The Acts Church: A Spirit-Led Model for Today’s Believers

I have been thinking a lot about the Acts church in the Bible. Could we do something like that in today's world, in the communities we live in?

The Acts Church: A Spirit-Led Model for Today’s Believers

1. Spirit-Filled and United

After Pentecost (Acts 2), the outpouring of the Holy Spirit wasn’t just a moment of empowerment — it was a divine recalibration of community. Believers were knit together in supernatural unity, transcending personal agendas and cultural divides.

• “Of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32) wasn’t just poetic — it was a lived reality of shared mission and mutual love.

• Their unity was rooted not in uniformity, but in shared surrender to Christ.

• Today, this challenges us to ask: Are we united by the Spirit or divided by preference?

2. Devoted to the Apostles’ Teaching

Acts 2:42 highlights a rhythm of devotion — not casual interest, but intentional immersion.

• The apostles’ teaching centered on Jesus as Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the call to repentance and new life.

• This wasn’t just theological — it was transformational. Their worldview shifted from law to grace, from temple to indwelling Spirit.

• In our time, devotion to sound teaching guards against false doctrine and fuels spiritual maturity.

3. Sharing and Caring for One Another

Acts 2:44–45 and 4:34 reveal a radical generosity that defied economic norms.

• Their giving wasn’t transactional — it was sacrificial and Spirit-led.

• They didn’t just meet needs; they dismantled poverty within their community.

• This models a theology of stewardship: trusting God enough to release resources for the good of others.

4. Worship and Fellowship

Their worship was both vertical (praising God) and horizontal (breaking bread together).

• Communion was not only remembrance but reaffirmation — a shared identity in Christ.

• “Glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46–47) reflect joy that flowed from grace, not circumstance.

• Fellowship wasn’t an event — it was a lifestyle of presence, vulnerability, and celebration.

5. Evangelistic and Mission-Oriented

Evangelism wasn’t a program — it was the natural overflow of transformed lives.

• The gospel spread organically and intentionally, through testimony and sending.

• Acts 2:47 shows that salvation was a daily reality, not a rare occurrence.

• The church didn’t wait for people to come — they went out, crossing borders and barriers.

6. Diverse but Equal

The inclusion of Gentiles, women, and the marginalized was revolutionary.

• Acts 10 (Peter and Cornelius) marks a theological earthquake: God shows no partiality.

• This wasn’t just social reform — it was divine revelation.

• The early church embodied Galatians 3:28 before it was written: “There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

7. Guided by Prayer and the Holy Spirit

Prayer wasn’t a ritual — it was their operating system.

• Acts 13:2–3 shows that decisions were birthed in worship and fasting, not strategy alone.

• The Spirit’s guidance was active, specific, and trusted.

• This invites today’s church to return to dependence — not on charisma or planning, but on divine direction.

Final Reflection:

The Acts community was:

A Spirit-empowered, Christ-centered, radically generous, and mission-driven fellowship — diverse in background, united in purpose, and devoted to truth, worship, and one another.

How do we know we are listening to the Right LORD?

 

How Can You Know You're Listening to the Right Lord?

As I reflect on this question, it becomes clear that true discernment begins with being part of God's kingdom. According to John 17:2, entrance into that kingdom comes through eternal life—a gift given by Jesus Christ.

But what is eternal life? Jesus defines it in John 17:3: it is the sure and intimate knowledge of the Father, the one true God, and of Jesus Christ, whom the Father sent. This isn't just intellectual assent; it's relational certainty.

So how can you know you're in the kingdom of God—and thus listening to the right Lord? Your life will reflect the character and example of Jesus. The way He lived on earth becomes the blueprint for those who truly follow Him. His compassion, truth, humility, and obedience to the Father are not just admirable traits—they're signs of kingdom citizenship.

Is God's Protection Absolute?

Sunday morning, I thought of an interesting question: Is God's protection absolute?

I was thinking about several things that led me to this question.

• We live in scary times. The United States of America is changing to an authoritarian style government under Trump and his regime. I am still hopeful that things might change to get us back to the American dream, that All Men are Created Equal, as the preamble to our constitution suggests. I have often thought about how badly non-white people have been treated by white people in the past. Maybe this is God giving us white people a taste of what we have dished out for so many years.
• Anyway, I remembered several things mentioned in the Bible and also things that Yeshua (Jesus) said.

In His final moments before the crucifixion, Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven and prayed—not for Himself, but for those the Father had given Him. This intimate plea, recorded in John 17, reveals the heart of divine protection: “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name” (John 17:12-15). These are not casual followers; they are citizens of the kingdom, reborn through faith, who know the Father and the Son and thus possess eternal life. Jesus’ request was not for worldly safety alone, but for spiritual preservation—protection from the evil one (John 17:15), sanctification through truth (John 17:17), and unity grounded in divine love. His prayer echoes through time, reminding us that eternal life is not merely a future promise but a present reality rooted in relationship. To know God is to be known by Him—and to be kept by Him. In a world of uncertainty, this assurance becomes our anchor: that those who belong to Christ are held securely in the hands of the Father.

This raises a profound question: if Jesus Himself asked the Father to protect His own, does that mean God’s protection is absolute? Or does it operate within a divine framework that allows suffering, testing, and growth? The answer may lie not in the absence of hardship, but in the presence of God through it. Protection, in the biblical sense, is not a guarantee of comfort—it is a promise of preservation. It is the assurance that no matter what trials we face, our identity in Christ remains secure, our purpose intact, and our eternal life untouched.

• Jesus is known as the Good Sheperd. The good shepherd protects his flock. Even when one sheep goes missing, he goes searching for it, relentlessly, until he finds it.

So is God’s protection absolute? In one sense, yes—because it is anchored in His character, not our circumstances. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 reveals a divine commitment to preserve those who are His, not from every storm, but through them. The apostles faced persecution, believers today endure trials, and yet the promise remains: “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me” (John 17:12). This protection is not a shield from suffering but a seal of belonging. It is the assurance that no force—seen or unseen—can sever us from the love of God in Christ. To be protected by God is to be held in purpose, refined in truth, and sustained by grace. And that, perhaps, is the most absolute protection of all.

Lead Us to the Way

Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on the state of our United States of America. Under the leadership of Donald J. Trump, I fear we are drifting away from the democratic ideals enshrined in our Constitution and inching toward an autocracy—one increasingly shaped by the will of a single man.

I keep asking myself: Is there anything we can do to halt this progression—or at least slow it down? One word keeps rising to the surface: prayer.

Prayer is powerful. What if we began praying—not just for ourselves, but for one another? For our leaders, even those who seem to be leading us down dark and uncertain paths. For people across the globe, especially those caught in the devastation of war. What if we prayed without ceasing?

Jesus said:

John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Let us pray that we all find the way—the truth about ourselves that leads to repentance and ultimately to eternal life. Imagine what eternal life truly means: freedom from sin, entrance into God’s kingdom, and the peace that surpasses understanding.

John 17:2–3 (NIV) “For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

May we be led to the Way. May we know the truth. And may we live in the light of eternal peace.