November 16, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

You now move into reading the history of the early Church as recorded by Luke in Acts.  Remember, Luke wrote an orderly account of Jesus' life in his Gospel.  Now he will move you through many of the events, teachings, and decisions made by the Church.  Interspersed in this chronological reading you will be directed to read the various letters that were written about the time of the events in various chapters of Acts.  Watch carefully how the Lord used the Church in these chapters.

Acts 1 - Christ gives His closing comments to the disciples including the plan of God to reach the world with the Good News about Jesus.  That plan, verse 8, gives all of us a good pattern to follow:  start at home and your neighborhood, reach out to the rest of your town, move beyond your "home borders" into the rest of your country, and finally, reach out to the rest of your world!  After Jesus ascended into heaven, verse 9, the disciples, more than just the first eleven, met in the upper room.  They decided on a new apostle to take Judas' place and then they prayed.  For ten days they prayed!

Acts 2 - This chapter opens with the giving of the Holy Spirit and the resulting "speaking in tongues," verse 4.  God gave the early Church the ability to speak in other languages so that everyone who was visiting in the city of Jerusalem could hear this glorious Gospel message!  How many carried this news "back home?"  That is one of the wonderful results of this glorious Day of Pentecost.  Peter took the opportunity to preach a powerful message that resulted in the salvation of three thousand souls, verse 41.  These believers began to meet in small groups and fellowshipped together and listened to the apostle's teaching, verse 42.

Acts 3 - Peter and John saw an opportunity to touch a man's life, verses 1-8 which then led to an opportunity to once again preach the Gospel.  That pattern is a great way to reach people:  touch a "felt need" and that usually opens up an opportunity to present a Gospel witness.