Week 5: God Gathers His Church with a Unifying Message

The message of Jesus with which God gathers his church has the power to bring diverse people together. We see that example in the early church as Jews and Gentiles were gathered together with one common faith. And we see it among ourselves still today—and rejoice that we have the unity we do, even in a world where so many are divided.

Week 4: God Gathers His Church with an Enlightening Message

As we continue to look at how God gathers his church through the good news about Jesus, today we see how that message enlightens his people. In the well-known hymn Amazing Grace, we sing, “I was blind but now I see.” Through the message of salvation through Jesus, God puts the lights on in his people’s hearts. And it’s also through that message that God keeps the lights on in his people’s hearts. Through his enlightening message, God strengthens and grows our faith so that we might share that message with others as well.

Week 3: God Gathers His Church with an Empowering Message

In the gospel, Jesus tells us that he is the Good Shepherd. His sheep hear his voice, and they follow him. As we consider how God gathers and grows his church, we see how Jesus, the Good Shepherd, uses his voice to empower his sheep. It’s through the voice of Jesus—his empowering message of life and forgiveness—that we receive the strength we could never have on our own to live as his flock to his praise and glory.

Week 2: God Gathers His Church with an Exclusive Message

God’s Word clearly tells us that the only way to salvation is through Jesus—“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). God gathers His Church with an exclusive message. And since it is such an exclusive message, that reminds us as God’s people just how very important it is to share that message with others.

Week 1: God Gathers His Church with a Refreshing Message

God in his wisdom decided to bring people into his family of believers through his Word. As we begin to look at the different aspects of God’s saving message, we’ll consider how God’s Word enlightens our hearts, empowers our lives as God’s people, and unifies us in faith. Today, we see how that message refreshes us. We’ll hear an account from the book of Acts, soon after the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. As the sin of putting the Son of God to death was still very fresh in the hearts and minds of the people of Israel, Peter came to them with a message of sins forgiven. A message that lifts that weight of sin from the guilty heart. A message of true refreshment.