As Paul returns to Jerusalem, he demonstrates to the early churches and to us that confidence in Christ and His kingdom gives a deep sense of purpose, conviction, will pay any price, and inspires others.

Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd has purchased His flock for Himself with His own blood so that we now have a right perspective toward God, toward His Church, toward the Lost, and toward Ourselves.

Luke gives us in the Book of Acts a fast-paced account of the Gospel spreading throughout the known world. From time to time we see in greater detail how this movement creates a people marked by exhortation, generosity, perseverence, hospitality, and even new life. We also see the origins of some of the practices of the early and present-day church.

As the Good News of who Jesus is and what He has done is shared, Effectiveness and Persecution usually go hand in hand; since an effective church is a bold church loyal to Jesus above all, and a bold church is often a church made strong through suffering.

The proclamation and belief in the Gospel has always travelled alongside powerful and miraculous spiritual signs, and it always exposes that which is false in order that the life-giving Word of the Lord might multiply and the name of Jesus might be held in highest regard.

Now that we are in Christ, we not only believe differently, we also behave differently. This often means letting go of old ways of thinking and acting that have no ability to give life and growing in our understanding of the Gospel such that the Good News of Jesus is carried on by His people.

Since God has many people to be won by the Gospel in the city, we will not be prevented by hostile action from continuing our missionary work until God’s purpose is complete.

God is knowable, and He desires that every person on earth should know Him; so we now join His Mission to declare this unchanging Good News into an ever-changing culture.

God has sent messengers to proclaim the light of His truth to a lost, sin-darkened world; and this message is met with different responses - from anger, to curiosity, to life-transforming joy.

God’s sovereign rule brings good results out of bad circumstances, especially when His people experience persecution. As a result, they are able to praise Him in any and all circumstances, because He saves, protects, and preserves.