• How God helped the church grow and mature over four time periods • First period: The time of the Apostles • The church and Judaism no longer share beliefs • The Apostles write the New Testament • Six characteristics of God's revelation • What the Apostles wrote in their epistles • The church recognizes the New Testament canon as the Word of God • Sign gifts become less significant How did the early church continue to expand in different time periods? Listen to this message to learn that the Holy Spirit was used by Jesus to unite all believers into the body of Christ. Learn the details of how God revealed His Word throughout the period when the New Testament was being written and the characteristics of that revelation. Give thanks to God for the Canon of Scripture which He preserved for us to read in our lifetimes.