Introduction to Acts: Recovering a Biblical Vision of the Church скачать в хорошем качестве

Introduction to Acts: Recovering a Biblical Vision of the Church

Welcome to Wellspring’s first Wednesday Night Bible Study of the year. This week is an orientation to the book of Acts—why we’re studying it, how the study will work, and what Acts teaches about the church. We introduce the weekly handout system (including QR codes for past Bible study resources and meal RSVPs), then dive into the deeper purpose of Acts: not only to inform us about the history of the early church, but to transform us by correcting modern misunderstandings of what the church is. In this session we explore: • why Acts is a foundational book for ecclesiology (understanding the church) • what “church” means in the New Testament (ekklesia = the called-out ones) • the shift from temple-as-place (old covenant) to temple-as-people (new covenant) • the church as a worshiping community that also calls out—sent to witness and proclaim • why evangelism is not optional for the church (Acts as the story of witness) • how signs and wonders function as God’s endorsement of the new covenant people • a Q&A on tongues, Pentecost, cessationism vs. continuationism, and why tongues are not the test of salvation • a brief Methodist/Wesleyan framework for the “second work of grace” and assurance We close by previewing next week: Acts chapter 1, and a clearer discussion of election as it relates to God’s people in Acts. Resources Use the QR codes from the handout to access the Acts Bible Study page, past Wellspring Bible study archives, and to RSVP for next week’s meal. The audio is also available on the Wellspring Bible Study podcast. Chapters (suggested) 0:00 Welcome + prayer 1:20 Handouts, QR codes, RSVP, Wi-Fi 7:15 Why Acts? Correcting our understanding of the church 12:40 Church as people, not a building (new covenant temple) 20:20 Ekklesia: called out—and calling out 39:40 Signs and wonders in Acts 48:40 Tongues, Pentecost, continuationism vs. cessationism 54:50 Wesleyan/Methodist notes on second work of grace 1:02:30 Next week preview (election + Acts 1) Subscribe for weekly updates and join us Wednesday nights as we learn Acts and allow the Spirit to reshape our vision of the church.