Acts by Scott Risley (2017)

We learn about who the author of Acts is and what purpose this book serves. Scott talks about the following days after Jesus's resurrection and contrasts the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. We learn about why God chose to wait until this moment in history to launch his church.

In this teaching, we learn about the beginning of the Church under Christ. The apostles and followers of Jesus receive the Holy Spirit, and Peter shares the Gospel with the gatherers at Pentecost.

What does this community of new believers in Acts look like, and how does it compare to us today? There is a uniqueness of a community that is united in the Holy Spirit and under the truth of God.

How did the early church structure their meetings? The foundations of church meetings are explained in the lives of the new believers in Acts. We see how their daily lives reveal God's nature and learn about the benefits of group meetings.

We learn about the healing of the crippled man by Peter and John. They preach the gospel to the crowd and are taken before the Jewish council. We learn about the miracle of healing and what it should look like.

Ananias and Sapphira were members of the early church who said they were sharing all of their money but were holding back some for themselves. They were judged not for withholding earnings but for lying about it. The dangers of hypocrisy in the ancient church is outlined as well as how those dangers continue with the modern church today.

Stephen gives a defense to the Jewish council. This outlines the history and actions of the Jewish people and their interactions with God.

Philip the Evangelist goes out to preach the Gospel. We see how God will sometimes send us into uncomfortable situations that may lead to persecution. We see through Philip how God will use these situations to cause good things according to his will.

We learn about the life of Saul and his conversion on the road to Damascus. We learn about the redeemed life of Saul who will be known as the apostle Paul.

A racial and cultural divide existed between the Jews and Gentiles. The apostle Peter had a vision from God about eating; the abolition of food laws. We see the Holy Spirit led Peter to the house of Cornelius where Peter shared the Gospel; this began the spread of the gospel to Gentiles.

Peter's response to God's will in the moment when it comes to baptizing new believers in Christ. How can we find-out from God what His will is in our own lives?

Prayer was crucial to the early church and is still important today. It's also important in our own relationship with God. Peter is rescued from his circumstances because of the power of prayer. We learn about people's reaction to prayer and what God wants to show us through our time praying to Him.

As a result of persecution, many believers in Christ are scattered outside Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit leads Barnabas to seek out the apostle Paul and bring him to Antioch. Early missionary work begins. God works through Paul to preach the Gospel in Antioch of Pisidia.

After watching Paul and Barnabas heal a crippled man, the crowds attempt to worship them as gods. Paul responds by telling them about the one true God and how He has given us evidence of Himself in His creation. Additional evidence for God in creation is discussed, as well as evidence from our minds: we can think, we have a sense of right and wrong, we can make choices and we long for meaning, purpose, and love. Historical evidence is also presented for Paul and Barnabus's travels to Lystra, Lycaonia, and Derbe.

The Pharisees try to divide the Church by sowing the idea that new believers need to be circumcised in order to be saved. Their influence even reaches Peter and Barnabas. Both Paul and Peter set the record straight, uniting the church in its theology of salvation by grace alone.

Paul makes his journey to Philippi with his fellow worker, Silas. They are met with hostility and beaten by city officials after cleansing a girl of a spirit. God uses their reactions to this and their suffering to advance the Gospel in Philippi. Steps the Holy Spirit is calling on believers to take for the advancement of the Gospel are discussed.

Paul puts his trust in God's will as he is forced out of Thessalonica. We see how Paul uses the scriptures to reason with the people he preached to. He even uses none scripture in his reasoning with the Athenians to point them to God amongst their many idols.

Paul continues to spread the Gospel in Corinth and meets Priscilla and Aquila. He meets resistance in the synagogue and leaves the Jews to preach to the Gentiles. Paul gets a vision from God encouraging him to be bold. We learn about continuing in evangelism with stubborn people.

Whenever believers in Christ go out into the world preaching the Gospel they will be met with opposition. Pauls' time in Ephesus was met with opposition in such a way and our lives should be no different. We learn about the reality of spiritual warfare and why we must be united in the Holy Spirit and ready with our defense from Scripture.

Paul encourages the elders from Ephesus. He lays out characteristics of being a Good Shepherd in this speech to the Ephesians. There are also risks when pursuing being a Good Shepherd to God's flock, and there's a responsibility that comes with serving in this way.

Paul is prophesied to go to Jerusalem where he will be imprisoned. Paul does go to Jerusalem and ends up in front of the Jewish council where he gives the account for why he preaches the Gospel to the Gentiles. Through these events, we learn about God's grace and encouragement that he provides for those who risk everything for the sake of the Gospel.

Paul seizes his moment on trial in Caesarea to give his testimony and reason from the scriptures to many high power individuals. We see how people respond to the Gospel differently but most importantly we see Pauls' dedication to the truth and perseverance through a long imprisonment in Caesarea.

In the last chapters of Acts, we see Paul on his journey to Rome encounter a storm that blows his ship off course and threatens all lives on board. Paul takes this chance to demonstrate spiritual leadership in the face of a difficult situation. Paul is met with much discomfort on this trip to Rome to testify. We can ask ourselves what is our own threshold for discomfort in serving God, and what might God be doing in our lives when He allows difficulties.