Canaan Fellowship

The Early Church: Growth and Opposition

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Canaan Fellowship
Canaan Fellowship
The Early Church: Growth and Opposition
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This sermon by Bruce Hempel begins with a personal reflection on the importance of friendship, shared through a story of a lifelong friend, before transitioning into a detailed exploration of the early church’s development as described in the Book of Acts. Bruce connects the ministry of Jesus to the events following His resurrection, emphasizing the growth and challenges faced by the early believers.

  • [00:00:00] Bruce introduces the sermon, focusing on a message from the Book of Acts.
  • [00:00:07] Shares a personal story with children about friendship, recounting a relationship that evolved from indifference to a deep bond over 50 years.
  • [00:03:37] Mentions a recent call from this friend, now in poor health with Parkinson’s and multiple surgeries, highlighting the enduring nature of friendship.
  • [00:05:08] Encourages children and listeners to be good friends at all times, echoing a prior speaker’s theme.
  • [00:05:30] Transitions to the Book of Acts, focusing on the continuum from Jesus’ ministry to the early church.
  • [00:06:00] Provides a brief overview of Jesus’ three-and-a-half-year ministry, including teaching, miracles, and discipleship of the apostles.
  • [00:08:24] Notes the rising opposition to Jesus, culminating in His crucifixion and resurrection after three days.
  • [00:09:21] Discusses Jesus’ 40-day post-resurrection appearances, referencing Acts 1, where He speaks of the kingdom and instructs the apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit.
  • [00:11:15] Explains the timing of Pentecost, 50 days after Passover, with Jesus appearing for 40 days, leaving a 7-day wait for the Spirit’s outpouring.
  • [00:12:27] Describes the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, where the Holy Spirit fills the apostles, enabling them to speak in tongues, astonishing a diverse crowd.
  • [00:15:30] Highlights Peter’s sermon on Pentecost, quoting Joel’s prophecy about the Spirit’s outpouring and calling for repentance.
  • [00:18:02] Notes the crowd’s response, asking what to do, with Peter urging repentance and baptism, resulting in 3,000 souls added to the church.
  • [00:20:43] Describes the early church’s devotion to teaching, fellowship, and prayer, with daily growth in numbers.
  • [00:20:56] Assigns homework to read Acts 1 through 8:3, encouraging a continuous reading to grasp the overarching story of the early church.
  • [00:22:23] Summarizes key events in Acts 3-5, including Peter and John healing a lame man, preaching, facing arrests, and growing opposition from religious leaders.
  • [00:27:11] Mentions Stephen’s martyrdom in Acts 7, around 33 AD, and Saul’s role in persecution before his conversion in Acts 9.
  • [00:29:03] Reflects on God’s sovereignty over events, including persecution and Saul’s conversion, urging loyalty to Christ amidst trials.
  • [00:32:06] Concludes with a prayer for salvation, reconciliation, and strength for the global church, both prosperous and persecuted.

Scripture References

  • Acts 1
  • Acts 2
  • Matthew 28
  • Joel 2
  • Acts 3
  • Acts 4
  • Acts 5
  • Acts 6
  • Acts 7
  • Acts 8:1-3
  • Acts 9

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