Tag Archives: church

The Church and Its First Martyr (Act 6-7)

Posted on by
Reply

The Church and Its First Martyr (Acts 6-7)

Part 6 in the Series – “The Beginning of an Unfinished Work”

Luke begins this chapter (Acts 6) by referencing; “In those days”, which is probably best understood to be the period that encompasses the growth of the early church. The events recorded in Acts 6-7 would have occurred somewhere between 30-33 AD.

The church continued to increase in size but no specific number was given as to how many additional Christ followers were added since Acts 4:4 but the estimate exceeds 20,000 people. Due to this increase, a problem had arisen where during the daily food distribution, the widows of the Greek speaking Jews (also sometimes referred to as Hellenists) were being overlooked, while the widows of the Hebraic Jews were receiving food and care. There was an apparent need for further organization to meet a specific need of distributing food and care to the widows within the church. So, the 12 apostles gathered all the disciples together to discuss a plan of action and avoid the first church split.

The Apostles chose 7 men who were known to be full of the Holy Spirit, and they delegated to these seven chosen men the administrative task of daily distributing food and other resources to the widows in need. This allowed the Apostles to remain true to their primary calling which was to pray and preach/teach the word. One of the men chosen was Stephen who is described as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.

Luke tells us that; “Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people”, but this did not sit well with some of the members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, and they raised up opposition to him. Stephen will debate these Jews by declaring that Jesus is the Messiah. This results in them making false claims that Stephen spoke blasphemous words against Moses and against God which will bring Stephen before the Sanhedrin to hear this case against him. These accusations were a complete fabrication and purported in this fashion because they could not defeat him in debate or withstand the wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke. Although false, these accusations were designed to provoke the Sanhedrin council, along with the people, to be against Stephen.

Stephen’s response is a rather lengthy historical account (Acts 7) of the descendants of Abraham who later became known as the Israelites. Although they are known as God’s chosen people, Stephen will also point to their rebellious nature and even their tendency to be “stiff necked” and unwilling to fully submit to God. They placed their selfish desires above God’s plans for them, which was to deliver them (through Christ) from their sin and make them “holy” and “right” before God and they chose instead to crucify Jesus.

To Stephen’s point, the temple had become a “type or form” of idol worship to the religious leaders, and they simply could not acknowledge that Jesus was the fulfillment of the law and the temple. This did not sit well with the religious leaders and sets the stage for the Sanhedrin’s full condemnation of Stephen by ordering him to be taken out of the city and stoned to death. They had no right to do this but neither did they have the right to demand the crucifixion of Christ. This is how Luke closes out Acts 7; “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:59-60). This is a powerful reminder of how we should act towards others, even those who may be our enemies. You may never fully know the impact of your life on someone else (whether it is a believer or an unbeliever, an enemy or friend) and it’s in these moments of crisis where our faith and belief really show the Jesus we believe in, to those around us.

The Church and Its First Martyr (Acts 6-7)Download

The Church in Action – We Must Obey God (Acts 5)

Posted on by
Reply

The Church in Action – We Must Obey God (Acts 5)

Part 5 in the Series – “The Beginning of an Unfinished Work”

Luke’s begins this chapter (Acts 5) contrasting the actions of Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37), where he sold his property and brought the entirety of those funds to the apostles to be distributed to meet the needs of the early church, to the actions of Ananias and Sapphira who also sold their property but kept back some of those funds for themselves. The issue wasn’t that Ananias and Sapphira kept back some of the funds, but it was that they chose to lie that they (like Barnabas) gave it all to the church. It appears that Ananias and Sapphira were attempting to make a public display of their spirituality while inwardly scheming to control some of their assets under the pretense they had given everything just as Barnabas had done. Their motives seemed to be centered around deception and that is what Peter will openly expose by stating Satan had “filled their heart” and they ultimately were found lying to the Holy Spirit. Ananias and Saphira’s actions were judged and their lives were taken by the Lord showing the importance that God places on His church to be pure and holy. Hypocrisy has no place in the church. Jesus condemned the religious leaders seven times in Matthew 23 (specifically verses 13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, and 29) for it!

Shortly after this the apostles returned to the temple courts (specifically Solomon’s Colonnade/Porch) and began performing various miracles, signs and wonders among the people. The church was growing by significant numbers (men and women), and the people were serious about their faith in not just an internal way, but they did so outwardly by confessing their belief boldly and drawing others to heed the words of the apostles and do the same. Peter’s reputation grew and the miraculous healing by the Holy Spirit through Peter caused people to bring the sick into the streets, hoping that even his shadow might fall on them to bring healing. This highlights a high level of faith in God’s power acting through the apostles.

These religious leaders (Caiphas the High Priest, possibly Annas his father-in-law, other members of the religious sect known as the Sadducees) became jealous and were probably angry over these public healings taking place in the temple courts as well as in Jerusalem and several neighboring towns. They subsequently arrested the apostles and placed them in jail. That night an angel of the Lord visited the apostles (probably a combination of Peter, John and others) while they were in the jail and subsequently opens the door to let them out. The next day, the religious leaders sent their associates to the jail to bring the apostles before them for a hearing, but the apostles were not there because the angel had come to them and opened the gates of the prison cell and instructed the apostles to return to the temple to preach the gospel.

The religious leaders went to the temple grounds and became angry that the apostles were their once again preaching about Jesus and the resurrection, so they decided to bring them before a hearing of the full Sanhedrin council. They were angry with the apostles for disobeying their commands for them not to preach about Jesus so Peter and the other apostles made this reply: “We must obey God rather than human beings! Peter sets out to show them by what authority they can make these claims but the religious leaders are unwilling to accept their words and seek to have them permanently silenced. At some point a well-known Pharisee named Gamaliel stands up and declares, “Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

The words of Gamaliel ring true for Luke records these words; “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” (Acts 5:42). Although Israel as a nation/people group) continued down the path of rejecting Jesus as Messiah……the followers of Christ (considering themselves worthy to suffer for His name) kept right on proclaiming Jesus as Messiah. This shows the early apostles’ unwavering commitment to telling others about the good news of the gospel. Despite persecution and threats, they continued teaching in both public (temple) and private (homes) settings, focusing on Jesus as the promised Messiah.

The Church in Action – Acts 5Download

The Beginning of an Unfinished Work Part 4 – Judaism meets Jesus (Acts 4)

Posted on by
Reply

Judaism Meets Jesus – Acts 4

Part 4 in the Series – “The Beginning of an Unfinished Work”

With the birth and establishment of the Church (Acts 1-3) now on clear footing; the Jewish “religious leaders” begin to take notice. The Holy Spirit is working in the lives (through conviction) of both the religious leaders as well as the common person. Some will fully embrace Christ while others will continue to reject Him. Many of the religious leaders didn’t agree with the message that the Apostles were declaring but were paralyzed to do anything.

The cornerstone message that the apostles were teaching was the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The apostles were witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus and for 40 days after that they listened to him teach about the kingdom, they ate with him and fellowshipped with him. They were compelled to proclaim the message that Jesus rose from the dead. This caused enough concern from the religious leaders that they decided to arrest Peter and John and convene a meeting of the Sanhedrin to determine if this healing of the crippled man (Acts 3) was valid and by what authority they could perform this miracle.

Peter set out to preach another sermon where he once again reminds the religious leaders that their authority to heal this man rested in the Name of Jesus Christ – the One they crucified! It was Jesus that granted them the authority and power to heal.

“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matthew 10:1-8)

The beggar (who was crippled) now stands before them in good health and complete wholeness of which the religious leaders could not dispute. Peter declares to them that the only way to cure their problem was to repent and believe in Jesus Christ. The religious leaders lacked faith, and they had no response for the crippled man walking in their midst because they didn’t believe in Jesus. They couldn’t prove Peter or James had done anything wrong and thus were unable to punish them for anything. The best solution they could produce was they told them to stop teaching about Jesus.

“It is particularly striking that neither on this nor on any subsequent occasion (as far as our information goes) did the Sanhedrin take any serious action to disprove the apostle’s central affirmation – the resurrection of Jesus. Had it been possible to refute them on this point, how readily would the Sanhedrin have seized the opportunity! Had they succeeded, how quickly and completely the new movement would have collapsed! (F.F. Bruce – The Book of Acts [Grand Rapids; Eerdmans, 1971 page 102)

Peter and John are subsequently released and they return to their brethren and continue to preach and teach about Jesus. In addition, we are told they continue to perform more miracles and wonders. This results in the church expanding to well over 10,000 people. They are unified in their love for one another, and they care for each other’s needs. They will face more persecution but that won’t stop them from declaring the truth that Jesus is the only way to God!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

When Judaism Meets Jesus (Acts 4)Download

The Beginning of an Unfinished Work Part 2 – The Church Begins

Posted on by
Reply

The Church Begins – Acts 2

Part 2 in the Series – “The Beginning of an Unfinished Work”

The “Day of Pentecost” (Acts 2:1) was the pre-ordained day that God chose for the Spirit to descend upon these believers to begin the work of the church. What transpired that day was something unique and like nothing ever seen or recorded before. Luke first described a sound that was like a “mighty rushing wind” and then a sight that he describes as “tongues of fire” that came to rest upon the believers in the upper room. It was clearly something supernatural and orchestrated by God Himself. Luke wasn’t an eyewitness but describes the event (through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) as if he was there.

This “Coming of the Holy Spirit” in which He rested upon (filled) each person in the room that day, was marked by this external evidence of speaking in other tongues (other known languages – Acts 2:5-12) as the Spirit enabled them. This external supernatural occurrence was evidenced by an internal manifestation of the Holy Spirit that allowed these Galileans to speak and yet being understood by others in their own language.  

The timing of this event would fall sometime around May of 30 AD. or 33 AD. and the Roman Empire controlled Jerusalem and the entire region of what we refer to as the Holy Land, and most of the known Western regions along with the Near East. Also, by this time – large groups of Jews had migrated to other parts of the known world, much of it under the control of Rome. Some of them (labeled as God-fearing Jews) found themselves in Jerusalem to celebrate their required feasts where they would make sacrifice and bring offerings. These Jews must have been near the room where the disciples and others had gathered because Luke tells us that they heard the sound of the strong wind. At some point the apostles (and possibly other believers) began to speak. Perhaps they were preaching or prophesying (Acts 2:17-21). Luke doesn’t tell us exactly what they were speaking about but based on the balance of Acts 2, they were probably preaching about Jesus and the wonders of the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit was clearly at work. Those believers who were speaking were Galileans and yet these others (God fearing Jews) from other regions of the Roman Empire could understand in their own tongue which was nothing short of a miracle.

At a later point, Peter begins to preach a message to not just these “God fearing Jewish” pilgrims but to a host of others who found themselves in ear shot of Peter. His message was simple, Jesus (the one they crucified) was both Lord and Christ and although they participated (directly or indirectly) in his crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead. His resurrection from the dead was the greatest proof that Jesus is the Messiah and something that unbelieving mankind can only deny in ignorance. There is no proof to the contrary!

Peter’s closing argument was that they could continue to deny Jesus was Lord at their own peril, or they can recognize the overwhelming evidence that he presented, along with the irrefutable evidence that Jesus in fact rose from the dead. Those that heard Peter’s sermon were under conviction by the Holy Spirit and faced with the realization that they stood condemned before God! They now had a strong desire to be saved from that wrath and were willing to submit to God’s will. This resulted in over 3000 souls being added to the church and they continued meeting together in the temple courts of Jerusalem which was their right to do so. They moved about the community in which they lived, and other people (unbelievers) were able to witness their testimony of a changed or transformed life. This is the “Beginning of the Church” and it is only getting started!

The Church Begins – Acts 2Download

The Beginning of an Unfinished Work Part 1 – Introducing the Church (Acts 1)

Posted on by
Reply

The Book of Acts seems to naturally pick up where Luke left off in his Gospel account in which he lays out in detail the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Contained in Gospel record written by Luke is a clear “historical record” that begins with the virgin birth of Jesus and continues with His 3-year ministry on earth, providing detail as to His atoning death on the cross, and records the resurrection of Jesus which is the central doctrine of Christianity! (I Corinthians 15) The Book of Acts continues in that “historical” vein in which Luke begins with the commission by Jesus for the apostles (messenger/one who is sent out) to take the gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, an uttermost part of the earth” and records for us in detail just how that is accomplished. Although Luke’s “inspired record” ends in Acts 28 with Paul’s arrival in Rome; contained in the passages between Acts 1 through Acts 28 are an endless amount of historical record that pieces together the early days of the Church. During this study, “The Beginning of an Unfinished Work”, we will explore his historical record as we weave or way through the book of Acts along with the Epistles/Letters written by other New Testament authors.

Introducing the Church – Acts 1

Part 1 in the Series – “The Beginning of an Unfinished Work”

After the resurrection and during the 40 days that Jesus walked the earth prior to his ascension into heaven, Jesus taught about the kingdom and instructs his disciples to return to Jerusalem and await his further instructions about the coming of the Holy Spirit. After the 40 days had been completed, Jesus ascends into heaven (Acts 1:9-11) and the disciples did as they were commanded and returned to Jerusalem.

While gathered together in Jerusalem, the 11 remaining apostles (Judas had hung himself and was now dead), several women including Mary the Mother of Jesus, Jesus’ brothers (these were biological siblings from Mary and Joseph after Jesus was born) who were James (who would become the leader of the Jerusalem church), Joses, Judas/Jude (author of Jude), and Simon, along with other disciples (120 in all) began to seek the Lord through prayer while awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. One of the tasks of the apostles was to find a replacement for Judas who betrayed Jesus and eventually killed himself. They were looking for an individual who was a witness to the earthly ministry of Jesus and an eyewitness to the resurrection. The two men that were nominated to fill Judas’ position was Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias. After a time of prayer and seeking the Lord’s direction, they chose Matthias. Now that Matthias has been chosen, all was ready for the birth of the Church on the Day of Pentecost as described in Acts 2.

Introducing the ChurchDownload

Part 3 – Why The Church 3.1

Posted on by
Reply

Both the Gospels of Mattew and Luke provide a small glimpse (recorded in the first 3 chapters) into the birth and early years of the Life of Jesus and subsequently write about the miracles and teachings of Jesus until his death and resurrection takes place. The other 2 Gospel accounts of Mark (probably dictated by Peter) and John almost immediately begin with the public ministry of Jesus, and they also continue their writings up until the death and resurrection of Jesus.

I mention this to show that the majority of the Gospel accounts are written to lay the foundation that Jesus is the Son of God and by His authority the church was established. Jesus called twelve ordinary men from different backgrounds, occupations, and religious upbringings and began to teach them The Way. It was the Apostle John who wrote; “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (I John 1:1-3)

In a teaching moment; Jesus asked his disciples, Who do the people say the Son of Man is? He received several different replies; some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Then Jesus asked the disciples; “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

This (Matthew 16:18) was the first mention of the word church and its basic meaning is the “called ones” which best defines what Jesus declared to Peter. The church in its purest sense is an organism and not an organization or a building. Over time, and even in the early days of the church as recorded in Acts, the need for structure and organization was necessary to help the church accomplish the mission or as some call it, “The Great Commission“. (Matthew 28:18-20). However, the church is and always will be “the called ones” for wherever two or three are gathered together in His name, He is in their midst. (Matthew 18:19-20).

This Lesson: “Why the Church – Part 1” is designed to show who the head of the church is which is Jesus Christ, how the church started and how that authority which was passed to the 12 Apostles to start the “Beginning of an Unfinished Work” made its splash on the world and continues until Jesus returns. (Acts 1:8)

why-the-churchDownload

Part 1 – Why The Cross

Posted on by
Reply

Simply put – because of sin (defined as complete rebellion against a perfect, righteous and holy God) our relationship with God was broken and in need of redemption. Because sin separated us from God, the only way we could be reconciled to Him was through the atoning death on the cross by the perfect sacrifice which was Jesus Christ (John 1:1-18). Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was our atonement (making us “at one” with God) and something only Jesus could do given He was God in human flesh. He was not made God – He is God.

There is great disagreement, even among the other 2 monotheistic (One God) religions (Islam and Judaism) that exist in our world as to how we are reconciled to God. Like Islam and Judaism, many other “religions” fall short on answering the question of how our sins are atoned for and in some “humanistic” religions they just ignore than sin even exists. I call these religions or belief systems:

Christianity is based on faith and belief in Jesus Christ. It was His death on the cross that paid our “ransom” and delivered us from death and eternal separation from God. This is accomplished not by something we do but something that was done. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” John 3:16-18. Christianity differs from all other religions and belief systems because:

why-the-crossDownload