Acts 15 - The early church comes to a clear decision about what is required to be part of God's people, but is it relevant and helpful to us today?

Acts 14:1-24 - The early church was a missionary church sending people out with the gospel message to pass on in the power of the Holy Spirit so that believing communities were formed to great rejoicing! That was their strategy - and it should be ours too!

Acts 13:1-52 - Saul/Paul and Barnabas head out on mission together and we get to learn from their exploits.

Acts 11:1-18 - Is Christianity just an exclusive club? Does God really want others to join?

Acts 9:1-31 - Saul was a murderous persecutor of the young Christian Church yet became its greatest evangelist, preacher and most prolific writer. How did that change occur? Acts 8 explains - with some challenges for us too.

Philip, one of the 7, gets an angelic message to head south on the desert road, and is then prompted by the Spirit to walk near a chariot. He obeys the call, and being in the right place at the right time he is able to tell the man about Jesus. But would we recognise God's voice if he called to us? And would we obey?

Today we look at the account of the first Christian martyr - Stephen. There's much to learn and many challenges to take on board as we follow his example in proclaiming the gospel, facing persecution, and by God's grace, play a part in the growth of the church.

The early church had been attacked by persecution, seduced by greed but in these verses it faced the challenge to remain faithful to their calling despite serious distractions. A short but challenging passage -especially when we apply it to ourselves and our calling to serve in God's church today.

John 3 - Encounters with Jesus, A Need and a Gift

John 3-4 - Encounters with Jesus, A Deeper Need