvert or extravert? How does this factor into your faith walk?

(3) "Living in community made me realize one of my faults: I was addicted to myself. All I thought about was myself. The only thing I really cared about was myself." Have you ever been confronted with one of your own faults? How did it make you feel?

(4) On a trip to a homeless shelter, Miller got in a conversation with the gentleman who ran the shelter, Bill. Bill made this observation to Miller, "If we are not willing to wake up in the morning and die to ourselves, perhaps we should ask ourselves whether or not we are really following Jesus." What do you think about this powerful quote?

This chapter brings me back to the story from Acts 2 about the early church. May you use these words as a devotion for today, starting with verse 43:

"Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved."

Chapter 4: Shifts - Find a Penny

David here. The fourth week's reading in Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz takes us through a story about Miller's experience at Reed College, recently voted as "the college where students are most likely to ignore God". Miller was attracted to the openess of the enivronment and the story he shares about people he encountered. specifically Laura and Penny, helped define his faith and bring up some interesting questions for discussion.

1. In a discussion with Laura about racism in America, Miller makes the comment, "I told her how frustrating it is to be a Christian in America, and how frustrated I am with not only the church's failures concerning human rights, but also my personal failure to contribute to the solution." Have you ever felt frustrated about being a Christian in America - whether it was the way you have been treated or the way the church handles things or issues? Share any thoughts and what role you played (or should have played) to help contribute to the solution.

2. Commenting on the things he learned from the few number of Christians at Reed, Miller states, "I learned that true love turns the other cheek, does not take a wrong into account, loves all people regardless of their indifference or hostility. The Christians at Reed seemed to me, well, revolutionary." Have you ever encountered anyone with this "revolutionary" Christian character? Share.

3. Towards the end of the chapter, Miller recounts the faith story of Penny, the desperate-to-know-God atheist, who encountered God in the strangest way. Her conversion story starts on page 46 and continues through the end of the chapter. Each of our conversion stories plays an extremely important role in who we are as a Christian, as is evident in Penny's story. The stories also draw us together as Christians. If you are willing, let's share our conversion stories with one another so we can draw closer as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Some Scripture to chew on as you consider these questions...

• The Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5 - 7 (The "Revolutionary Jesus")
• Saul's (Paul) Conversion Story - Acts 9:1-19