Often religion is thought of as dry, quiet and personal. However the religion that James talks about is active and requires the believer to take action. “Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for the orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.” (James 1:27)

(Acts 18) Corinth was the political and commercial center of Greece. It had a reputation for wickedness and immorality. Paul establishes a young church in Corinth, a church that becomes a great church but one that will struggle with the influence of the culture in which it lives. This compromising situation elicits two of Paul’s great epistles, I and II Corinthians.

(Acts 16, 17) The gospel travels for the first time into Europe. Paul and Silas are flogged and imprisoned in Philippi, run out of Thessalonica and laughed at in Athens. Wherever Paul goes, there is either revival or riot, often both together. But the gospel is taking root.

The kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of God clash as Herod raises his hand against the apostles. We struggle with the dilemma of tragedy and miraculous intervention. Again, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.

(Acts 15, Galatians) Persecution continues to tear away at the early church. James, the Lord’s brother and leader of the Jerusalem church, writes a letter to Jewish Christians, scattered by persecution throughout the Mediterranean world, encouraging them to practical, authentic Christian living, the fruit of genuine faith.

Not only does the church endure outside opposition, but another kind of storm was brewing on the inside that threatened to divide the church and compromise the gospel. The threat is debated in the first great church council at Jerusalem. But the war has also broken out on the frontier in Galatia, where Paul is being undermined and the Galatian churches are being swept into “another gospel”. Paul’s emotion explodes in a speedy letter to the Galatians.

(Acts 13, 14) It is the beginning of a new era. A new leader. A new vision. New doors opening. The breaking of new unbroken ground for the seed of the gospel. Paul and Barnabas travel to regions beyond where the gospel has ever been. They return from Galatia beaten and bruised, but rejoicing at what God has done.

In Acts 12:1-18, Scripture offers us a snapshot of the early church at prayer. In this intriguing and informative narrative, Luke reminds us of the power of united, specific and earnest prayer.

The kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of God clash as Herod raises his hand against the apostles. We struggle with the dilemma of tragedy and miraculous intervention. Again, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.

God opens the door to the Gentiles in a unique way through a most unlikely person.

Jesus confronts Saul on the road to Damascus and transforms him from persecutor of the gospel to proclaimer of the gospel. We will study Saul’s sudden conversion, great commission, amazing confession and the sinister conspiracy against him.