The verses for today (1 Peter 1:3-25), contain some great material. First there is the core verse (v.14) for today: ‘As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.‘ Another couple, are verses 18 to 20: ‘For you know that it was not with perishable things such as [...]
The text which Selwyn uses for today’s study comes from Acts 8:18-24, as follows: ‘When Simon (who practiced sorcery in Samaria) saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands [...]
Selwyn continues his analysis of the Early Church’s unswerving allegiance to Christ and His eternal kingdom.
‘If there is one thing that is becoming clear as we examine this last distinctive of the Early Church, it is this: the believers of that day were ultimately guided and controlled not by the laws and principles of the [...]
Today, ‘we continue considering the thought that the early believers, whilst respecting the authorities that were over them, gave their first allegiance to Christ and His eternal kingdom.’
Selwyn uses the verses in Acts 23:1-11, to highlight this aspect (verses 1 to 5): “Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin (the supreme Jewish court consisting of 70 [...]
Selwyn now introduces the last point on his list “of the Early Church distinctives: their unswerving allegiance to Christ and His eternal kingdom. The first Christians, whilst maintaining respect for the civil authorities that were over them, saw that their primary allegiance was to the laws and principles of the kingdom of God. …
An issue [...]
Selwyn summarises the discussion on the fact that ‘the first Church was a growing Church to which converts were added in ever increasing numbers.’
He introduces today’s study by bringing together the three primary reasons for the expansion of the Early Church:
‘The presence of the supernatural,
the powerful teaching of the apostles,
and the daily witness of the [...]
The return
Selwyn summarises the last two months of his study on the subject, ‘A Fresh Look at the Church’; and his three main conclusions follow:
“When we put the Church of today alongside the Church of the first century, we cannot help but see that we have gone off course.
We must think not only about how we [...]
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