This is Part 7 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.

Luke continues to highlight the powerful themes shaping this early movement—based on legitimate eyewitness accounts. There was a surprising unity, a deep sense of shared purpose, radical generosity, and undeniable power.

So what was going on?

If I had to sum it up for Theophilus, I’d simply say:

“…and much grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33, NIV)

In context, charis refers to the experienced favor of God—poured out over the gathered believers. This wasn’t just about agreeing with a confession of faith. They felt it. They knew it. God was irrationally for them. He actually liked them—as they were.

Imagine that.

Imagine what it would feel like to live in the confidence of God's unearned, unstoppable favor. It was visible. It was powerful. It was megale—great. Something unmistakably special. Something enviable.

And honestly...

Don’t we need that today?

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Remember how this whole series began?
Luke is writing to Theophilus—likely to explain what got into those original disciples of Jesus… and what kept driving the movement over the next 30 years, transforming it into an international phenomenon unlike anything the world had ever seen.

And now, Luke turns up the volume even more.

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This is Part 5 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.

I’m continually amazed by the transformation of Peter.

Who told him he could heal a crippled man?
What if it hadn’t worked?
What if he became a public joke?
Wouldn’t it have been safer—and more practical—to just start a GoFundMe for the guy?

And yet, there he is. Bold. Unfiltered. Taking a wild, Spirit-led risk.
Honestly, don’t you imagine Peter was just as shocked as everyone else?
I can almost see John turning to him, eyebrows raised, thinking:
“What just happened?! Peter… what are you doing?”

So why now? Why this place? Why this man?

Because Jesus was scripting something far bigger.
The physical healing was incredible, yes—but it was just the setup.
The real miracle—the one that changes everything—was still to come.
And with everyone’s attention locked in, Jesus speaks... through Peter.

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This is Part 4 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.

What we see here is the visible DNA of Jesus and His Spirit—actively moving through and motivating ordinary people. Because of His presence, these regular folks—people just like us—began to show signs of something radically new:

• A deep and undeniable devotion to the gospel (proskateresis)—a prioritization that hadn’t been there before.
• A surprising unity of thought, intention, purpose, and vision (homothumadon)—in stark contrast to the divisiveness so common in any group.
• A bold, sometimes messy, but genuine other-oriented compassion that led them to meet the needs of others above their own (diamerizo).

Sure, people can show some of this on their own—plenty of non-believers do. But Luke is pointing to something more. This movement was unmistakable, public, noticed. It wasn’t perfect, but it was powerful. Ask any pastor today—they’d agree: This was special.

So here’s the question:
Church—why don’t we expect this today?

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This episode features Chapter 4 of my new book, Before the Couch—specifically Tip #3: “You Can’t Do It!”

Before the Couch is now available on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible. It’s not another “try harder” marriage book—the kind you’ve probably already read if your marriage has been struggling. And honestly, how’s that worked out so far?

This book takes a different approach—one that has already helped many Christian couples who were on the brink of calling a divorce lawyer.

You might be wondering, “Why another marriage book?” Fair question. The truth is, most of us have been asking the wrong question about marriage. In Before the Couch, I help couples wrestle with a better one—an approach that opens doors where nothing else has worked.

This week’s episode features the chapter titled “Your Relationship Is Only Mostly Dead.” (Yes, think Princess Bride.) You can listen right now on both the podcast and YouTube.

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Next time, we’ll return to Part 4 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.

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Thanks for the great feedback from the last show on Chapter 2 of my newest book, Before the Couch. It is available now on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible. It is not meant to take the same approach as so many other books that, if you are a struggling marriage, you;’ve probably tried. And how’s that going for you.

The approach in Before the Couch has helped lots of Christian couples that came to be ready to call a divorce lawyer.

Now, you might be asking, “Why another marriage book?” That’s fair. The truth is, most of us have been asking the wrong question. In Before the Couch, I invite couples to wrestle with a better question—one that opens doors where nothing else has worked.

This week, you’ll hear the chapter titled “Your Relationship Is Only Mostly Dead.” Remember Princess Bride”? This show is available now on both the podcast and YouTube.

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I’m taking a quick pause in our current series to share some exciting news: my brand-new book for struggling Christian couples, Before the Couch, launches October 1st on Amazon, Kindle, and Audible.

Over the next three episodes, you’ll actually hear three of the most practical and encouraging chapters from the book—right here on the show. My prayer is that this becomes a trusted resource for churches and couples everywhere.

Now, you might be asking, “Why another marriage book?” That’s fair. The truth is, most of us have been asking the wrong question. In Before the Couch, I invite couples to wrestle with a better question—one that opens doors where nothing else has worked.

This week, you’ll hear the chapter titled “Stop It!” It’s available now on both the podcast and YouTube.

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This is the third in our series “The Church The Holy Spirit Built.” The 120 Jesus-followers each individually had some entity that looked to eye-witnesses like tongues of fire come upon them as they were praying at the first of three daily prayer times, during the annual feast of Pentecost. They were crammed into an upper room in the Jerusalem area. Where, according to eyewitness testimony, they each individually were “filled with the Spirit.” Then something happened because the next scene is all the 120 on the crowded streets of Jerusalem preaching brilliantly, and telling the pious Jews who had come to the festival about the wonders of God—in their own mother tongues. Crazy.

Unbelievable. Clearly the work of the divine Spirit. Why don’t we expect this today? Check it out.

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This is the second in our series “The Church The Holy Spirit Built.” Theophilus has contracted Luke to document from living sources what was it in the first thirty years of this new Jesus-movement that caused it to explode throughout the known world in a variety of cultures, demographics, and countries equally—especially among the downtrodden, overlooked and oppressed—that brought hope, honor, and feelings of love. I want to know too, don’t you? Don’t be tempted to buy that worn out trope that all of this was only for the first century-- not today. God help us. Jesus tells the extended group of disciples to wait until one thing. What was it? Check it out.

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Dr. Bill is beginning a new series on the very important first five chapters of the book of Acts. We call it "The Church The Holy Spirit Built.” Luke is writing the historic overview of the church likely under a commission from a wealthy supporter, Theophilus (God-Lover). Why was Theophilus interested? Because the story of the church in those first months and years was unprecedented, the lives changed, people healed, and even society norms challenged and tossed on their heads. “Luke, what in the world got into those regular, average men and women that could ignite something like this?”

We want to know too, don’t you?

It is unfortunate that so many today believe that “Well that was the early church. They just caught lightening in a bottle. Great history, but not relevant today.” Dr. Bill will strongly argue that that sentiment couldn’t be more wrong. Check it out. Also find the videos on YouTube (drbillsenyard).

Like, pass it on, and make comments. That makes this message grow and get to more people.

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Thanks ahead of time.

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