This week we will look at Acts 13:1-3 and cross referencing Ephesians 4:11-16 to see the beginnings of a local church structure and the function of the church today.

In the beginning of the world, everyone knew God, then Adam sinned and everyone who came after him began to drift away. God then choose a family to be his witness to the world so that everyone would come back to him. (Isa. 42:6) They failed to be this light, and in the fullness of time Jesus came to be that light to the whole world. (Luke 28-32) In the same way, Acts starts off with a Jewish revival, transitions to the proselytes, then to Samaritans, and finally to Gentiles…

This week we will be looking at the Seven Churches described in chapters two and three of the book which is popularly referred to as “Revelations”, probably because it’s full title is to long, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ according to John” for our modern tongues to bother with.

Before we move in to this week section, it would be good to ask ourselves a question and that is “What is the purpose of the church?” Is the purpose of the church to grow big buildings and big budgets? Obviously it is not, but if we ask that a different way the answer might not be so obvious. Is the purpose of the church to help the needy? Is the purpose of the church to be a political action committee? Is the purpose of the church to grow disciples?

Last week we when we left the new Christians they had just seen their leaders chastised by the Jewish Supreme Court and were singing and praising God for it. They asked God for courage to carry on doing what they were for Him, and they had no intention of following the orders of the court to stop preaching. The New Testament church at this point is strong, unified and pure. This is especially hammered home by verse Acts 4:32.