"The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity," writes celebrated author and respected pastor Warren Wiersbe. In his first of two books covering Acts, Be Dynamic focuses on Peter's ministry, mostly in Israel and centered in Jerusalem. Through explaining Luke's record of the Gospel's advancement and church expansion, Wiersbe opens the door to understanding the work of the church today. Using hard-hitting quotes from recognized names like St. Augustine and John Bunyan, Wiersbe proves himself as a well-read author and gifted writer. The depth of his study is astounding, yet the accessibility of his text for every age group is evident as well. He proves what Luke intended-for Acts to be interpreted not as the apostles' glorious acts, but as the life-changing acts of the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit lives in believers today, the same God calls followers to expand His church, and the same basic problems still arise within the church, but the same power available then is still available now to change the nations.

In his motivational sequel to Be Dynamic (Acts 1-12), best-selling author Warren Wiersbe skillfully explains the book of Acts to the layperson and the pastor alike. A respected pastor and a man whose study series has sold over 4 million copies, Wiersbe affectionately calls the apostle Luke "Dr. Luke" as he shows how Dr. Luke recorded Paul's missionary journeys. Readers travel through dungeon prisons, see the ancient world as if it were today, and witness the marvelous work God can do through a few souls fully surrendered to His purposes. They witness Paul's conversion and spot his imperfections, yet still they enter his successes as the Lord uses Him to preach Good News to the lost and dying. Because there are hardships today, places where God is unwelcome, and people whose hearts are unreceptive, both young and old will benefit from knowing that Paul's God is their God-the God of the ages. They will persevere till the finish line to "win the prize for which God [calls them] heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:13).

Every serious student of the Bible desires to understand the text, discover the biblical principles, and apply the truths to his/her life. This commentary is designed to help students, pastors, and Bible teachers understand the book of Acts in a simple manner. Working from the popular New International Version (NIV), the author provides helpful commentary on the text verse by verse. This verse-by-verse commentary is different from others in two respects. First, it is brief while some commentaries are unnecessarily wordy and verbose. Second, it is Pentecostal in outlook. This implies that we generally adhere to the doctrine of biblical inerrancy and adopt a literalist approach to the interpretation of the Bible. The Gospel of Luke, along with Acts, forms a two-volume history. The book of Acts fills the gap between the Gospels and the Epistles. Acts is evidently an important book for the church since it teaches the nature, growth, and purpose of the church.

Biblical scholar Robert Wall and pastoral leader Anthony Robinson here join forces to bring the Acts of the Apostles forward to our time as a resource for congregational renewal and transformation.Featuring both careful exegetical study and exciting contemporary exposition, the fifteen chapters of Called to Be Church each first interpret the text of Acts as Scripture and then engage Acts for today's church. The book dives into many of the most vexing issues faced by the church then and now -- such issues as conflict resolution, pluralism and multiculturalism, sexuality, money, church and state, the role of the Holy Spirit, and more.Enhanced by study questions at the end of each chapter, Called to Be Church will lend itself especially well to small-group study within congregations. Pastors, lay readers, students, and ordinary believers alike will find the book helpful and inspiring.

The world is in desperate need of trustworthy leaders – men and women of character, who demonstrate honesty, humility, courage, and compassion. Such leaders are crucial to the success and stability of governments, corporate bodies, institutions, and faith communities. In this study, Dr. Benea Alukwe explores the principles at work in Peter’s leadership of the early church as it transformed from a frightened group of secret disciples into an indestructible force with world-changing potential. Examining the depiction of Peter’s character in Acts 1–12 and 15, he demonstrates the parallels between Peter’s leadership values and those practiced by the Qumran community as recorded in the Damascus Document. The ethical foundation depicted in both texts offers a powerful counter-cultural narrative of leadership capable of revitalizing nations, societies, and the church itself.

"Churchin' The Acts of the Apostles Workbook" is a 3 volume workbook series designed for group Bible Studies and quarterly classes moderated by a Christian Education Department. It's purpose is for the inspiration and motivation of members for engaging in evangelism and outreach ministry services. Each chapter ends with "Reflection Questions"; and each workbook (of the 3) ends with a corresponding summary in Black Church History congruent to an excerpt from The Acts of the Apostles.

Learn to awaken to God’s Spirit today and every day by studying the Book of Acts with Melissa Spoelstra. Whether it’s because of distractions, busyness, or a case of the blahs, we can experience a drift toward indifference in our spiritual lives. We have a need for an ongoing spiritual awakening if we want to become more aware of God’s presence and activity in our everyday lives. In Acts: Awakening to God in Everyday Life, a six-week study of the Book of Acts by Melissa Spoelstra, you will journey with the first followers of Jesus and witness the birth and growth of the early church through spiritual awakening to the power of God’s Spirit, message, freedom, grace, mission, and direction. From their experiences you will learn postures that will help you attune your own spiritual heart to experience God’s presence, hear God’s voice, and see God at work all around. This study offers a fresh encounter with God to prepare you to: - Face daily battles - Be able to discern the messages of our culture - Be ready to share God’s love with others always Components for this six-week Bible study, each available separately, include a Participant Workbook, a Leader Guide, and video sessions with six 20 to 25-minute segments featuring Melissa Spoelstra (with closed captioning).