The Story of the Church
Acts and the letters — the gospel goes to the nations.
The story of the Christian Church is not merely the historical record of a human society, but the unfolding narrative of a divine institution founded by Jesus Christ and animated by the Holy Spirit. In the broad, historic consensus of Christian teaching, the Church is the living body of Christ on earth, called out from the world to proclaim the Gospel, administer the sacraments, and manifest the kingdom of God to all nations. The fundamental truths regarding the Church are encapsulated in the ancient ecumenical symbols, which form the bond of union between the Greek, Latin, and Evangelical Protestant communions.
By the end of this lesson
- Trace the movement of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome
- Name the council in Acts 15 and explain what was at stake
- Identify the situational concern behind at least three New Testament letters
Scripture
The full lesson, its study guide and questions, and an AI tutor that answers from Scripture with citations are free with an account.