Unleashing the Power of the Gospel: A Journey Through Acts
The book of Acts is a thrilling account of how the resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything. Written by Luke, a physician who traveled with the apostle Paul, Acts is a historical record of the early church’s birth and growth. This 12-week study will take you on a journey through the book of Acts, exploring the gospel’s expansion and the incredible events that shaped the early Christian movement.
The Gospel’s Unstoppable Advance
From Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire, the gospel spread like wildfire. Despite formidable barriers of geography, ethnicity, culture, gender, and wealth, the good news of Jesus Christ reached the most unlikely people. The Greek verb for “preach the gospel” (euangelizo) occurs more frequently in Acts than in any other New Testament book, highlighting the central role of preaching in the gospel’s expansion.
God’s Passionate Pursuit
Throughout Acts, God is depicted as the driving force behind the gospel’s advance. He is the great benefactor who pours out blessings on all people, and even the opportunity to repent is His gift. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the church’s growth, empowering believers to preach the gospel and creating a distinctive community that draws others in.
Opposition and Suffering: Fuel for the Gospel’s Fire
Despite intense opposition, persecution, and suffering, the gospel continued to spread. Demonic forces, worldly powers, and authorities all sought to slow down the gospel’s advance, but they only fueled its growth. Acts shows that the new Christian movement was not a fringe sect, but the culmination of God’s plan of redemption.
A Culmination of God’s Plan
The book of Acts consistently grounds salvation in the ancient purpose of God, which comes to fruition at God’s own initiative. This reveals God to be the great benefactor who pours out blessings on all people. Even the opportunity to repent is God’s gift. Justin S. Holcomb, an Episcopal priest and theology professor, notes that Acts “repeatedly calls us to reflect upon the work of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, establishing the church by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Why Study Acts?
This 12-week study through the book of Acts will help you understand the history of the early church and the gospel’s expansion. You’ll see how the gospel draws people in, constitutes them as the church centered on the grace of Jesus, and sends them out in mission to the world. Join the journey and discover the unstoppable power of the gospel.
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