ST Acts Introduction
“Preface to the Book of Acts
Although the period of Jesus Christ's public ministry on earth lasted only three short years, it turned a completely new page in human history. After the Lord Jesus' resurrection and ascension, the mission of proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven was entrusted to the disciples, who continued to bear witness to the power of the gospel.
The Gospel message of the early church in the Book of Acts emphasizes that the Lord Jesus is the Savior promised by God to the Jewish patriarchs, and that His death and resurrection were ordained by God. No matter how much wealth, knowledge, or power one possesses, if one does not acknowledge Jesus as Lord, one cannot escape the bondage of sin and death. Anyone who confesses their sins, believes that Jesus is the Son of God, and was crucified for the sins of humanity, and rose from the dead three days later, becomes sinless in God's sight and is justified (Acts 13:39). Even Gentiles who have strayed from the true God and worship idols can be saved from punishment through Jesus' salvation, as long as they abandon idols and turn to the true God.
The Book of Acts recounts how the Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, commanded the apostles to spread the Gospel message from Jerusalem to Rome. The early church members testified with their lives that the Gospel was prepared for all people, and no one willing to accept the Lord would be turned away. The disciples' mission was to let the world know this great good news.
Before His ascension, Jesus Christ promised His disciples that He would give them the Advocate, who would be with them at all times. The coming, presence, sending, teaching, and admonition of the Holy Spirit are important themes in the Book of Acts, and the real experiences of the early believers cannot be ignored. However, God did not despise human service; in fact, the work of the Holy Spirit is often accomplished through people, and the Holy Spirit's involvement does not preclude people from sharing the gospel and expanding God's kingdom. The Great Commission of Jesus Christ was given to the universal church, and sharing the gospel is a special mission God has given to believers. We should be proud of this and joyfully proclaim the gospel, living up to the Lord's trust.
This course, through the study of 13 theological topics, aims to help readers understand the key points of the Book of Acts, the driving forces behind the early church's success, and to inspire action to witness for the gospel in their lives.
Receive power from the Gospel—those who receive the Gospel also have the mission to witness to and pass on the Gospel; from the life experiences and transformations of the early church believers, they are convinced of the presence of the Holy Spirit and are given the ability to bear witness.
The early church was not in a smooth environment, but because of God's promises and the faith of the early believers, the gospel spread in various places, the number of believers increased daily, and God's kingdom continued to expand.
To spread the gospel to the ends of the earth—to call all nations to be disciples of the Lord, and to enable believers in the early church to uphold God's revelation and overcome by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit in the face of internal and external challenges, thus becoming a beautiful testimony.
The Book of Acts records the first generation of believers who bravely proclaimed the Lord's word amidst internal and external troubles. It is hoped that this course will not only demonstrate how the Holy Spirit manifests its power in the church, but also inspire more people to follow in the footsteps of the apostles' faith, carrying on their legacy and continuing to witness the power of the Gospel.
Due to space limitations, this textbook begins with the Acts of the Apostles to examine the overall situation of the early church, serving as a foundation for future research on the epistles.
Receive power from the gospel
1. Understanding the mission of witnessing: passing on the gospel
2. Understanding the Church Community: The Birth of the Church
3. Joining in the Ranks of Witness: Church Life
4. The ability to receive witnesses: The work of the Holy Spirit
5. Overcoming the Barriers of Witness: The Apostle Peter
Building Disciples with the Gospel
6. The Life that Bears Witness: Social Conditions
7. The foundation of witnessing: God's promises
8. Strategies for Building Witness: Gospel Development
9. Ignite the Flaming Fire of Testimony: The Apostle Paul
May the gospel spread to the ends of the earth.
10. Responding to the call for witnessing: Missionary development
11. Facing the Challenges of Witnessing: Internal and External Troubles
12. Seeking guidance in witnessing: God's revelation
13. Shining with the Brilliance of Witness: Missionary Workers
Speaker: Rev. Au Ying-yu
Doctor of Theology/Philosophy from Dallas Theological Seminary in Texas, USA, majoring in Old Testament Theology and Systematic Theology; he has served as a pastor of many churches and a professor at seminaries. He is currently the director of the International Education Program Organization and the president of the Enlin Chinese International Association.
