- Chapter 1: God’s Purpose for His Church
- Chapter 2: The Training of the Twelve
- Chapter 3: The Great Commission
- Chapter 4: Pentecost
- Chapter 5: The Gift of the Spirit
- Chapter 6: At the Temple Gate
- Chapter 7: A Warning Against Hypocrisy
- Chapter 8: Before the Sanhedrin
- Chapter 9: The Seven Deacons
- Chapter 10: The First Christian Martyr
- Chapter 11: The Gospel in Samaria
- Chapter 12: From Persecutor to Disciple
- Chapter 13: Days of Preparation
- Chapter 14: A Seeker for Truth
- Chapter 15: Delivered From Prison
- Chapter 16: The Gospel Message in Antioch
- Chapter 17: Heralds of the Gospel
- Chapter 18: Preaching Among the Heathen
- Chapter 19: Jew and Gentile
- Chapter 20: Exalting the Cross
- Chapter 21: In the Regions Beyond
- Chapter 22: Thessalonica
- Chapter 23: Berea and Athens
- Chapter 24: Corinth
- Chapter 25: The Thessalonian Letters
- Chapter 26: Apollos at Corinth
- Chapter 27: Ephesus
- Chapter 28: Days of Toil and Trial
- Chapter 29: A Message of Warning and Entreaty
- Chapter 30: Called to Reach a Higher Standard
- Chapter 31: The Message Heeded
- Chapter 32: A Liberal Church
- Chapter 33: Laboring Under Difficulties
- Chapter 34: A Consecrated Ministry
- Chapter 35: Salvation to the Jews
- Chapter 36: Apostasy in Galatia
- Chapter 37: Paul’s Last Journey to Jerusalem
- Chapter 38: Paul a Prisoner
- Chapter 39: The Trial at Caesarea
- Chapter 40: Paul Appeals to Caesar
- Chapter 41: “Almost Thou Persuadest Me”
- Chapter 42: The Voyage and Shipwreck
- Chapter 43: In Rome
- Chapter 44: Caesar’s Household
- Chapter 45: Written From Rome
- Chapter 46: At Liberty
- Chapter 47: The Final Arrest
- Chapter 48: Paul Before Nero
- Chapter 49: Paul’s Last Letter
- Chapter 50: Condemned to Die
- Chapter 51: A Faithful Under-Shepherd
- Chapter 52: Steadfast Unto the End
- Chapter 53: John the Beloved
- Chapter 54: A Faithful Witness
- Chapter 55: Transformed by Grace
- Chapter 56: Patmos
- Chapter 57: The Revelation
- Chapter 58: The Church Triumphant
Chapter 1:
God’s Purpose for His Church
9.1
The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to “the principalities and powers in heavenly places,” the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10.
9.2
Many and wonderful are the promises recorded in the Scriptures regarding the church. “Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” Isaiah 56:7. “I will make them and the places round about My hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” “And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are My people, saith the Lord God. And ye My flock, the flock of My pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.” Ezekiel 34:26, 29-31.