The Continuing Story
In my former book Theophilus I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach…” Acts 1:1
Our new Sunday morning teaching series on the book of Acts has the broad theme of “The Church on the Move”. During 2010 we will be grounding much of our preaching in this amazing and dynamic Bible book. Acts is not just of historical interest but of practical relevance to our lives today.
Acts tells the story of what Jesus continued to do after His ascension through the believers who became His witnesses to the world they lived in. Empowered by the Holy Spirit those ordinary men and women changed from being a dispirited and fearful few to becoming world changers. They continued the ministry of Jesus in words, works and wonders. They spoke openly and boldly about Him, healed the sick in His name and spread out into surrounding towns, villages, cities and nations with the full gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Acts is then “the continuing story”. What’s more, many have observed that as it ends in Chapter 28 mid action, it is a story that still continues today. The Holy Spirit works in and through us to continue the ministry of Jesus. We are part of the story!
Against all the odds, those first believers proclaimed Christ in a hostile culture and climate. God worked with them and within just 30 years, they had reached the ends of the earth with the good news and whole cities and regions had been transformed.
Acts will give us faith for our culture and climate to be similarly impacted and reveal to us the keys to living the dynamic, overcoming Kingdom life that will enable us to serve Christ to the fullest in our time and place.
