🔥 The Story of Acts — The Early Church and the Holy Spirit

 

🔥 The Story of Acts — The Early Church and the Holy Spirit

---

Part One: Jesus’ Ascension and the Promise of the Holy Spirit

After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples for forty days, teaching them about God’s kingdom.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Then Jesus ascended into heaven, promising that the Spirit would guide, empower, and strengthen His followers.

---

Part Two: Pentecost — The Holy Spirit Arrives

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came:

• The disciples spoke in different languages
• People from many nations heard the good news
• Peter boldly preached, and about 3,000 people believed and were baptized

The church began to grow as God worked through ordinary people in extraordinary ways.

---

Part Three: Growth of the Early Church

The early Christians:

• Shared everything they had
• Prayed, worshiped, and studied God’s Word together
• Performed miracles and healed the sick

Even as they faced persecution, the church grew:

“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly.”

God used ordinary disciples to accomplish extraordinary things.

---

Part Four: Paul’s Missionary Journeys

The apostle Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, became a bold messenger of Christ:

• He traveled across the Roman Empire
• Preached in synagogues, marketplaces, and homes
• Wrote letters encouraging believers to stay faithful

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Paul’s journeys show that God can use anyone to spread His message.

---

Part Five: Lessons from Acts

Acts teaches us:

• The Holy Spirit empowers believers to share God’s love
• God can use ordinary people for extraordinary purposes
• Faithfulness and boldness bring growth to God’s kingdom
• The church is called to witness to all nations, spreading the good news of Jesus