• Was Stephen’s Death Part of God’s Will? | Acts 8 Explained
    May 15 2026

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    Acts 8 begins with one of the hardest questions in Scripture: was Stephen’s death part of God’s will?

    Stephen was murdered. Saul approved it. The church was persecuted. Believers were dragged from their homes. We cannot call that good. But here’s what most people miss: Acts 8 refuses to let us believe that evil is in control.

    In this chapter, persecution scatters the church, but the scattered believers go everywhere preaching the word. What looked like loss from the ground was being used by God to move the gospel into Judea and Samaria.

    This teaching walks through Acts 8, Stephen’s death, Saul’s violence, Philip in Samaria, Simon the sorcerer, the Ethiopian eunuch, and the deeper question of whether our hearts are truly right before God.

    Key themes in this episode:

    God does not redefine evil as good.
    God overrules evil for good.
    Suffering is not wasted in the hands of God.
    The gospel crosses old boundaries.
    Simon’s story exposes the danger of wanting God’s gifts for the old self.
    The Ethiopian eunuch shows a heart seeking understanding.


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    9 mins
  • They Knew Scripture… But Still Resisted God | Acts 7 Explained
    May 14 2026

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    What happens when people know Scripture, defend tradition, and still resist God?

    In Acts chapter 7, Stephen delivers one of the longest speeches in the entire book of Acts. But the issue was never that the religious leaders misunderstood history. The issue was that Stephen applied the truth directly to them.

    This chapter becomes a warning about spiritual pride, resistance to correction, and the danger of becoming religious while remaining closed off to the Holy Spirit.

    But here’s what most people miss…

    Stephen’s boldness was matched by mercy. Even while being killed, he prayed for the forgiveness of the people attacking him. That balance between truth and love is one of the clearest pictures of Spirit-filled faith in the New Testament.

    In this teaching, we explore:

    Why Stephen focuses on Moses
    The deeper meaning behind “stiff-necked people”
    Why conviction produced rage instead of repentance
    The danger of spiritual pride
    How truth and mercy work together
    What Acts 7 reveals about humility before God

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    9 mins
  • What Acts 6 Actually Teaches About Deacons (Acts 6 Explained)
    May 13 2026

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    Most people read Acts 6 as the moment the church officially created deacons. But when you slow down and actually read the text carefully, something surprising happens: Luke never calls these seven men deacons.

    This chapter is really about something much deeper — neglected widows, cultural tension inside the believing community, servant leadership, and Spirit-filled wisdom. But here’s what most people miss: Acts 6 challenges the way many modern believers think about ministry, leadership, and church structure.

    In this teaching, we walk verse-by-verse through Acts 6 and examine what the text actually says instead of reading traditions back into scripture.

    Topics covered:

    Were the seven men in Acts 6 actually deacons?
    Why the widows were being neglected
    The tension between Hellenists and Hebrews
    What biblical leadership really looks like
    Why practical service is real ministry
    Why Stephen’s role changes how we view spiritual authority
    Descriptive vs prescriptive passages in scripture

    This is where it shifts: the issue in Acts 6 was never about building religious hierarchy. It was about protecting vulnerable people while preserving faithful ministry.

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    9 mins
  • Joining the Church Doesn’t Mean You Belong to Jesus (Acts 5 Explained)
    May 12 2026

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    Most modern church growth begins with one question: How do we get more people to come?

    But Acts 5 gives us a very different picture. After Ananias and Sapphira are struck dead, Luke says no one dared join them — and yet more than ever, believers were added to the Lord.

    That sounds contradictory at first. But here’s what most people miss…

    Acts 5 separates two things we often blend together today: joining the church and being added to the Lord. You can admire the people of God and still not belong to the Lord. You can respect the church and still not be surrendered to Jesus.

    In this teaching, we look at the fear of God, the meaning of the word ecclesia, the danger of shallow attachment, and why God was not making the church easier to join — He was making it impossible to join falsely.

    Key themes in this episode:

    Acts 5 explained
    Ananias and Sapphira
    The fear of God in the church
    Church growth and holiness
    The meaning of ecclesia
    Being added to the Lord
    Repentance and forgiveness
    True believers versus shallow attachment


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    9 mins
  • Spirit-Led Boldness Versus Religious Aggression (Acts 4 Explained)
    May 11 2026

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    Have you ever seen someone boldly sharing the gospel in public and admired their faith, but also felt conflicted about the method?

    Acts 4 shows us something many Christians miss: Peter and John were bold, but they were not acting out of religious aggression. They saw a man in need, served him through the authority of Jesus, and the miracle opened the door for truth.

    In this teaching, we look at how Acts 4 reveals the difference between Spirit-led boldness and flesh-driven religion. The religious leaders were not lacking evidence. They saw the healed man standing there, but instead of repenting, they tried to silence the message.

    But here’s what most people miss… the apostles didn’t go looking for controversy. They were moved by compassion, they testified to the truth, and they trusted God with the harvest.

    Key themes in this teaching:

    Acts 4 explained
    Peter and John before the religious leaders
    The difference between boldness and religious aggression
    Why compassion came before confrontation
    How the Holy Spirit leads true witness
    Why you cannot argue someone into repentance
    What it means to be recognized as someone who has been with Jesus

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    9 mins
  • What the Bible Really Says About Tithing
    May 10 2026

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    What does the Bible really say about tithing? Does the Bible actually command Christians to give 10% of their income to the church?

    For many believers, tithing is treated as the most basic part of obedience to God. Malachi 3 is often quoted. People are told they are robbing God if they do not give a tenth. But when you carefully read the New Testament letters written to believers after the resurrection of Jesus, something surprising happens.

    You do not find a direct apostolic command requiring Christians to give exactly 10%.

    In this study, we walk carefully through:

    The original meaning of the tithe in the Torah
    Abraham and Jacob before Moses
    Malachi 3 in its covenant context
    Jesus’ words about tithing
    What Paul actually taught about Christian giving
    Whether the New Testament commands a fixed percentage
    What biblical generosity really looks like

    But here’s what most people miss: the New Testament does not lower the standard of generosity.

    It raises the question far deeper.

    Not “Did I give 10%?”

    But “Does everything I have belong to God?”

    If you want to study scripture carefully, slowly, and in context, join us as we go chapter by chapter through the Bible.

    👉 Join the Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/estero-ekklesia-1658

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    30 mins
  • What “In Jesus’ Name” Really Means (Acts 3 Explained)
    May 8 2026

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    What does it actually mean to do something in Jesus’ name?

    In Acts 3, Peter does not simply add a phrase to the end of a prayer. He speaks in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and a man who had never walked before rises, walks, leaps, and praises God.

    But here’s what most people miss… this miracle was not just about physical healing. It was a sign of the restoration Jesus brings, the authority He still carries, and the new life He gives to those who are broken.

    In this teaching, we walk through Acts 3 and look at:

    What “in Jesus’ name” really means
    Why Peter and John were still going to the temple
    How the healing points to Isaiah 35
    Why Peter refused to take attention for himself
    What biblical repentance actually means
    How Jesus restores what sin has broken

    This is where it shifts: the man asked for daily provision, but Jesus gave him a new way to live.

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    9 mins
  • Acts 2 Isn't About Tongues , It's About Reversing Babel (Acts 2 Explained)
    May 7 2026

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    When most people read Acts 2, they focus on the rushing wind, the tongues of fire, and the miracle of languages.

    But here’s what most people miss…

    Acts 2 is not just about dramatic supernatural events. It is about God fulfilling His harvest plan, reversing Babel, forming a Spirit-filled kingdom people, and empowering witnesses to carry the gospel of the kingdom into the world.

    In this teaching, David walks through the meaning of Pentecost, why the timing mattered, how Acts 2 connects to Shavuot and harvest, why Peter’s sermon cut the people to the heart, and what the early church’s devotion reveals about authentic kingdom life.

    Key themes in this episode:

    Acts 2 explained
    Pentecost and the harvest
    The reversal of Babel
    The Holy Spirit empowering witnesses
    Peter’s sermon and conviction
    The early church’s devotion to teaching, fellowship, meals, and prayer
    What kingdom community should look like today

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    9 mins