We continue our study in Acts 6 and 7, where we see the church deal with a conflict quickly and effectively. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, preaches a tough message to the religious leaders and is murdered. The Jerusalem chapter of the book of Acts draws to a tragic close, but God’s church will continue to be built.

God’s work is unstoppable. Even from challenges within the church and from outside. The early church continued to share about Jesus with Joy.

Jesus continues his work through the apostles by the power of the Holy Spirit. The religious leaders choose to reject Jesus’ work and try to stop the movement of God.

The time has come. The Spirit has fallen and Peter delivers his first sermon to Jews gathered in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. 3000 choose to follow Jesus as Messiah and the Church is born.

Jesus remains at the center of what God is doing. As Jesus ascends to heaven, the disciples are reminded of the coming Holy Spirit and God’s ability to lead them as they chose a twelfth disciple.