Living Examples - Living in Acts 29
Pray – (1/2 minute)
Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up to heaven after going instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.” (Acts 1:1-2)
Passage: Psalm 135:13-21
Next year in 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain which was adopted on July 4, 1776. Independence was secured with the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in October, 1781 and made official with the Treaty of Paris in September, 1783. years later, at the Constitutional Convention, the Constitution was adopted in September, 1787. (It would be ratified in June, 1788) After adoption, Ben Franklin was asked by an influential lady in Philadelphia, “Dr. Franklin, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” Franklin is reported to have replied, “A republic is you can keep it.”
After Jesus ascended to heaven, He returned through the power of the Holy Spirit to permanently dwell in the lives of His disciples and the church was born. The book of Acts has 28 chapters that give a history of how the gospel spread across the world over the first 33 years, but that was just the beginning of the work Jesus did to build His church, both universal and local. God’s Universal Church is made up of all believers around the world. Local churches are gatherings of believers in a community who meet to carry out God’s plan. The Universal Church will never die and God will always build His church, but local churches do not have a guarantee that they will continue in existence. The people in local churches must see themselves as living in Acts 29 and being part of His-Story to continue reaching people and sharing the gospel. Franklin said of America that we were given “a republic if you can keep it.” The same can be said of local churches, “Jesus gave you a local church if you can keep it.” Make a commitment to do your part in helping your church be strong now and for generations to come.
Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)