Homepage / Academy Catalog / The Book of Acts: The Ever-Expanding Church
The Book of Acts: The Ever-Expanding Church
How God’s power persists in a rapidly changing world
About this Course
The Book of Acts: The Ever-Expanding Church was designed to offer a unique and hands-on opportunity to bridge that gap between ancient wisdom and modern life application.
What you’ll learn:
Connecting the stories and teachings in the Bible to our complex lives and modern society can sometimes feel challenging. In a world that is constantly evolving, we can often yearn for deeper, more genuine connections to our faith. Have you ever questioned, "How can I really apply and embody Scripture in my everyday life?"
The Book of Acts: The Ever-Expanding Church offers a unique and hands-on opportunity to bridge that gap between ancient wisdom and modern life application. Experience the book of Acts in a new light alongside Steve Thomason, a skilled artist and insightful educator. Steve approaches this foundational book with a uniquely creative lens, offering a fresh and enlightening perspective on its tales of our Christian origins through his own vivid illustrations. He is joined by New Testament scholar Dr. Catherine Wright for in-depth conversations about the mysteries of Acts.
We'll journey through the stories of the early church, discovering practical ways to embody Scripture’s teachings in normal everyday life as well as the curveball challenges that life sometimes throws at us. Together, we'll learn to navigate today's church life and engage more deeply with our communities. By the end of this course, faith seekers, disciples, and leaders alike will have the opportunity to discover the vitality of Scripture and the relevance of the early church to your life, community, and congregation today.
Modules
Welcome
Get oriented to the course, meet your instructor, download the interactive handbook, and more.
Introduction to Acts
In this module, you will:
- Connect Acts to the Gospel of Luke.
- Investigate the key themes of the course: Power, Holy Spirit, Witness, Church.
- Learn the basic outline and context of Acts.
- Build an awareness of the Holy Spirit at work.
What is Pentecost?
In this module, you will:
- Be encouraged that the disciples were ordinary people.
- Connect the story of Pentecost with God’s promise to Abraham to bless all nations.
- Become more attuned to the Holy Spirit's work in your life.
A Model for the Church?
In this module, you will:
- Identify the key characteristics of the first church in Jerusalem.
- Examine divisions and responses to divisions in the early church and in the church today.
- Build your willingness to obey God to the point of sacrifice.
Crossing Boundaries
In this module, you will:
- Examine the story of Peter and Cornelius.
- Compare the cultural taboos associated with Peter’s invitation to visit Cornelius with similar taboos in your own context.
- Wonder about how the Holy Spirit may be navigating those cultural barriers and taboos today.
A Shift in Power
In this module, you will:
- Notice the shift in power in the church from Jerusalem to Antioch.
- Examine the story of Agrippa I and think about what commentary Luke might be making about power in this story.
- Note the multiethnic nature of the leadership team in Antioch. Examine your own faith community to wonder how it does or does not reflect the demographics of your geographical context.
Are Gentiles Welcome?
In this module, you will:
- Examine Paul’s speech to the synagogue in Antioch Pisidia and discover the key elements of the Gospel in the Jewish context, according to Paul.
- Consider how the concessions made by Jewish believers in the Jerusalem Council may apply to your own context of navigating difficult cultural tensions.
Witness Across the Divide
In this module, you will:
- Examine the story of Lydia and consider the implications it might have on starting new ministries in your context.
- Explore the story of the slave girl and Paul’s imprisonment and discuss the implications of power in that story.
- Consider the differences in Paul’s speech in Athens to his speech in Antioch Pisidia. Explore the implications of how the way we speak about Jesus might change based on context.
Disrupting Power
In this module, you will:
- Explore the story of the sons of Sceva and identify some key learning points about the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Consider the story of Paul in Ephesus and examine the implications for how the Gospel interacts with politics and economics.
- Identify key aspects of church leadership based on Paul’s conversation with the elders of Ephesus.
Witness in Prison
In this module, you will:
- Explore the power dynamics between present in the context of the early church, and consider what implications that might have for current church politics.
- Continue to look at Paul’s witness as he speaks to varied audiences.
- Reflect on Paul’s position as a prisoner in these stories and the implication it has on how we hold our task of witness.
Acts 29: Spirit, Power, Witness, Church. . .and YOU!
In this module, you will:
- Reflect on your favorite parts of Acts.
- Record your lingering questions and make a plan to pursue them.
- Meditate on the four key themes of this course—Holy Spirit, Power, Witness, and Church—and determine a plan to practice ways to grown in these areas based on what you learned in the course.
Completing the Course
Find out your next steps as you complete the course. You'll also be encouraged to submit feedback about your course.
One-time purchase
$55
With Faith+Lead Membership
$0*
Get a free public display license to use for group study.
$0*
*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95 per month
- Modules:
12 Modules
- Format:
Self-Paced, On-Demand
- Access:
Lifetime Access
Get to Know Your Instructors
Steve Thomason
Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship, Luther Seminary
The Rev. Dr. Steve Thomason’s passion and purpose intersect in the areas of theology, spiritual formation, and art. Mixing a lifelong love of drawing, illustrating, and animating with degrees from Wheaton College, Bethel Seminary, and Luther Seminary, Steve has done everything from owning and operating his own art studio to pastoring an 8,000 member congregation.
In addition to his faculty position at Luther Seminary, Steve has developed and maintains A Cartoonist’s Guide to the Bible. He is also the author of several books, including The Visual Preacher: Proclaiming an Embodied Word (Fortress Press, 2022), A Cartoonist’s Guide to John (Vibble Books, 2022), A Cartoonist’s Guide to Luke (Vibble Books, 2021), A Cartoonist’s Guide to Mark (Vibble Books), and A Cartoonist’s Guide to Matthew (Vibble Books, 2019).
Catherine Wright
Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Bethel University
Catherine J. Wright (PhD Baylor) is associate professor of biblical and theological studies at Bethel University. She teaches primarily in the area of New Testament, and has a special interest in Luke and in spiritual formation. She is the author of Spiritual Practices of Jesus: Learning Simplicity, Humility, and Prayer with Luke’s Earliest Readers (IVP, 2020).
Ready to Enroll?
Enroll in this on-demand course today or unlock free access to this and all Faith+Lead’s on-demand courses, plus more with a Faith+Lead Membership.
Enroll in this on-demand course
$55
One-time purchase
- Access to this on-demand course
- Access the leaders guide for group study
- Access the course workbook for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access to 40+ on-demand courses
- Access every live and recorded workshop
Popular
Access this on-demand course
$0*
*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.99 per month
- Access to this on-demand course
- Access to all 40+ on-demand courses
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access all leaders guides for group study
- Access all course workbooks for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
Need financial support?
Check out the latest released courses
What to Expect with a Faith+Lead Academy Course
You’ll get a transformative learning experience that combines trustworthy theological teaching with spiritual practices, interactive elements, and a supportive online community.
Know
Expand your theological toolkit with fresh insights for today’s ministry landscape. Connect timeless wisdom with practical frameworks for navigating change.
Be
Do
Practice skills to lead confidently in your ministry context. Take actionable steps to invite your community into God’s unfolding story.
Every Academy course is designed to
Help your growth in one of these core areas:
Develop a Christ-centered identity, grounded in theology, scripture, and spiritual practice, that empowers community members to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Tell the story of Jesus and invite neighbors into Jesus’ way of life and love through words and actions they can recognize.
Listen deeply, name God’s presence in the midst of everyday life, and form life-giving relationships across all dimensions of diversity—both within and beyond the church.
Through mutual relationships with the neighbors among whom you’re hosted, join in acts of compassion, justice, and reconciliation as a witness to the ministry of Jesus—especially in places of suffering and despair.
Harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, fundraising, entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect when I take an Academy course?
Academy courses consist of 6-10 lessons or modules, each walking you through the “know, be, do” learning framework. You’ll learn some new information with instructor videos and other resources (know). You’ll engage in a spiritual practice that will help you develop your faith around the topic (be). Then, you’ll be asked to apply what you’ve learned through activities completed online or in the “real world” (do).
How long will it take me to complete a course?
Each module is designed to take 15-45 minutes. Some learners complete the course in as little as one day. Some do a module a day or even a module a week. We suggest allowing some time between modules to process what you are learning, but not so much time that you lose momentum.
What resources are available if I’m a group leader?
Each course includes a flexible leader’s guide with multiple pathways for group facilitation. You’ll find thought-provoking discussion questions and practical activities that connect faith with daily life, designed to work with whatever preparation time you have available. These resources equip you to foster meaningful discipleship experiences that meet your community where they are.
What do I need to know about the free private online social group?
The private online group allows you to connect with others. Because our courses don’t have a required start or stop date, you will encounter others in different places in the course and even in different courses altogether. This is by design. Feel free to interact as much or as little as you like.
What should I do if I have questions or problems with my registration?
Reach out via email to faithlead@luthersem.edu with your question and we’ll get back to you with a response within two business days.
What if I have a suggestion or request for a course topic?
The best way to connect with us is to complete this form with your suggestion. We always want to hear your feedback. You may also include it in the comments section of the course evaluation.
Don’t see your question addressed?
Email us at faithlead@luthersem.edu for more information. We’ll be delighted to connect!
Contact us
Quick links
Subscribe to our newsletter
© 2025 All rights reserved.