The team that brought us The Bible miniseries is back. A.D. picks up the story of the early church from the first part of Acts. The new twelve-part series launched on Easter Sunday night to more than 10 million viewers, but you probably knew that already. The media blitz has been strong.

As a church leader, you might be a big fan . . . or not. We can all quibble with one thing or another, but there’s an undeniable opportunity here. How can this TV show help us in our ministries? Can it actually drive people to read the Bible for themselves?

Yes. And we can prove it. In our 2014 State of the Bible poll and again in our Millennials and the Bible poll, we asked whether people’s Bible reading increased or decreased in the previous year. Then we asked why. Of those whose reading increased, 11% of all adults and an impressive 24% of millennials (then 18-29 years old) credited the fact that they watched The Bible miniseries.

Will A.D. have the same effect? At this point we can only guess, but perhaps we can also leverage the massive media blitz with savvy ministry. Here are five ideas that might help you use A.D. to promote Scripture reading and spiritual growth in your congregation.

1. Fight the Finicky. Maybe it’s just me, but I love being the Bible expert. People ask me what I think of the Bible’s latest screen shot—Noah, Exodus, or these miniseries—and I’m happy to dish out my finicky critique. “You know, the Bible never says that Peter had a daughter,” or whatever. When I do this, I uphold my own “expert” status, but I might unwittingly sabotage other people’s excitement.
   A.D. is a work of dramatic imagination based on Scripture. The screenwriters made a few decisions you or I might balk at, but they also did their homework. Most of the questionable points (like Peter’s daughter) are at least plausible within a biblical framework, and some have roots in extra-biblical sources. Sure, there can be value in a fair critique, but I need to make sure my finicky spirit doesn’t dampen the experience for others.
2. Claim the Context. Some of the storylines that you might not recognize—especially the political in-fighting between the Jewish and Roman leaders—come straight out of Josephus and other ancient historians. Pilate did try to raid the Temple treasury to fund an aqueduct project. He did authorize a massacre against a group of protestors.
   This can help us establish the Bible’s story in the real world. We’re not just following a fairy tale. There is early evidence in historical records about Jesus and the emergence of the church. Especially in a time when pundits are challenging everything about Christianity, our culture needs to be reminded that Peter and Paul lived in the same world as, say, Caligula. This series might help us do that.
3. Accelerate the Adventure. So Peter and John get released by the Sanhedrin with a slap on the wrist—“Don’t preach anymore”—and they go right back to the Temple to preach. I have often taught that story with a shrug and a chuckle. “Can’t stop those incorrigible apostles!” I forget how dangerous their situation really was.
   This series reminds us of that fact. Placed in that historical context of rebellion and political maneuvering, the early church’s growth seems constantly in peril and, when it happens, miraculous. This is not a case of some director injecting tension into a bland story. The adventure is there, on every page of the book of Acts.
4. Track with the Topic. This series offers us all a unique opportunity to sync with a national media event. So why not plan a preaching series on Acts to coincide with the airing of A.D.? Let people submit questions they might have after watching each episode, and you can provide biblical answers. Or start a small group or Sunday school class on Acts. It doesn’t need to be about the TV show, but it will build on the interest generated by A.D.
   Understand that this series only goes through chapter 10 of Acts, the conversion of Cornelius, the centurion. It’s the Jerusalem-Judea-Samaria part of Acts, stopping short of “the ends of the earth” (see Acts 1:8).
5. Reach for Resources. The producers are providing a wide range of resources to accompany the programs—sermon series, small-group lessons, video chat Bible studies, a Bible reading plan—and there’s even a talk show (“Beyond A.D.”) available online the morning after each episode airs. In addition, American Bible Society has group discussion guides available and a blog that will be updated with info and questions related to each week’s episode.

Whatever your personal feelings about this series, it can spark great conversations in your church and in your community. With some savvy Bible leadership, you can help shape those conversations. Ultimately we can guide more people into looking into the Scriptures for themselves.