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.
Recent Posts
Archives
- February 2023
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- March 2022
- October 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- February 2021
- December 2020
- October 2020
- August 2020
- January 2020
- November 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- September 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- November 2015
- October 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- November 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- April 2012
- August 2011
- July 2011