This is Part 5 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.

I’m continually amazed by the transformation of Peter.

Who told him he could heal a crippled man?
What if it hadn’t worked?
What if he became a public joke?
Wouldn’t it have been safer—and more practical—to just start a GoFundMe for the guy?

And yet, there he is. Bold. Unfiltered. Taking a wild, Spirit-led risk.
Honestly, don’t you imagine Peter was just as shocked as everyone else?
I can almost see John turning to him, eyebrows raised, thinking:
“What just happened?! Peter… what are you doing?”

So why now? Why this place? Why this man?

Because Jesus was scripting something far bigger.
The physical healing was incredible, yes—but it was just the setup.
The real miracle—the one that changes everything—was still to come.
And with everyone’s attention locked in, Jesus speaks... through Peter.

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This is Part 5 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.
I&rsquo;m continually amazed by the transformation of Peter.
Who told him he could heal a crippled man? What if it hadn&rsquo;t worked? What if he became a public joke? Wouldn&rsquo;t it have been safer&mdash;and more practical&mdash;to just start a GoFundMe for the guy?
And yet, there he is. Bold. Unfiltered. Taking a wild, Spirit-led risk. Honestly, don&rsquo;t you imagine Peter was just as shocked as everyone else? I can almost see John turning to him, eyebrows raised, thinking: &ldquo;What just happened?! Peter&hellip; what are you doing?&rdquo;
So why now? Why this place? Why this man?
Because Jesus was scripting something far bigger. The physical healing was incredible, yes&mdash;but it was just the setup. The real miracle&mdash;the one that changes everything&mdash;was still to come. And with everyone&rsquo;s attention locked in, Jesus speaks... through Peter.
👉 Like 👉 Share 👉 Comment 👉 Subscribe
Your interaction helps this message reach more people.
We&rsquo;d love your feedback: Bill@gospel-app.com Thanks&mdash;and enjoy the series!

Straight talk on all topics religious or secular. Interesting and relevant issues that matter. If you are easily offended, welcome.

Gospel Rant

Dr. Bill's passion is to proclaim God's love for the unlovable. We want to help beat-up, frustrated and weary Christians hear the music again. We can do this. Just grab a cup of joe, sit back, enjoy, follow, leave a review and enter into the dialogue. Bill@gospel-app.com. 

Dr. Bill's passion is to proclaim God's love for the unlovable. We want to help beat-up, frustrated and weary Christians hear the music again. We can do this. Just grab a cup of joe, sit back, enjoy, follow, leave a review and enter into the dialogue. <a href="mailto:Bill@gospel-app.com">Bill@gospel-app.com</a>.

The Church the Holy Spirit Built! #5

This is Part 7 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.

Luke continues to highlight the powerful themes shaping this early movement—based on legitimate eyewitness accounts. There was a surprising unity, a deep sense of shared purpose, radical generosity, and undeniable power.

So what was going on?

If I had to sum it up for Theophilus, I’d simply say:

“…and much grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33, NIV)

In context, charis refers to the experienced favor of God—poured out over the gathered believers. This wasn’t just about agreeing with a confession of faith. They felt it. They knew it. God was irrationally for them. He actually liked them—as they were.

Imagine that.

Imagine what it would feel like to live in the confidence of God's unearned, unstoppable favor. It was visible. It was powerful. It was megale—great. Something unmistakably special. Something enviable.

And honestly...

Don’t we need that today?

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Thanks in advance—and enjoy the series!

This is Part 7 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.
Luke continues to highlight the powerful themes shaping this early movement&mdash;based on legitimate eyewitness accounts. There was a surprising unity, a deep sense of shared purpose, radical generosity, and undeniable power.
So what was going on?
If I had to sum it up for Theophilus, I&rsquo;d simply say:
&ldquo;&hellip;and much grace was upon them all.&rdquo; (Acts 4:33, NIV)
In context, charis refers to the experienced favor of God&mdash;poured out over the gathered believers. This wasn&rsquo;t just about agreeing with a confession of faith. They felt it. They knew it. God was irrationally for them. He actually liked them&mdash;as they were.
Imagine that.
Imagine what it would feel like to live in the confidence of God's unearned, unstoppable favor. It was visible. It was powerful. It was megale&mdash;great. Something unmistakably special. Something enviable.
And honestly...
Don&rsquo;t we need that today?
👉 Like
👉 Share
👉 Comment
👉 Subscribe
Your engagement helps spread this message.
We&rsquo;d love your feedback: Bill@gospel-app.com
Thanks in advance&mdash;and enjoy the series!

The Church the Holy Spirit Built! #7

Remember how this whole series began?
Luke is writing to Theophilus—likely to explain what got into those original disciples of Jesus… and what kept driving the movement over the next 30 years, transforming it into an international phenomenon unlike anything the world had ever seen.

And now, Luke turns up the volume even more.

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We’d love your feedback: Bill@gospel-app.com
Thanks in advance—and enjoy the series!

Remember how this whole series began? Luke is writing to Theophilus&mdash;likely to explain what got into those original disciples of Jesus&hellip; and what kept driving the movement over the next 30 years, transforming it into an international phenomenon unlike anything the world had ever seen.
And now, Luke turns up the volume even more.
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Your interaction helps this message reach more people!
We&rsquo;d love your feedback: Bill@gospel-app.com Thanks in advance&mdash;and enjoy the series!

The Church the Holy Spirit Built! #6

This is Part 4 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.

What we see here is the visible DNA of Jesus and His Spirit—actively moving through and motivating ordinary people. Because of His presence, these regular folks—people just like us—began to show signs of something radically new:
A deep and undeniable devotion to the gospel (proskateresis)—a prioritization that hadn’t been there before.
A surprising unity of thought, intention, purpose, and vision (homothumadon)—in stark contrast to the divisiveness so common in any group.
A bold, sometimes messy, but genuine other-oriented compassion that led them to meet the needs of others above their own (diamerizo).

Sure, people can show some of this on their own—plenty of non-believers do. But Luke is pointing to something more. This movement was unmistakable, public, noticed. It wasn’t perfect, but it was powerful. Ask any pastor today—they’d agree: This was special.

So here’s the question:
Church—why don’t we expect this today?

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We’d love your thoughts: Bill@gospel-app.com
Thanks—and enjoy the series!

This is Part 4 of our series: The Church the Holy Spirit Built.
What we see here is the visible DNA of Jesus and His Spirit&mdash;actively moving through and motivating ordinary people. Because of His presence, these regular folks&mdash;people just like us&mdash;began to show signs of something radically new:
<ul>
<li>A deep and undeniable devotion to the gospel (proskateresis)&mdash;a prioritization that hadn&rsquo;t been there before.</li>
<li>A surprising unity of thought, intention, purpose, and vision (homothumadon)&mdash;in stark contrast to the divisiveness so common in any group.</li>
<li>A bold, sometimes messy, but genuine other-oriented compassion that led them to meet the needs of others above their own (diamerizo).</li>
</ul>
Sure, people can show some of this on their own&mdash;plenty of non-believers do. But Luke is pointing to something more. This movement was unmistakable, public, noticed. It wasn&rsquo;t perfect, but it was powerful. Ask any pastor today&mdash;they&rsquo;d agree: This was special.
So here&rsquo;s the question: Church&mdash;why don&rsquo;t we expect this today?
👉 Like 👉 Share 👉 Comment 👉 Subscribe
Your interaction helps this message reach more people.
We&rsquo;d love your thoughts: Bill@gospel-app.com Thanks&mdash;and enjoy the series!

The Church the Holy Spirit Built! #5

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