Greg Bryan teaches a men's Bible study based on Acts chapters 9 through 12.

Greg Bryan teaches a men's Bible study based on Acts chapters 9 through 12.

Greg Bryan teaches a men's Bible study based on Acts chapters 9 through 12.

Jim Reske reflects on his recent teaching based on Acts chapters 1 through 4.

Jim Reske discusses insights found in Acts chapters 3 and 4.

Welcome to this episode, where we dive deep into the Book of Acts, chapters 1 through 4, exploring the foundational events that led to the birth of the church. The session began with a prayer for the presence of the Holy Spirit and centered on Jesus' ascension and His continuing work through the apostles

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The first four chapters of Acts detail intense change

. They cover Jesus’ 40 days of teaching and His subsequent ascension, the descent of the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire on Pentecost, Peter’s sermons that led to the church growing from 120 people to 5,000, and the apostles' declaration of "civil disobedience" when arrested: "we cannot stop speaking of what we have seen and heard"

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The Critical Role of the Church and the Ascension

Affirming belief in the "Holy Christian Church" is a core Christian belief

. The sources argue that Christianity is not a solo sport; believers need an "organized relationship" and must be part of the church, which is the "body of Christ". This affirmation is needed "despite the Christians" and the reality of "church hurt."

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The ascension of Jesus is described as "critical," acting as a "detonator on the bomb" that ignites the church

. Jesus needed to ascend so that the Holy Spirit could be sent. This allowed the apostles to become Christ’s body and reach the "entire world," rather than just the single region where Jesus ministered physically

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The Temptation of Political Power

Despite receiving a "graduate-level seminar in Old Testament interpretation" during the 40 days after His resurrection, the disciples were still focused on political power. They asked Jesus, "Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom of Israel?". Their use of "restore" and "Israel" revealed they wanted the Davidic kingdom back and confined to Jerusalem, rather than pursuing the global, "multicultural, multi-ethnic" mission Jesus intended. Jesus responded by giving them the missionary mandate, explaining they would receive the Holy Spirit’s power to be witnesses "to the remotest part of the earth". Their political ambitions were "way too small."

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A controversial, minority viewpoint was presented, arguing that politics has no room in this type of Bible study

. Christianity is fundamentally different from a movement that fights "bad people out there"; instead, Christianity asserts the problem is "in here" (sin) and requires repentance. Introducing politics can transform the church into a divisive affinity group, risking the alienation of those with opposing views. The church must maintain its identity to proclaim the kingdom of God and avoid the temptation of trading its mission for political influence. As one participant stated, many Christians are "more concerned about the kingdom of this world than the kingdom of God"

Greg Bryan and Jim Reske discuss Jim's upcoming Bible study lesson on Acts chapters 1-4, with Jim sharing many of his insights and preparation methods, which include listening to sermons by Tim Keller and consulting church history materials. A central theme of their discussion revolves around the meaning of the Apostles' Creed, particularly the phrase "I believe in the holy Christian church," leading to a broader conversation about the nature of the church as "apostolic" and not merely a "movement" or "affinity group." A significant focus is placed on the Acts 1:8 passage, where Jesus's words about receiving power are interpreted as a response to the disciples' misplaced desire for political power instead of spiritual transformation through the Holy Spirit, which is highlighted as the true force behind the book of Acts.

This is a summary of a special episode of the Gospel Addict Podcast, hosted by Greg Bryan and Jim Reske, featuring Kent Chevalier, the chaplain for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Greg Bryan, a self-proclaimed diehard Steelers fan who was born in Pittsburgh, expressed his excitement about learning more about Chevalier's ministry

Kent Chevalier, the chaplain for the Pittsburgh Steelers, described his path to NFL ministry, which began after 22 years as a local church pastor when tight end Vance McDonald started attending his church, leading to an invitation to serve the team alongside his wife, Erica, through Athletes in Action (AIA). Chevalier’s ministry role involves offering separate Bible studies for players, coaches, and their families, maintaining the "ministry of availability" on the sidelines, and providing a half-hour, gospel-centered chapel service the night before games to "bring church to them". He addresses the intense pressures of fame and wealth by challenging rookies to recognize that the NFL stands for "not for long" (the average career is barely three years) and that their identity must be built on Christ, not the "ball," clicks, or money, reinforcing that they are "human beings," not "human doings". Chevalier initiated the "Deflect the Glory" movement, urging players to bend the knee and deflect praise and worship back to God, with associated apparel sales raising funds for overlooked Pittsburgh ministries. Finally, he is writing a book, Do It Afraid: Jumping into Your God-given Purpose, which includes the LEAP framework (Let God lead, Express your fears, Ask for wisdom, Pray through it) for navigating significant, faith-based decisions.

Chevalier’s website is KentChevalier.com