The Book of Acts is the book of the continuing Christ.

What Christ began in the gospel records, he continues in the book of Acts.

In the first part of Acts, chapters 1 through 7, we joined the adventures of what the Holy Spirit was doing through the apostles in the early church.

This work was primarily focused in Jerusalem. The second section of Acts, however,

advances beyond Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria. In this section of our study, we see the

power of the gospel on full display, changing the lives of those who hear it.

Let's join Scott now as the adventure continues.

I absolutely love the local New Testament church.

I'm a local church man.

I'm just going to tell you right up front,

I belong to a local church. And the work God has called us to do, we are sent out of a local church,

accountable to a local church. We are seeking to strengthen local churches and encourage people to connect to the local New Testament church

because I believe that the church is the means through which Christ is accomplishing

his work in this world at this time. So God's great plan and program and purpose at this time

is being accomplished to the church. That's why it's called the church age.

And so when I come to a verse, like Acts chapter 9 and verse number 31, my heart just

thrills and I rejoice.

Listen to the verse.

Acts 9, verse 31, then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria and were edified,

and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied.

What a verse.

Let me read it again.

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