November 6, 2025
Proclamation and Persuasion: The Invitation
When the gospel is proclaimed, and the Holy Spirit brings conviction, and people are challenged to respond, they respond.
Articles for tag: Acts 2
October 6, 2025
Don’t Lose Your First Love
This is the first in a series of weekly articles based on Christ’s letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. This week's church is Ephesus.
Are You Passionate About Your Vision?
Still healthy, somewhat effective, and obedient to a fault, many churches have lost the passionate vision they once had. Vision has been replaced by tradition, and passion by obedient maintenance.
The Power of Preaching Comes from God
We need to let God control the message. The power in preaching doesn’t come from the packaging or presentation, it comes from God.
January 6, 2025
We Need This to Survive
Each Lord’s Day we can receive encouragement and spiritual strength through the nourishment provided by Communion as we take these emblems in remembrance of our Savior
October 9, 2023
October 15 | The Widows and the Seven
The main text for this lesson has often been considered a template for selecting leaders in the church—particularly deacons. But maybe it is a template on how the early church resolved problems. . . .
September 25, 2023
October 1 | Birth of the Church
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and so was the church. . . .
September 25, 2023
October 1 | Application (“More to Restore”)
I was brought up in the Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, but I have remained in this tribe by personal choice. . . . But there is still more to restore. . . .
September 25, 2023
October 1 | Discovery
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “Birth of the Church” (Acts 2:1-4, 14-15, 22-24, 29-32, 36-42), by Mark Scott.
September 18, 2023
September 24 | Discovery
These Discovery Questions are for use with this week’s Lookout Bible Lesson, “The Lord Speaks” (Song of Songs 1:1-8; 2:4, 16-17; 8:6-7), by Mark Scott.
THROWBACK THURSDAY: Excerpts from 3 Essays About Pentecost
"It is my conviction that the day of Pentecost is the focal point in the history of the world," Wm. E. Sweeney wrote in 1929, ". . . that all the lines of history before that time converge to that great day, and that all the lines of history since that time have diverged." . . .
February 20, 2023
February 26 | Discovery
Questions for group discussion for use with this week's lesson from Nehemiah 10:28-39, "Courage to Restore."
July 1, 2022
The Vital Signs We Must Measure
By Matt Merold In every hospital room, sitting right by the patient’s bed, is an electronic vital signs monitor. Most of these monitors display the four main vital signs that are regularly checked by medical professionals. A vital signs monitor is a quick and simple way to assess the patient’s current health. Body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, respiration rate—if all four of these are in the normal range, the patient is assumed to be stable and healthy. Based mostly on vital signs, a physician will describe the patient’s condition with just one word: good, fair, serious, critical, or dead.
THROWBACK THURSDAY: Owen Crouch’s ‘Study of Acts 2:44, 45’ (1953)
Greek scholar Owen Crouch was mentioned earlier this week in an article about Del Harris's induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Dr. Crouch served several Christian colleges and wrote 10 books. Today we share an article from 1953 that Dr. Crouch wrote about Acts 2:44-45.
March 1, 2022
Authentic Community
By Rick Lowry God created every person with a “community gene.” We all have a natural longing to be with other human beings. From an early age, we have known the value of being a member of a group. Everyone grew up in some version of a family, a place where we belonged, living with significant others who helped shape us. We are in community, in groups, every day: the staff team at work, the board or committee on which we serve, the Thursday night Bunko ladies group, the guys who gather to watch NFL games—all small groups that satisfy,
October 21, 2021
Throwback Thursday: Reconsecrating a Church
In the 1930s a church in Ohio wrote, "Our present church membership roll will be scrapped on Friday, April 10, and the entire membership will be called upon to reconsecrate themselves to Christ and His church” . . .
July 1, 2021
The Art of Application
One of the most fundamental responsibilities of preachers is to help people connect the reality of life and the meaning of the Scriptures.
February 1, 2021
Differences by Divine Design
I have been in many conversations about race recently. I’m truly pleased we are having those conversations. For some, it has not been a regular topic of concern and discussion. In the context of those conversations, I’m writing to address a well-intended comment I have heard for several years. Some have said a version of, “I don’t see color; I just see people.” Others have said something like, “I just treat everyone equally because we are all the same.” It’s possible I’ve made similar statements upon occasion. I think I understand the motivation behind those statements, and I affirm the
10 Foundation Stones of the Church—No. 4: Preaching the Word
By Jerry Harris When I started this series of articles based on Acts 2:41-47 and titled it “Closed on Sunday,” I never imagined this phrase would also describe a new reality brought on by a pandemic. But with this new reality, and as we consider the future, the prescriptions in Acts 2 become all the more important. We began this series with baptism—just like the first-century church—and then proceeded into authority and the Word of God itself. This article will explore the God-designed and commissioned delivery system for his Word—preaching. Have you ever used Amazon? Perhaps you have Amazon Prime.
June 14, 2020
10 Foundation Stones of the Church—No. 3: The Apostles’ Teaching
By Jerry Harris Kujenga is the Swahili word for building, and it’s where the name of the building-block game Jenga comes from. The game starts with constructing a tower by stacking identical, rectangular-shaped wooden blocks in opposite rows of three. The fun begins as players take turns removing blocks one at a time and restacking them on the top. This continues until the tower, thoroughly compromised by the removal of blocks and top-heaviness, finally comes crashing down. Our lives can look a lot like this game. We are all building a life, but as priorities are rearranged, instability increases—and we
