'Acts - The Church in Action' - some notes from 'Week 1' of a month-long series on the book of ActsPastor Nicholas Tsakis got us thinking today, posing a big question from the book of the Bible that kicked off the 'Acts' of the first congregations...
'What makes a great church?'
It's a question worth asking, something to ponder every week. Even more importantly, determine in yourself that answer in the light of what the Bible sets as the qualities of a great, functional church. Rewind to the first days of church history. Even the Emperor converted at the end of those first days. It was formed in the accounts we read in Acts, especially in the second chapter. The first impact of the Church did not come from eloquence and smooth speech, but from the power of the Holy Spirit. What the people saw was a glad and sincere heart, empowering and engaging words inspired and led by God. That inspiration has meaning to us now, in our daily lives.
Acts provides a bridge
The power of God, through Peter, touched lives, recorded for us in Acts over the first 30 years of the Church. One scripture - Acts 1:8 - outlines the content of the book. The book set the scene for an apostolic pattern of the spreading of the Gospels.
Provides an account for the role of the Holy Spirit
There were conversions, throughout the week - not just on Sundays. So, back to the opening question... what makes a great church, when we start reading and studying Acts? In answering, get the map out first to determine the right way to go. Visualise the goal and keep the map - the picture - in sight as you walk towards the target.
✰ In coming weeks, we'll look at the characteristics of a dynamic church.
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