The focus is the expansion of the church and how it was addressed by the apostles with the Holy Spirit working behind the scenes. This was not a smooth process. In fact, it led to hostile reactions, the death of Steven and persecution from the Jewish leadership. Ultimately, it forced upon the new church a scattering which led them to do what Jesus had commanded, to be witnesses in Judea and beyond. Does the process of legitimate growth sometimes bring growing pains and difficult change?

In order to confront the problem of the inequity of distribution of aid to widows the apostles were challenged to become leaders whose skills were based on Biblical principles. What are essential leadership skills? The solution to this problem is the beginning of the idea of split roles in the church, the teaching ministry (spiritual) and the ministering to needs of the congregation (physical). In both, the key idea is service based on humility. A committee of seven was selected to minister to these physical needs. What do you think were the qualifications for those seven to minister to the physical needs of the new church?

In Acts 1–7 we see the birth of the church, its growing pains and persecution by the Jewish leaders. By chapter 8, this persecution forces believers to leave Jerusalem and trust God to expand the church. The gospel spreads through Philip’s ministry. Saul is converted, but not trusted at first because of his history of persecution of the church. God leads Peter to the Gentile Cornelius who believed and received the Holy Spirit. Herod Agrippa instigates another reign of persecution but he soon dies and the Word of God “grew and multiplied.” It is God’s work to grow the church, not man’s accomplishment.

Click here for the "Cruel Logic" YouTube video shown at the beginning of this class.