This fall, we’re diving into the Book of Acts— It’s not just dry history from the early days of the church; it’s the continuing story of Christ’s ministry through ordinary people, empowered by the Holy Spirit. The same power that Christ demonstrated while he walked the earth is now available on a larger scale, since he is ascended to God’s right hand and sends the Holy Spirit to the church in all parts of the earth.
Personally, Acts has been an encouragement to me in seasons when the church has felt stagnant or complacent. When attendance dips, enthusiasm fades, or ministries struggle, Acts reminds me that the power of the gospel never depends on perfect conditions. The early church faced persecution, failure, division, and fear—and yet the gospel kept spreading, the Spirit kept moving, and Christ kept building His kingdom. That gives me hope.
Acts is a big, sprawling book, and to make it manageable, we’ll be breaking it down into three movements, based on Jesus’ roadmap in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” We will take breaks for Advent and Lent along the way.
1. Jerusalem (Ch. 1–7): The Spirit is poured out, and the gospel takes root in bold preaching and community life. (Fall, 2025)
2. Judea & Samaria (Ch. 8–12): Persecution scatters the believers—and spreads the gospel to unexpected people in unexpected places. (Winter, 2026)
3. The Ends of the Earth (Ch. 13–28): Paul’s journeys take the gospel to the Gentiles, to cities, and finally to Rome itself. (Spring, 2026)
This isn’t just a study—it’s an invitation. The same Spirit who moved in Acts is still moving now. Let’s allow this series to refresh our faith, renew our calling, and reshape how we see the church today.
