Acts : The Church Afire

by Hughes, R. Kent

• ISBN13: 9780891078739
• ISBN10: 0891078738
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-10-14
• Publisher: Good News Pub

Summary

Dynamic churches--congregations that are experiencing phenomenal growth, Christian ministries that God is using to take down walls, churches where souls are being saved and lives transformed--inspire us and make for great reading. The book of Acts, the divinely inspired history of the early church, is all this and more.In the author's words: "One reason I love to study the book of Acts is its uniqueness. It is the sourcebook for the spread of early Christianity. Without it we would know little about the apostolic church except what could be gleaned from Paul's epistles. It is the chronicle of the spreading flame of the Holy Spirit."In this welcome addition to thePreaching the Wordseries, Pastor Kent Hughes provides fascinating commentary on the book of Acts: The birth of the church Bold gospel preaching that resulted in thousands being won to Christ The transformation of the church's greatest enemy into her greatest spokesman Expanded international witness due to persecution and in response to divine calling Walls of racial and religious pride blown away The dramatic missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul The cost of discipleship and the rewards of faithfulnessThis encouraging commentary on a marvelous Bible book is sure to challenge all Christian believers who seek to walk with Christ and to serve him more effectively through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Table of Contents

A Word to Those Who Preach the Word	xi
``You Shall Be My Witnesses''	13	(10)
(Acts 1:1-11)
Expectant Prayer	23	(6)
(Acts 1:12-26)
Pentecost	29	(8)
(Acts 2:1-13)
Peter's Greatest Sermon	37	(8)
(Acts 2:14-37)
The Church Where the Spirit Reigned	45	(8)
(Acts 2:38-47)
When Life Is Jumping	53	(6)
(Acts 3:1-26)
The Bliss of Persecution	59	(8)
(Acts 4:1-22)
When the Church Is Great	67	(8)
(Acts 4:32-37)
Keeping Things on the Up and Up	75	(8)
(Acts 5:1-16)
The Liberty of God's Children	83	(10)
(Acts 5:17-42)
Maintaining the Ministry	93	(8)
(Acts 6:1-7)
Standing Tall	101	(8)
(Acts 6:8---7:60)
God's Way	109	(8)
(Acts 8:1-25)
Philip: The Touch of God	117	(8)
(Acts 8:26-40)
Saul: The Hunter Hunted	125	(8)
(Acts 9:1-18)
Saul's Preparation for Ministry	133	(8)
(Acts 9:19-30)
Peter's Preparation for Greater Ministry	141	(8)
(Acts 9:32---10:23)
Opening the Church's Arms	149	(8)
(Acts 10:23---11:18)
The First Christians	157	(6)
(Acts 11:19-30)
Getting Acquainted with Our Power	163	(10)
(Acts 12:1-24)
Realities of the Church Militant	173	(8)
(Acts 13:1-13)
Sticking to the Task, Regardless	181	(10)
(Acts 14:1-28)
Grace Alone	191	(10)
(Acts 15:1-35)
God's Guidance	201	(10)
(Acts 15:36---16:10)
Beachhead in Europe	211	(10)
(Acts 16:11-40)
God's Nobles	221	(8)
(Acts 17:1-15)
Paul Versus Athens	229	(8)
(Acts 17:16-34)
Rejuvenating God's Servants	237	(8)
(Acts 18:1-17)
The Missing Ingredient	245	(8)
(Acts 18:22---19:7)
Assaulting the Castle Dark	253	(8)
(Acts 19:8-20)
When the Leaves Fall Away	261	(8)
(Acts 19:21-41)
Falling Asleep in Church	269	(6)
(Acts 20:1-16)
Paul's Approach to Ministry	275	(8)
(Acts 20:17-38)
Man's Word or God's Word?	283	(8)
(Acts 21:1-16)
A Dangerous Heart	291	(10)
(Acts 21:17-40)
Encouraged in the Night	301	(10)
(Acts 22:30---23:24)
On Giving and Receiving God's Word	311	(6)
(Acts 24:1-27)
The Accused	317	(8)
(Acts 25:1-12)
Blessed Madness	325	(6)
(Acts 26:1-32)
Anchors in the Storm	331	(8)
(Acts 27:1-44)
Building an Indomitable Spirit	339	(8)
(Acts 28:1-30)
The Twenty-ninth Chapter of Acts	347	(6)
Notes	353	(8)
Scripture Index	361	(10)
General Index	371	(4)
Index of Sermon Illustrations	375	(6)
About the Book Jacket	381