A New Beginning

^“In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)…” (Acts 1:15, NIV) The opening chapter of Acts reveals to us the humble beginnings of the New Testament church. These one hundred and twenty brave souls are the only ones, who immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus, are willing to place their very lives on the line to follow Him. This group represents the fervor and self-abandonment that would continue to be called upon during the first century, allowing the church to see the second.

This growing group, that would come to be known as the church, is in this opening chapter of Acts, not yet ready to write the books of the New Testament. They will have to struggle and prevail through many trials and threats. We know this group will continue to lay down their lives for the sake of Jesus and the mission to which he called them. “The book of Acts ends with Paul in Rome. By this time the church is well established in Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, Greece and Italy.” ^[1] Because this group of about a hundred and twenty persevered, we have remaining to this day a “witness” that started in “Jerusalem” and has gone out to the “ends of the earth.”

We are the current generation of leaders. Just as God had high expectations for the group we see in the opening chapter of the book of Acts, so he has high expectations for us as well. We may be full-time ministers on a church staff, or we may be lay people partnering with our church to accomplish God’s plan for our cities and our generation. We are not writing scripture by any means, but I believe we are able to encourage one another in our ministry callings through the written word. I am dedicating this blog to this end. This involves two areas specifically, Christian leadership and personal life. These two areas are very close to my heart and I feel a strong calling to shape them in a Biblical way.

About once a month we will be updating my blog and writing specifically in these areas. From time to time we may also post something else I have written that may be of interest to you, we will post this under miscellaneous.

Thank you for visiting and I pray God’s blessing on you and your calling. Be looking for my next postings in the coming weeks.

Seth and Hannah’s Dad,

Craig