Acts 8:1-4 | Andrew Murch | This section of Acts comes to a close with a person who is going to play an important role throughout the rest of the book. In the shadow of Stephen's execution, we are introduced to Saul, who "approved of [Stephen's] execution" (Acts 8:1 ESV). By the hand of Saul, the Church enters a brutal season of persecution. However, God has not finished his work of establishing his Church.
The Witness Stand
November 13, 2022 • Andrew Murch • Acts 6:8–15, Acts 7
Acts 6:8-7:60 | Andrew Murch | In this moment, the Christian movement receives its first martyr in history, and it launches an all-out “witch hunt” for anyone who would believe the same way as Stephen. We are introduced to Saul who is the primary mover in this persecution, and the church is launched into a new era of being hunted. This pivotal moment in the story of Acts continues two of the themes already established. The first is that the only proper response to the preaching of Christ is belief and repentance, which the religious leaders refused. The second is that as the church is persecuted it will only grow all the more. These two things are still true for the global church today as the message is shared in numerous languages and cultures.
The Small Stuff
November 6, 2022 • Gavin Hesse • Acts 6:1–7
Acts 6:1-7 | Gavin Hesse | As the gospel spread throughout the Jewish world, many Hellenists responded to the good news. The Hellenists were Jews who spoke Greek (instead of Hebrew), so the obvious language barrier in the church was likely the cause of this oversight. But as we see in this week’s text, a need in the church is an opportunity for the church to respond. While the word “deacon” is never used in this text as a noun, in verse 2, we see the verb “to deacon” (or “to serve”). This passage in the foundation for the office of deacon in the church, a group of leading servants who help carry out the practical needs of the church. These needs range from children’s ministry to media oversight, from caring for the facility to making sure widows have the food and help that they need.
Rise of the Resistance
October 30, 2022 • Andrew Murch • Acts 5:12–42
Acts 5:12-42 | Andrew Murch | The ongoing mission of the Spirit-filled church simply cannot be stopped. In this passage we see that following and obeying God is always worth it, no matter the consequences we will face. The high priest and the Sadducees are corrupt leaders who are now jealous of a genuine move of God. These spiritual leaders would have worked their whole lives only to gain a false authority and power and watch their influence slip right out of their hands as they oppose God and his Spirit. As the pressure increases against the apostles and the believers they never falter from the mission they have been sent on. As a result, they are once again sent to prison and they are once again delivered from it. This text reminds all Christians that following Jesus will lead us to tough decisions, difficult situations, and even persecution. In a world full of gray areas and compromises, the church stands firm on truth no matter what. When we do face trials of various kids, may we have the courage and boldness to say it is a privilege to be counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus.
Wake-Up Call
October 23, 2022 • Andrew Murch • Acts 4:32–37, Acts 5:1–11
Acts 4:32-5:11 | Andrew Murch | The story of the Apostles and the early Church continues... We are reminded this week that we, as Christians, must always value and pursue truth and be known as people of truth. We also cannot ever elevate anything (or any person) above the holiness of God—no possession, no status, no position, nothing. God is a loving, caring, merciful, gracious, and jealous God!
The Powers That Be
October 16, 2022 • Andrew Murch • Acts 4:23–31
Acts 4:23-31 | Andrew Murch | In these early days of the church, we learn that the church is both a supernatural and ordinary thing. It is supernatural in that it cannot exist without the Spirit uniting and saving believers in Christ. The Spirit brings together people and puts them on mission together. In a world of broken people, it takes a supernatural work of the Spirit to fill and change hearts for people to be united. However, it is also very ordinary in that the church still has very practical needs and those united in the church work to help one another out. The church described here, as elsewhere in the New Testament, is like a haven in a storm. As the nations and the culture rages around, the church, the people of God, is the place where the Spirit dwells. Where heaven meets earth. The Church is where the people of God find refuge, care, love, encouragement, and boldness to serve on the mission of God. These apostles did not complete their mission without the church and neither can any Christian.
Acts 4
October 9, 2022 • Shai Linne • Acts 4:1–22
Acts 4:1-22 | Shai Linne | The truth is that the gospel could not be thwarted even with this opposition, but rather, “many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of men came to about five thousand.” Wherever the gospel has faced opposition, growth of the gospel movement has inevitably followed.
A Miracle Story
October 2, 2022 • Andrew Murch • Acts 4:1–4, Acts 3
Acts 3:1-4:4 | Andrew Murch | In these early chapters of Acts, we are given a picture of the life of the early church in Jerusalem, and the popular support for it that continued to increase despite the simultaneously growing opposition to it on the part of the Jewish officials. As we turn to chapter three, we see a mighty work and the mighty word. Peter and John perform a healing which prompts preaching. Both of which lead to the preachers being brought before Jewish authorities. In general, Luke goes back and forth between relating, on the one hand, the public life and controversies of the early Christians with outsiders and, on the other, telling of the interior life and difficulties within the community itself. The healing of the lame man at the temple received much publicity and triggered a series of events involving serious opposition to the gospel.
Vital Signs
September 25, 2022 • Andrew Murch • Acts 2:42–47
Acts 2:42-47 | Andrew Murch | Thus far, the first two chapters of the book of Acts have been quite the adventure. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, then he floated up into the clouds (who saw that one coming?!). Then there’s the whole scene on the day of Pentecost. And then the last thing we read is that God added more than 3,000 souls to the church. Much of this book has read more like a thriller than biblical narrative. But then we come to this week’s text. Six verses that, at face value, may seem like the most “normal” part of the story so far. But is it? As we dig in, we will find something quite extraordinary in the midst of the ordinary. More than that, we’ll find a blueprint for following Jesus in community together. While some might look at this text as an idealistic way of life that would never work in today’s day and age, it’s here that we find many core principles of the faith.
This Jesus
September 18, 2022 • Andrew Murch • Acts 2:1–41
Acts 2:1-41 | Andrew Murch | There are moments in history that forever shape the course of time. In your own lifetime, you can probably think of a few examples of events that happened and everything changed after that. The biblical narrative is full of those moments. The most significant of course is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the salvation of sinners! However, after that moment comes the moment we are reading about today: Pentecost. The second chapter of Acts tells of an event that had been prophesied for hundreds of years. The prophets spoke of a time when the Spirit would be given to all people and when the Spirit would no longer dwell in a temple built by human hands but would dwell in the hearts of people and amidst the people of God. Pentecost is the fulfillment of those prophecies. The Apostles were told that the Spirit would come to empower them in their mission to witness about Christ and that they were to await the Spirit’s arrival. After many days, the Spirit comes to them, and it results in their ability to share about Jesus in numerous languages and cultures. The birth of the global church had begun right there in Jerusalem! The Apostles were given everything they needed to share the gospel in every city.
Roll Call
September 11, 2022 • Andrew Murch • Acts 1
Acts 1:1-26 | Andrew Murch | As Acts unfolds before us each week, we will have front-row seats to the work of the Spirit through the lives of Peter, Paul, and the church. But far be it for us to remain seated comfortably in our front-row seats as observers! The task Jesus gives to his apostles as the original “sent ones”—and to us as his followers today—is not a passive task but an active one as the Spirit leads. The reach of the gospel message must extend beyond the microcosm of Jerusalem. The Good News must spread both geographically and ethnically. The church—God’s people—is the vehicle by which this Good News will go forth.
