Helper of People Day 2 Update

Yesterday was a wonderful day spent studying the Word of God. Part of what I wanted to do with my week was use some of the time to increase my knowledge of the Bible and deepen my relationship with my Lord. For the last four months I have been leading my Sunday School class in a systematic study of the Book of Acts. We are now in Chapter 18 of this great book about the coming of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of what we call the New Testament Church. It usually takes me two lessons per chapter. Some chapters take longer than others. I ask my class to prepare for these lessons by reading each chapter five times before coming to class. I also ask them to write down questions that come to their mind as well as observations they may have about what they have read. I want the Word to reasonate in their heart and mind. I have been very concerned for a long time about the Church becoming more and more irrelevant  in our world. It seems that with each passing year the church loses a little more of her influence in our communities, our nation, and our world. I began the study of Acts with my class, about 20-25 folks on most Sundays, to see what it was about these early Christians that enabled them to turn the world upside down for Christ. Over the last few months it has become evident to me that there was a passion for Christ present there that is lacking in most churches today. There was a boldness to take on the government, the false teachers and the religions of that day. They were willing to endure persecution, make whatever sacrifice of self and possessions the ministry required and boldly speak out on behalf of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ regardless of the consequences. The difference Christ made in their life was so evident that the term Christian, little Christ, was given to them by non believers. It was meant to be a derogatory phrase but the early Christians wore it as a badge of honor. What a testimony! As I spent yesterday preparing for this coming Sunday morning I was reminded again that the message of the church is simple. Jesus Saves!! It seems to me that in this day and age the church has become irrelevant because we have tried so hard to be relevant. God’s Word changes lives. The early church knew that and boldly proclaimed it. I am learning that over again as I study the book of Acts. Chapter 18 is where I will be this week . I had a great time yesterday studying and praying. I would encourage every Christian to read again the Book of Acts and ask yourself if the passion for Christ you see there is the passion for Christ you see today. It has certainly opened my eyes to my own shortcomings.