This Sunday, we returned to our study of the book of Acts, Luke’s second volume in the New Testament. As we return to the book of Acts, I want to remind you of a key truth this morning. Luke is recording for us the activity of the Triune God in advancing His mission through his church. This is not merely the story of a remarkable human religious movement. Luke does not want us to read the book of Acts as a biography of a human missionary movement. This is the sovereign hand of the Triune God fulfilling His promises in all of the Scriptures to bring the nations to Himself through His Son.

Acts is a record of the unstoppable mission of God to reach the nations with the gospel. This is why New Testament scholar, Alan Thompson entitles his commentary on Acts, “The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus: Luke’s Account of God’s Unfolding Plan." He writes, “Luke is drawing attention to the continued outworking of God’s saving purposes specifically in the inaugurated kingdom of God through the reign of the Lord Jesus . . . The focus of the book of Acts is actually on God.” (The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus, 29).

Friends, the news often rattles believers. The culture wars have throughout history shaken Christians. It feels at times that evil will win. But as Luke will show, the promises and prophecies of God never fail. It is in the darkness of the world that Christ shines His light, and as He said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

Let’s pray together that God would fill our hearts with clarity of purpose and confident hope. The message is called "God’s Church for God’s Mission" and we will look at Acts 13:1-4.

Let's worship together!