Sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances that are dark and oppressive. What can we hold on to when the lights go out? The early church finds itself in a dark place as Herod has James the apostle executed and Peter imprisoned. However, the three cord rope thrown to the church is God's salvation, God's judgement and God's Word. This 'rope' gives us assurance and confidence that God always triumphs and His kingdom will continue to advance, no matter the obstacle.

Jesus' church planting strategy may surprise us. He uses Christians scattered because of persecution to plant a church in Antioch. There, through the preaching of the gospel and the direction of godly leadership, the church thrives. This first Gentile church plant reminds us that Jesus doesn't need human strategy and ideal circumstances to advance His kingdom. If Jesus' hand - representing His presence and power - is with us, He will accomplish His good purposes in and through us.

Luther said about the Reformation, "I did nothing; the Word did everything." In 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 we're reminded of the power of God's Word in birthing us and growing us.

Peter was eating with Gentiles and baptising them. Some in the early church wondered if a beloved apostle had gone rogue! Was Cornelius' conversion and baptism a genuine work of God? How could the church identify that this was God's work? In Acts 11:1-18, we're given 3 marks to identify a true work of God: it's Word-centered, it's God-glorifying and it's repentance-producing.

The gospel is the good news of the impartial God concerning Jesus, who is Lord of all. Peter's meeting with Cornelius and the subsequent ‘Gentile Pentecost’ demonstrates this truth. Thus, the great redemptive-historical moment where Gentiles are grafted into the one people of God brings us back to basics – the ABC’s, the 1-2-3, the do-re-mi of the gospel. Acts 10:24-48 reminds us that the gospel is for everyone, is about someone and unites as one.

Acts 10:1-23 is Luke’s series 1 of Stranger Things. We're reminded that there is Someone behind the strange veteran, vision and visit: the God who is advancing His kingdom through the proclamation of His Son. These ‘stranger’ things teach us that salvation is only through faith in Jesus, that God uses His people to declare Jesus and that the good news of Jesus is what aligns us in our life together as God’s people.

If we were to do an industry super fund compare the pair on Saul's and Peter's ministry in this passage, who would be ‘performing’ well? We could be tempted to conclude, “Saul’s ministry – failure; Peter’s ministry – success.” After all, we’re comparing resurrections to death threats; gospel advancement to going home. Yet, the way Jesus measures the church’s progress isn’t the same as ours. Luke’s performance review in verse 31 – the church was being built up, experiencing peace and multiplying – applies both to Saul’s and Peter’s ministry. The church’s progress isn’t measured by our KPI’s, but through Jesus glorifying Himself in doing all things for the church.

In this passage, the great hunter of the church is hunted down. Jesus arrests Saul on the way to Damascus and powerfully brings him to faith and repentance. Saul's conversion is one of the major catalysts for the gospel entering the Gentile world and spreading across the Roman Empire. However, this account is given not just to show Jesus' strategic plan of building His church. We also learn valuable things about the nature of conversion, how we evangelise and our calling as followers of Jesus. 

From a thriving ministry, Philip finds himself in the desert at God's direction. It must have been a strange command to receive, but Philip trusts and obeys. We learn in this account that though God moves in ways that are often mysterious to us, they are always meaningful. We're also reminded that salvation belongs to God alone, is personal and is for all types of people.

We're often tempted to believe that God is really active in flashy demonstrations of power. Perhaps we only see God at work in the positive things that come our way. However, this passage reminds us that God is also active in ways that we don't always recognise: in difficulty, in the different and in the deceived. 

We see Stephen opposed despite his positive community engagement. He is hauled before a court by false witnesses. The Sanhedrin force him to defend himself against unfounded charges. Though making a passionate presentation of Jesus Christ by unpacking the history of Israel, Stephen is stoned to death by an enraged crowd. This account reminds us that we live in a world that is hostile toward Christ and His church. However, Stephen's martyrdom also fuels our courage by reminding us to expect opposition, to trust God to be with us and to 'look up' for assurance.

Hosea’s redemption of Gomer illustrates God’s redeeming love for His people. God’s love acts, initiates, forgives and pays the price. The Gospel declares that it is out of God’s love that He sends His Son to redeem His people from their slavery to sin. Thus, the love of God produces love for God.

The early church faced two problems: widows being left out in the daily distribution and apostles unable to abandon the preaching of God's Word. Thus, the diaconate is born! The deacon's office reminds us of the priority placed on the preaching of God's Word, the primacy of service in light of the gospel and how good order promotes unity, discipleship and evangelism.

This psalm is a paramedic's psalm because like a paramedic's systematic approach to treating a patient, David gives us a systematic approach to our troubles confidently. We are called to trust in the LORD, seek Him, pray to Him and wait on Him.

In an account reminiscent of Humpty Dumpty, the false god Dagon is exposed before the true and living God. Our idolatry, too, is revealed before God's holiness. We're called to find refuge in the Lord Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath. 

When have you last asked God to judge you? David prays this in the very first line of this psalm. We might wonder how anyone could be found innocent under the holy gaze of the true and living God! This psalm reminds us that we must begin with the original author (King David), look to Jesus and then, apply it to ourselves. It's only in Christ that the guilty can pray an innocent prayer.

In the face of persecution, the apostles walk away rejoicing. How can we both endure persecution and receive it with joy? Luke shows us in this narrative that even when we are harassed for our faith, God gives us assurances of the truth and His presence in the midst of them.

On Sunday morning, we looked at Proverbs 9. At the conclusion of the first major section of Proverbs, Lady Wisdom invites the reader to a dinner party. All those who turn away from folly and into her house, they will receive life. All those who scoff her and accept Lady Folly's delicacies will inherit death. Essentially, wisdom's call is a call to worship and fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. Have you RSVP'd to wisdom's dinner?

Wisdom gives her life story in this passage. Why do we need to hear it? Why do we need wisdom's autobiography? We need it because it makes sense of the world, reveals life's purpose and blesses those who find it. All of this is because wisdom is ultimately displayed in Jesus Christ who is wisdom from God.

It is rare for a pastoral visit to result in death. Yet, this is exactly what happens in this passage. The striking down of Ananias and Sapphira sent shock waves through the church. This event teaches us of God's holiness, the seriousness of sin and calls us to find refuge in Jesus Christ.