The gospel is for all people, for all time. This is a radical message, and not just for the first-century Jewish and Roman cultures. It’s equally radical and life-giving for our world today. Our whole world.

Saul has just been radically transformed. He’s preaching boldly. So of course, the next move for this future world-changer is … go away and wait for 14 years?! We sometimes forget that before God works through us, he works in us … patiently.

The Holy Spirit tells Ananias to go find Saul. Yes, that Saul — the man who, as far as Ananias knew, wanted every follower of Jesus locked up or killed. Saul’s story after this is familiar, of course. But it hinged on the obedience of a man hardly anyone remembers.

For Philip, following Jesus meant going to a place he never imagined going, hitching a ride, and having a conversation he never imagined having. God changed the world when Philip said “yes” to the Holy Spirit’s leading. The same thing happens today.

The church is being persecuted and scattered. In Samaria, a man named Simon sees the Holy Spirit’s power and wants to buy some for himself. Bad idea. But Peter's response tells us a lot about the heart of God.

Peter and John healed a lame man in Jesus’ name, then spoke to a crowd about Jesus. Now the religious authorities wanted answers — and they got an earful.

Here’s what we tend to forget: The same power and boldness are available to us today through the same Holy Spirit. How might that change the way we live?

Christianity is not a relationship with a book. The Bible points to life's ultimate meaning: a relationship with Jesus and a response to the power found in his name alone. As the apostles Peter and John discovered, this radically changes the way we see and interact with the world.

It’s Pentecost, and Peter definitely has the crowd's attention. Newly filled with the Holy Spirit, he explains exactly who Jesus is, and the heavy cost of sin. The people’s stunned response then was the same as ours today: What shall we do?

Pastor Luke opens a four-month series covering the book of Acts. In the opening scene, Jesus instructs the Apostles one last time before he leaves Earth. Nothing much — just go change the world. And, he adds: Soon you'll have help like you never imagined.

What do Jesus’ instructions look like for us today?

Community grows, and God is glorified, when we affirm his work in the people around us. That takes practice, and a change from our usual focus.