Acts 11:20

Paul wasn’t one of the original twelve apostles. Nonetheless, he took Jesus’ Great Commission to heart and spent his entire life making disciples, or students, of everyone he met. He shared the Gospel with them, then taught them how to illustrate that Gospel so it would never be called into question, others would accept it, and God would be glorified. Now it’s our turn! 

How can the church grow spiritually and numerically when persecution hits? The Jerusalem church faced immense persecution, yet the people of God grew in strength and in numbers and impacted the world. What were some factors that helped them stay the course and multiply even more?

The church at Antioch, described in Acts 13, offers a compelling picture of what happens when the Holy Spirit unifies a diverse people in common cause. Men from different regions, cultures, and social standings are brought together and unified by God for the sake of His kingdom and His glory. This four-day devotional explores how the early leaders in that church had their identities reshaped by the gospel of Jesus Christ and what that means for the church today. Through their example, we will consider a vision for a church marked by unity, purpose, and faithfulness.

For much of the world's population, disasters are part of life. Some make the international news headlines, but many don't. Perhaps, you're facing a disaster that has hit your community. In the aftermath, hope can be hard to find. YouVersion partner Tearfund is an aid agency that responds to disasters. In this set of bible studies, Tearfund shares some of its learning on what to do when disaster strikes.