Acts
The Holy Spirit’s Guidance
The mission Jesus has given His church is daunting, but He’s not left us alone to figure it out. His Holy Spirit guides the mission through individuals, conversations, Scripture, and baptism.
More Powerful than the Opposition
Picking back up in Acts, opposition has reached a climax with the stoning of Stephen, and a persecution breaking out in Jerusalem. But where opposition increases, so does the advance of the gospel.
Taking Heart During Opposition
Every Christian experiences opposition. Why can we take heart in the face of opposition? Because God’s purposes can’t be thwarted, others have gone before us, and we’ve been brought in to Jesus.
Working Together
As the church continues to grow, there are growing pains. When we face such problems, we’re prone to leave, ignore them, or wait for someone else to fix them. Jesus empowers a better way: Working together so disciples continue to multiply.
Who Must We Obey?
People can hurt us, and when they oppose the preaching of the gospel, fear of the pain they can cause tempts us to “obey” them rather than preach the gospel. But we must obey God rather than men.
Healthy Fear
Fear is an uncomfortable emotion, but it can be used to alert us to forces more powerful than we, that we might respond appropriately. One of the helpful sorts of fear is the fear of God…and His church.
Facing Opposition
When the gospel is preached, both conversion and opposition come. How can we face opposition with boldness? By continuing to speak, frontline prayer, and a unified church.
The One You Need
The gospel spread at the beginning in part because of miracles. But these miracles were signs, pointing to something else: The identity of Jesus, and what He will do for those who repent.
Kingdom Community
By reflecting on this summary of church life from the very beginning of the Christian movement, we learn to live as Christ’s Kingdom Community (the Church). This kingdom community is a Word-centered, generous, relational, worshiping, and expanding community of people devoted to Christ and His work in the world
The Coming of the Spirit
After promising the Holy Spirit, Jesus now sends Him to fill His church, enabling them to tell of his mighty works, calling all to repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
The Continuing Work of Jesus
The book of Acts is not only the story of the early church; it’s the story of all the risen Lord Jesus continued to do. And today, He’s still working.
The Exaltation of Christ
It’s been said, “You’re entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts.” Christian faith is based on facts, and here we look at its central fact: Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at God’s right hand.