The Spirit-filled church won't allow persecution, prohibitions, politics, or personalities to take the focus away from the core of the message, which is Jesus Christ.

Acts 5:12-16 further illustrates the love, worship, and evangelism of the Spirit-filled church, and Ephesians 2:1-10, along with James 2:14-19, give us insight into the gospel foundation for the ways we've been called and created to serve.

In the story of Ananias and Sapphira, we find a warning that abundant life is impossible to experience if we refuse to give God His due, or choose to take His worship lightly.

Seeing the Spirit-filled church engaged in learning, loving, worshipping, and evangelizing helps us answer the questions of who God is, what He's up to in the world, which gives us our identity and mission in turn.

Following the apostles' encounter with the Sanhedrin, the Spirit-filled church exemplifies how to pray boldly for God's will in adverse circumstances, even though praying boldly won't feel safe, and it means praying for God to break us, while trusting that He will be with us wherever He sends us.

Looking at Peter's and John's response to early persecution from the establishment, we consider the extraordinary nature of their boldness in their cultural context, as well as the dangers of misunderstanding and misappropriating this narrative in the present day.

Following the healing of the lame man, Peter preaches his second sermon, retelling key parts of the story of God, the gospel.

Acts 3:1-10 gives us our first living example of the operation of the Spirit-filled church, as we see the worshipping church empowered to be a loving church in the account of the healing of a lame beggar. 

In Acts 2:42-47, we see the Spirit at work in His people to form them into a church that is 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴, and 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴.

On Pentecost Sunday, we take a look at the events of that decisive Pentecost that followed Jesus' ascension, and empowered the disciples to begin their mission in earnest.