Thankful for the Gospel

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.—Romans 1:16

The book of Acts gives us a glorious picture of what Christ can do with a handful of scattered, frightened believers. Their faith in the risen Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit transformed this small group into committed, fiery apostles who gave their lives to spreading the gospel from Jerusalem into the rest of the Roman Empire. They boldly preached the message of Jesus to Jews first, then extended it to the Gentiles—and changed the world!

Too often our own lives and our church experience don’t reflect the same change. We struggle with fear, insecurity, doubt, and may feel we lack the power of the Holy Spirit. As you read about the early church in Acts, remember—the same Christ is the head of the church today, He loves His followers with the same everlasting love, working in their hearts for His glory. We pray the book of Acts will encourage you, and by the end of our study you will:

• Gain confidence in the power of the gospel to save
• Grasp the basic content of the apostles’ gospel message
• Have an accurate view of life in the early church

Thank you for studying the Bible with us! You are an integral part of the church of Christ and a valued member of the Today in the Word family.