Church Growth

The Apostle Paul's first missionary journey

The Apostle Paul's first missionary journey

Acts Bible Study Chapter 13: 'While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.' (Acts 13.2-3, NIV.) Acts 13 details the start of Paul's first missionary journey.

Baptised in the Holy Spirit

Baptised in the Holy Spirit

Acts Bible Study Chapter 11: In Acts 11, we see a significant shift in the early church's understanding of its mission, as it embraces the inclusion of Gentiles and expands beyond its Jewish origins. At Pentecost the Gospel began with the Jews, but Jesus came to save the world. We are intructed by Jesus in the Great Commission to bring salvation to all people. Jesus told the parable of the Wedding Feast: the invited guests didn't enter into the celebration, so we Gentiles have been invited. During the ministry of Jesus He healed the Centurion's servant; from this we can understand that Jesus came to save the whole world, just as He said in John 3.16, 'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.'

Preach the Gospel to all

Preach the Gospel to all

Acts Bible Study Chapter 10: This passage recounts the significant event where Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, receives a vision from God that challenges his understanding of who can be included in the Christian community. In the vision, Peter sees a sheet descending from heaven containing various animals, both clean and unclean according to Jewish dietary laws. A voice commands Peter to kill and eat, but Peter refuses, citing his adherence to Jewish customs.

The Day of Pentecost

The Day of Pentecost

Acts Bible Study Chapter 2: ‘When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.’ This chapter marks a significant moment in the early church's history, as it describes the empowering of the disciples by the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Christian church through the preaching of the Gospel.

The promise of the Holy Spirit

The promise of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1 Bible Study: The Acts of the Apostles is the story of a transformed Church, a Church motivated, with a purpose, on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit! The Word of God says Jesus will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire! 'You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth' (Acts 1.8, NKJV).

Are you turbo-charged for God (Part 2)

Are you turbo-charged for God (Part 2)

I want you to wake up and live a Turbo-Charged life! How? Paul says in Romans 12:1, ‘Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord.’ But, he says, that is only ‘reasonable service’. It’s expected of you. If you’re a servant, an employee, that’s what you do for your wage. If you want the Fire of God to burn in you, present your whole body, your whole life, as a reasonable sacrifice.

Are you turbo-charged for God (Part 1)

Are you turbo-charged for God (Part 1)

Many Christians ask, “What can God do for me?” While this is important, you should be asking, “What can I do for God?” I’m a citizen of the Kingdom of God. I’m an Ambassador of the Kingdom of God. The power and authority I have is not my own, the Power and Authority I have is from the Kingdom I represent! What I do in my life should represent the Power which God has. My strength is not my own strength, but His. This is what drives me to greater efforts to glorify Him.

Godliness is great gain

Godliness is great gain

‘Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.’ The Apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, is very concerned to instruct his young disciple how to deal with false teaching and corruption - especially financial corruption - in the church in Ephesus.

Stir up the gift of faith

Stir up the gift of faith

Stir up the gift of faith. The Apostle Paul writes, 'I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.'

Don't shipwreck your faith

Don't shipwreck your faith

“Fight the good fight, hold on to faith and a good conscience - because some have rejected these and shipwrecked their faith.” Chapter 2 begins, “I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” Paul makes it quite clear that the end goal of our prayer is Salvation! So often we get away from the basic truth of the Gospel, which is to bring men to Salvation.