Birth Of A Church

God guides our witness and our walk... Follow Dr. Jeremiah through the book of Acts in a chapter-by-chapter study that will help you understand what it meant to the people at the time it was written, and what it means to Christians today. In the book of Acts, we have a record of the most fertile period of outreach in the history of Christianity. Churches were planted near and far as Jesus' followers proclaimed the message of Christ. Luke's record in Acts reveals that God places a premium on the spread of the gospel. He blesses our efforts to make disciples of all nations, one person at a time, and sends us His Spirit to guide our words, give us wisdom, and bolster our courage. We also learn that God is with us even during times of persecution and opposition--and He uses those times to sharpen us and make us effective instruments for His work. Each of this study's twelve lessons is clearly organized to include: Getting Started: An opening question to introduce you to the lesson. Setting the Stage: A short reflection to explain the context of the study. Exploring the Text: The Scripture reading for the lesson with related study questions. Reviewing the Story: Questions to help you identify key points in the reading. Applying the Message: Questions to help you apply the key ideas to their lives. Reflecting on the Meaning: A closing reflection on the key teachings in the lesson. —ABOUT THE SERIES— The Jeremiah Bible Study Series captures Dr. David Jeremiah's forty-plus years of commitment in teaching the Word of God. In each study, you'll gain insights into the text, identify key stories and themes, and be challenged to apply the truths you uncover to your life. By the end of each study, you'll come away with a clear and memorable understanding of that Bible book. Each study also contains a Leader's Guide.

My Utmost for His Highest has been a proven, best-selling devotional for many years. Over the past century, Oswald Chambers’s writings have inspired countless people to drink deeply from the biblical truths that he so passionately championed. His words are simultaneously penetrating and invigorating, and they trigger something in your soul leaving you forever changed. The biblical thoughts and themes that Chambers delivers in this updated-language edition will resonate with you as you seek to grow your faith. We have also included the topical section

What is a church? This can be a difficult question to answer and Christians have offered a variety of perspectives. Gregg Allison thus explores and synthesizes all that Scripture affirms about the new covenant people of God, capturing a full picture of the biblical church. He covers the topics of the church's identity and characteristics; its growth through purity, unity, and discipline; its offices and leadership structures; its ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper; and its ministries. Here is a rich approach to ecclesiology consisting of sustained doctrinal reflection and wise, practical application. Part of the Foundations of Evangelical Theology series.

The Monarch History of the Church is an eight-volume series by world-renowned historians and theologians. Each volume offers an even-handed, comprehensive and readable assessment of the main strands of Christianity within its period. The first volume covers the period AD 30-312. During this time, the church experienced major challenges politically, culturally and intellectually, yet grew and defined itself in remarkable ways. Here is the story of Christianity's earliest shapers - men and women whose influence is still felt today.

This is a Precept Bible Study on the book of Acts, which means you will be looking at the Bible, one verse at a time to help you understand God's Word so that you can apply it to your daily life. The four Gospels described Jesus's life and ended with His death and resurrection. The book of Acts continues His-story after the resurrection and follows the transition from the Old Covenant into the New Covenant, where the Holy Spirit came to live in the heart of the believer. This is a twelve-week study and is the first of three studies on the book of Acts: Acts: The Birth of the Church (12 weeks) Acts: Paul's Three Missionary Journeys (10 weeks) Acts: Paul's Arrest, Trial and Imprisonment (8 weeks) This study is about God's plan to establish His church by empowering His people with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the good news of salvation to a fallen world and save people from the gates of hell. God used ordinary people like Peter, James, Stephen, Philip, Barnabas and Paul to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" to carry out the great commission. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth. (Acts 1:8 NASB) The early church faced strong resistance from the religious and political leaders of the day, as they tried to intimidate the apostles through lies, betrayals, violence and murder. The book of Acts contains some of the Bible's biggest villains attempting to silence God's people. But their bullying did not work. God is bigger than any villain and through the power of the Holy Spirit, many heroes emerged, who overcame their fears and despite great danger, they continued to proclaim the good news. We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:20 NASB) There is even a villain who became a hero after encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus. God changed the heart of Saul of Tarsus and used him to plant churches and evangelize most of the Mediterranean world. If God can forgive a murderer like Saul and use him to write half the New Testament, then God can certainly use you and I for His plan of redemption. This study ends with Barnabas and Paul returning to Jerusalem after spending a year discipling the elders in the church at Antioch. After Paul and Barnabas returned, King Herod beheaded the Apostle James and threw Peter into prison. This signified a shift in the way the apostles were being treated and ushered in a new wave of persecution against the believers. Buckle up and get ready to experience the power of the Holy Spirit working through the lives of some of God's most faithful servants!

Essays presented are adapted papers read at the 7th Nordic New Testament Conference in Stavanger, Norway, June 14-18, 2003.