As soon as the Holy Spirit came upon the church, there were attacks. Today Christians are one of the most persecuted of religious groups worldwide. In the 20th century, more Christians have been killed; either directly for their faith or in situations where being a Christian has played a role, than in all the other centuries combined.

While it is true that the first and crudest tactic is violence, overwhelming the Church with persecution, the second is even more cunning: moral corruption and compromise. Brennan Manning famously said “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” The early Church was not exempt. The first example in Scripture of the attempt to insinuate evil into the interior life of the Church is the story of Ananias and Sapphira.

The book of Acts begins with miracles. Jesus ascends, the Holy Spirit descends, thousands of people recognise Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah, and these new Christians are together in love, friendship and meeting each other’s needs. But not everyone is excited. In Acts chapter 4, we encounter the church’s first experience with persecution.

Today’s church can learn from the early church how to remain faithful and active even when the cost is great. Join us this Sunday for Part 3 in our series Acts: Jesus’ Mission.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait. On the day of Pentecost, their wait was over. A mighty rushing wind filled the room, tongues of fire appeared, and power from on high came upon them. The Holy Spirit falls on his disciples, preparing them to go and proclaim the gospel to all nations. Does Pentecost have any significance for Christians today? Join us this Sunday for part two in our series Acts: Jesus’ Mission.

In the first chapter of Acts, Luke introduces several important gospel perspectives that recur throughout the rest of the book. Principal among them is that the book of Acts is first and foremost a book about Jesus. He is the primary character of the book and the centre of all its events.

Acts portrays the continuing work and teachings of Jesus, following His ascension, in a way that no other book of the Bible does. Acts demonstrates that as the flowering movement spreads, Jesus Himself is at work. The Church is Jesus’ instrument to continue His work in the world.

In the opening chapter, Jesus promises His disciples the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, commissions them to take the gospel to the “end of the earth”, ascends into heaven, and promises to return again.