The Book of Acts: Introduction

 As we begin our 25-week series on the Book of Acts, I can’t help but think about the amazing nature of God’s timing. Especially in light of where we are as a church, Acts is a powerful biography of the early church. Not simply in its description, but in its life-changing action, and I see signs of this same type of activity in our church. It is important to notice that the concept of action is implied in the title of the book: The Acts or The Actions of the Apostles. In a very short period of time, historically, the church grew from a handful of fearful disciples hiding out in the upper room to become the dominant religion of the Roman Empire. Fueled by the powerful message of God’s Grace and a Holy Spirit-led missionary zeal, the Christian message appealed to the masses, including the poor and the outcasts. It did this by providing hope for the future through strong local church communities that lived out their faith through extraordinary acts of self-sacrificial service to others.  

In other words, the early church understood that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, but that our faith requires action. Through this series, we will be repeatedly challenged to assess our faith in light of their example. This challenge is important because our faith also requires action. As part of the body of Christ, each one of us has a role to play in continuing what they started. We are all called to help take the Good News to the ends of the earth! 

In His Service,

Pastor Steve