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In this episode, Hannah DeSouza and Dr. David Pocta explore Paul's second missionary journey as described in the Book of Acts. They discuss the new dynamics introduced during this journey, including the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding Paul and his companions, the conflict between Paul and Barnabas, and the introduction of Timothy as a second-generation believer. The conversation also highlights the significance of various cities Paul visits, such as Philippi and Thessalonica, and the impact of these journeys on the early church. In this conversation, David and Hannah explore the transformative impact of the gospel as it intersects with diverse lives in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. They discuss the social dynamics at play, including the significance of women's roles in the early church, the implications of Paul's Roman citizenship, and the varying responses to the gospel message across different communities. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of contextualizing the message of the gospel while maintaining its integrity, as well as the personal challenges faced by Paul during his missionary journeys.

The First Journey — Acts 13–15Dr. Andy Boakye joins Hannah DeSouza and Dr. David Pocta to unpack Paul’s first missionary journey, the Jerusalem Council, and why Luke’s story of mission, suffering, and unity still challenges the church today. From the Spirit’s call in worship and fasting to the shift from Barnabas and Saul to Paul and his companions, Acts 13–15 marks a turning point in the story of the church. The conversation explores Paul’s mission in Cyprus and beyond, his sermon in Pisidian Antioch, the dramatic events in Lystra, and the cost of following a crucified Messiah. The hosts also examine the Jerusalem Council’s response to a heated debate over salvation and belonging. Rather than making Gentiles adopt Jewish identity, the council considers how believers from different backgrounds can share life and table fellowship. In this episode:Why Paul and Barnabas’s mission begins with Spirit-led worship, fasting, and prayerHow Luke’s narrative shifts from Peter to PaulWhat Paul’s sermon and the events in Lystra reveal about mission and sufferingHow the Jerusalem Council distinguishes salvation from practices that support unityWhy humility, love, and fellowship matter when Christians and churches disagreeA thoughtful conversation about what the early church considered essential—and how its example can help us respond when doctrine, culture, and community collide.Links: Dr. David Pocta https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpocta/ Hannah DeSouza https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-desouza-503ba1142/Dr. Andy Boakye https://www.instagram.com/andrewboakye/

Episode 81: The Gentile TurnThe gospel crosses a line the early church never expected, and everything changes. Acts 10 through 12 shows the Holy Spirit moving ahead of Peter, ahead of Jerusalem, and ahead of the church’s theology - forcing everyone to ask a sharper question: who is God welcoming, and how will the church respond?Cornelius, a Roman centurion, is already praying and giving generously when God sends him a vision. At the same time, Peter is stunned on a rooftop by a sheet full of animals, a command that collides with everything he has been taught, and a repeated message that changes how he sees clean and unclean, insider and outsider. What happens next becomes one of the most important turning points in Acts. You'll discover why Peter’s visit to Cornelius is more than a conversion story - it is a revelation that God shows no partiality. We break down the dual visions, the Spirit falling on the Gentiles before baptism, and Peter’s remarkably honest defense when he returns to Jerusalem and has to explain himself step by step. The episode also traces how communal discernment works in the early church, where testimony, Scripture, and the Spirit all shape the conversation.Hannah and David also explore the wider ripple effects of this moment - the scattering believers who preach in Antioch, the first appearance of the name "Christian," Barnabas going to find Saul in Tarsus, and the way Saul’s long hidden season prepares him for what comes next. Then the tone shifts hard in Acts 12, where James is martyred, Peter is imprisoned and miraculously freed, and Herod’s violent power collapses in a deeply unsettling ending.This episode is about more than boundary crossing. It is about how God redefines the center, expands the story, and refuses to stay inside the categories people build. Perfect for anyone wrestling with inclusion, discernment, suffering, or the question of where God is already at work before we arrive.

What if the very circumstances that scatter us become the means through which God expands His Kingdom?In Episode 80 of Thread, Dr. David Pocta and Hannah DeSouza explore Acts 8–9, where persecution scatters the early church beyond Jerusalem, but the gospel continues to spread. Through Philip's ministry in Samaria, the Ethiopian eunuch's baptism, and Saul's dramatic conversion, we discover how the Holy Spirit moves beyond human expectations, breaks down barriers, and invites unlikely people into God's unfolding story.In this episode, we explore:The Scattering of the Church: How the Holy Spirit works through persecution and unexpected circumstances to spread the gospel beyond Jerusalem.Breaking Down Barriers: Philip's ministry in Samaria and the Spirit's work of uniting people once divided by hostility and tradition.An Unexpected Encounter: The Ethiopian eunuch's baptism and the radical inclusivity of God's invitation.Saul's Transformation: How a dramatic encounter with Jesus challenges Saul's understanding and completely redirects his life.Following the Spirit's Lead: Learning to recognize where God is already at work rather than relying solely on our own plans and expectations.What looks like scattering may actually be the planting of something new. As we follow the early church's journey, we're reminded that the Holy Spirit is always at work, inviting us to look beyond our assumptions, trust His leading, and participate in a story far greater than we could imagine.Thread is more than a podcast! Download the Thread Podcast App today to utilize daily devotionals, small group devotionals, and family devotionals! 📱 Experience Thread in the app: threadpodcast.org/app 🌐 Learn more about Thread: threadpodcast.org Thread Facebook: facebook.com/ @ThreadPodcast Thread Instagram: instagram.com/threadpodcast Dr. David Pocta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpocta/ Hannah DeSouza: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-desouza-503ba1142/

What happens when the Holy Spirit transforms a group of ordinary believers into a bold, generous, and courageous community of faith?In Episode 79 of Thread, Dr. David Pocta and Hannah DeSouza explore Acts 3–7, where the early church takes shape through the extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit. From miraculous healings and fearless preaching to radical generosity and the martyrdom of Stephen, these chapters reveal how God was forming a community rooted in integrity, humility, and Spirit-filled faith.Through the stories of Peter and John, Barnabas, Ananias and Sapphira, and Stephen, we discover that the church's strength was never found in human ability, influence, or institutional power. Instead, the Holy Spirit empowered ordinary people to proclaim the name of Jesus, care for one another, confront injustice, and remain faithful even in the face of persecution.In this episode, we explore:The Holy Spirit as the true source of the early church's power and courage.The significance of healing and proclaiming the name of Jesus.The importance of generosity, authenticity, and integrity within Christian community.How Spirit-filled leadership responds to the practical needs of others.Stephen's extraordinary faith, his martyrdom, and the spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem.The story of the Jerusalem church reminds us that the Holy Spirit is still at work today, shaping our hearts, transforming our communities, and empowering us to faithfully participate in God's unfolding story.Thread is more than just a podcast! Download the Thread Podcast App today to utilize daily devotionals, small group devotionals, and family devotionals! 📱 Experience Thread in the app: threadpodcast.org/app 🌐 Learn more about Thread: threadpodcast.org Thread Facebook: facebook.com/ @ThreadPodcast Thread Instagram: instagram.com/threadpodcast Dr. David Pocta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpocta/ Hannah DeSouza: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-desouza-503ba1142/