By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 3: 1-10, 17-21 Samuel was a boy of about 12 when he heard God’s call. Youth is the best time for a person to hear God’s voice.  As a boy, he ministered to the Lord in the tabernacle by helping Eli, the old priest (I Samuel 3:1).  He probably swept the floors or did other chores. When children are

Editor’s Note: The first paragraph of this lesson was incorrectly edited when it first appeared. The following version is now correct. By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 1:10-18, 26-28 Elkanah had two wives.  Hannah had no children, while Peninnah had several (vs. 1-2). Every year Elkanah and his wives would travel from their home town to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. Interestingly,

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage:  Acts 12:7-12, 16-19 In the first century, the most evil family in the civilized world was known as the Herods. They held the highest political offices in the land, influenced kingdoms, and conquered empires. Herod the Great reigned for 40 years and was on the throne when Jesus Christ was born. When he learned the Wise Men

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 9:36-43 As we continue our study of Acts 9, we find Peter performing two miracles – he heals Aeneas and raises Dorcas from the dead. During the events of Saul’s conversion, Peter has been engaged in an itinerant ministry with John (Acts 8:25), and finds himself visiting the believers in Lydda, a city close to Jerusalem. 

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 9:3-9, 15-20 In Acts, chapter 9, the Scripture focuses on a zealous young Pharisee named Saul. He is mentioned in chapter 8 as the young man who guarded the robes of those who stoned Stephen. Saul had studied under the brilliant Pharisee scholar Gamaliel. Gamaliel was convinced that the apostles should be left alone (5:34). Saul

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 8:26-31, 35-39 The mandate of Acts 1:8 which Jesus gave the disciples is about to begin. Following the martyrdom of Stephen, persecution of the Jerusalem church intensified. Believers (except the apostles) flee Jerusalem for their lives into the nearby regions of Judea and Samaria.

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 6:1-10 The Jerusalem church was experiencing growing pains that impacted the apostles’ ministry.  The membership of the church had grown into the thousands and the staff of only 12 found it difficult to attend to the needs of so many. The first dissension in the church arises. There were two kinds of Jews in the early

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 5:25-35, 38-42 As word about the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira spread, a wave of godly fear swept over the church, which now has great power and great fear. Growth continued and believers were now meeting regularly at the Temple and house to house. God gave the apostles power to perform great miracles and many believed,

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 4:36-37; 5:1-11 In our last study we observed Peter and John standing before the Sanhedrin with the healed beggar. They had been commanded not to speak of Jesus. They went to the church and told their story. The church broke out in a spontaneous time of prayer (Acts 4:23). The church was growing in spirit and

By Ken R. Speakman Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory Focal Passage: Acts 4:1-13 We begin our lesson in chapter 4 by turning our attention to events of chapter 3. Peter and John are about to enter the temple when they encounter a lame beggar who has been lame since birth. In the name of Jesus the beggar is healed and begins to leap and jump. This story weaves