Bent Oak Church

While Philip was leading the rapid growth of the church in Samaria, a messenger from God sent him far South on a desert road to meet an Ethiopian eunuch who was returning home. Read to explain the scriptures, the Eunuch not only received Christ but was baptised along the side of the road. We explore the power of the gospel and why it is good news for this man searching for God. 

The martyrdom of Stephen set off a larger persecution in the city of Jerusalem. We take a closer look at how the church responded, and God used even the persecution to spread the gospel far beyond the city of Jerusalem. 

The opposition had been growing in Jerusalem, even as the church continued to add new believers to its numbers. A conflict arose between Stephen and one of the synagogues. Through false witnesses, they dragged Stephen before the Jewish leaders, where he offered an insightful recount of Jewish history with a focused conclusion on Christ and his rule. 

As the church continued to grow, it faced new challenges. Questions about money and fairness began to form lines of division. The apostles called all the disciples together to address the issue. As we look at Acts 6, we get not only a warning about the divisions churches face, but also a model for how the church can navigate those challenges. 

The apostles and Christians continue to face threats. They had been commanded to stop speaking about Jesus, but they would not obey. Instead, they continued to meet in the temple and tell people about Jesus. And again, they found themselves arrested and threatened. But an unlikely voice provides a question that will frame the whole of Acts. "If these men are of God, you will not be able to stop them."

While the early church was marked by unity and the power of the Spirit, they not only continued to face external persecution but internal temptations. The story of Ananias and Sapphira reminds us that the same spirit that brings power also demands our humble honesty. 

Having been threatened by the religious leaders, Peter and John returned to their friends. They gathered together to pray. But they didn't pray for protection or vengeance. They reminded themselves of God, his promises, and the work of Jesus, and they prayed for boldness to be faithful. Their prayer moved God as his Spirit filled them all again, and they went out speaking with courage. 

As Peter and John's preaching began to draw a crowd in the temple, the Jewish rulers had them arrested and questioned. But Peter was not intimidated. He spoke the truth with a boldness and clarity that astonished the leaders. As we study the passage, we discover how it encourages us to live and speak today by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

In Acts 2, Luke offered a summary of the first Christians worshipping together and seeing the Spirit work in miracles. In Chapter 3, Luke offers an example of one of those events, as Peter and John met a crippled man outside the temple. What follows is not just a healing but another sermon and the conversion of many. 

While the opening chapters of Acts are full of spectacular moments, Luke is careful to conclude with a summary of the humble commitments of God's people. Having received the Spirit, they committed themselves to a particular set of acts that shaped them as the church.