When Should the Church Address Current Events?

The Book of Acts gives us some examples of what the earliest preaching of the church looked like, including many sermons preached by Peter, the apostle Paul, and others. These sermons have a similar shape and give us a clear picture of what should be included in a good sermon. They should be based in a biblical text, understood in context, about Christ and his good news, and applied to listeners.

Although it would be silly to rank the books of the Bible by their perceived importance or relevance, in many ways, the Book of Exodus looms large over much of both testaments. No other book is cited throughout the Old Testament as much as Exodus is, and only the Psalms and Isaiah’s prophecy are quoted more […]

The story of Acts starts in Jerusalem where Jesus gave his Great Commission to a small group of believers. After he ascended into heaven, his Spirit empowered his people, making them into a vibrant community dedicated to prayer, preaching, worship, outreach, and discipleship. When persecution drove many Christians out of Jerusalem, they formed new fellowships. […]

The health of a local church depends on the faithfulness of her elders. But this text isn’t only for church leaders. Here is a pattern for how believers should be led to follow Jesus.