|
Luke's major purpose in the book of Acts is to show the victory of Christianity
as it expands and breaks to barriers of religion, racial, and national.
Christianity broke through the narrow limitations which men sought
to impose upon it, and emerged in the liberty which Jesus had given it.
In Acts Luke shows that it was the risen Lord Himself who,
through the Holy Spirit, was guiding His followers through painful steps
to the recognition that the kingdom was spiritual and for all mankind.
Luke's aim was to write a history of the formation and early growth
of the church.
It was a special history of the planting and extension of the church throughout the world.
There is one great theme throughout the book, and that is
"the church witnessing for Christ."
Acts shows how the church came into being, and how it gradually developed from
a local sect into a universal brotherhood.
In Acts we see how Christianity was emancipated from Judaism
and became a world religion.
Acts is not so much concerned with the development of Christian life
or the application of Christian truth as it is with the preaching
of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This witnessing was to be done by the power
of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)
In the first verse Luke has referred to his Gospel as written "concerning
all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day in which he was received up."
And the book of Acts would show what Jesus continued to do.
Luke has shown how the work of God was commenced and how foundations
were laid at certain important centers.
He has described the origins of societies and activities, and has been passed on
to other incidents and scenes.
Acts is a narrative of how the church began its witnessing to the world for Christ.
The Acts - 1:1-3 -- The Book of Acts speaks with authority and urgency to the
church today.
There never was an age when the church, which Christ purchased with
His precious blood, needed more desperately to understand and to heed
this message as does our age. ... More
The Power Of The Lord - 1:4-5 -- We ought to be knowledgeable about the
coming again of our Lord, but our major responsibility, as Christians, is to tell
others about the One whose coming we expect. ... More
It Is not Easy To Wait! - 1:6-7 -- It is sinful for a Christian to drag his feet when
God says, " Go!"
It is also equally sinful for us to rush ahead of God.
To act prematurely is to invite failure. ... More
Ye Shall Be Witnesses! - Part 1 - 1:8
Christians are not to be like salesmen going out to peddle a product.
Nor are we to be recruiters knocking down doors trying to get people to join
a religious club. ... More
Ye Shall Be Witness! - Part 2 - 1:8
Our mission as witnesses hinges on the personal element.
Who and what we are as persons is fundamental.
We must recognize our characteristics that may inhibit our witnessing. ... More
Ye Shall Be Witnesses! - Part 3 - 1:8 -
Since a witness to the grace of God is really a spiritual exercise, one must recognize
the possibility of spiritual hindrances blocking its fulfillment. ... More
Ye Shall Be Witnesses! - Part 4 - 1:8
Can an ordinary Christian participate in the mission of our Lord Jesus Christ
to a lost world?
Does witnessing require special skills or training?
Is a certain witnessing system necessary?
Must the Christian force himself to witness?
Or is there another answer?
I believe there is. ... More
The Ascension - 1:9
When we know what His ascension really means, we will be inspired with
new hope and confidence.
Our attention will be focused upon Christ occupying His place of supreme power.
We will know that He is able to guide, control, and protect us as we witness of Him. ...More
This Same Jesus - 1:10-11
This same Jesus still has the same work to do that He started to do, that which
He commanded His disciples to do that He has commanded us to do.
This work is to rescue souls out of sin into salvation out of darkness into light. ... More
Jesus Is Coming Again! - 1:10-11
The promise of His return (verse 11) is beyond any words we could ever say
to describe that great event.
The angelic visitors are saying that at a point in time and place,
Jesus will again break from that other world into this world of time and history. ...More
The Day Of Pentecost - 2:1
The Book Of Acts literally explodes with power.
Before Jesus ascended, He promised, " Ye shall receive power..." (Acts 1:8)
With every turn of the page in Acts there is an explosion of power. ... More
Sight And Sound - 2:2-3
Now this sudden, violent, heaven-sent noise, as a wind in the fury of a tempest
marked the outpouring of the Spirit of God. ... More
Preaching Jesus! - 2:14-23
Every preacher should imitate Peter in these two ways.
He preached Christ.
He expounded the Scriptures. ... More
Jesus Is Lord! - 2:33-36
There is no authority or power that exists that does not take its direction
and its limitation from Him.
Jesus Christ is Lord! ... More
Repent - Baptism - Remission - 2:37-38
In the moment of true repentance, we are liberated from the estrangement
and the fear of the past, and we are equipped by the Holy Spirit
to face the battles of the future. ... More
What Are The Signs? - 2:41-42
If we are to search for signs of the presence
of the Holy Spirit in a church, then we should look at the early church
in the aftermath of the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit ever experienced. ... More
Joy Of Fellowship - 2:42
It is important to distinguish the fellowship of these Jerusalem Christians
from mere cooperation.
Almost daily, cooperation is eulogized as an ideal
In truth, cooperation, in itself, is not good, and it is not bad.
It is neutral. ... More
More Than Money! - 3:1-10
It was money for which the man was begging, but it was a miracle of healing
which he received.
He was only asking for some money for the day, but he received his legs for life. ... More
Arrested - 4:1-4
When will the world ever learn that persecutors may imprison the apostles
of truth, but cannot imprison truth. ... More
God Did It! - 4:5-12
"By what power"... could be said of what we do for God.
And we would probably say that it was because we planned and we programmed
and we worked hard.
Or it was because we love so... or our great courage... our dedication.
It was because we are so well-trained and educated. ... More
Sin Of Living A Lie - 5:1-5
The devil despises harmony.
He is the arch- promoter of discord.
When you discover discord in the church, just look around -- the devil is behind it. ... More
"Go. ..Stand ... Speak!" - 5:19-20
But bars and doors and chains cannot shut out those whom God would have
to enter, and would never shut-in those God would have escape.
The hour had come for His intervening hand and all the power of man ... More
cannot prevent God from His purposes.
Bad Advice! - 5:33-42
Gamaliel's principle can't be used to evaluate what's happening now.
Many things God hates are successful in the world's viewpoint.
For example, the Sanhedrin was still an active religious force in Israel
although it was instrumental in Christ's death.
Today there are tremendously successful movements that God has nothing to do with. ... More
More to Be Added!
|
