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Podcast: What can we learn from the First Century Church? Part 6 – The New Wineskin

January 26, 2026 / / 0 Comments

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The First Century Church was not without it’s own problems and difficulties. It is important that we learn from it’s weaknesses as well. At the same time the proof that God was at work then has stood the test of time. I am personally convinced that the only power the early Christians had was their total dependency upon Jesus Christ. The time the apostles and disciples of Jesus spent with Him was used to purge every sense of self-reliance they possessed. Finally the shock of the Cross brought them to their lowest point.

It would be difficult to comprehend what they must have felt when hearing that He had risen from the dead! Some did not believe at first. When He fully revealed Himself to them their lives would never be the same. Jesus was preparing in them a New Wineskin which would not split open and waste the wine which symbolized the Holy Spirit. The foundation, the Rock upon which the early church was built was this realization of Who Jesus was! He is the Creator and Lord of all! They would continue to learn and grow in their dependence upon Him, and the power of the Holy Spirit would affirm their faith again and again. (Luke 5:34-39, Matthew 16:17-18)

Millions of believers in Christ are fully blessed and satisfied in their church experience today. Some, however, are beginning to hunger for what they have read about in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. They have seen God bless His people again and again, only to see the interference of prideful humans. Now they are looking for a New Wineskin, one that will preserve both the wine (Spiritual vitality) and the wineskin (believing community).

Is this wishful thinking, or unbridled idealism? You decide for yourself. I for one have caught a glimpse of His glorious Church, with the saints equipped for serving, building up the Body of Christ, until we all come to the unity of the faith, unto the Knowledge of the Son of God, unto a maturity, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ! (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Podcast: What can we learn from the First Century Church? Part 5

January 19, 2026 / / 1 Comment

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The church in the book of Acts did not have telephones or the printing press, let alone radio, tv and the internet. Yet after Jesus ascended their numbers grew from the 120 that gathered in Jerusalem to 5,000 in a short time. Within 3 centuries Christianity became a dominant force in the Roman Empire. God has often chosen to use the few and the weak according to this world. He has also chosen to use you in a special capacity that belongs to you alone!

Do not believe the lie that you are insignificant! The Creator of the entire universe is calling you to turn from serving your will and the will of others to serving Him and His glorious purpose in the Kingdom of God! Trust Him today! You have a part in building a better world as He prepares you and molds you into His image. You can be a part in His Church, His body, that is crashing down the gates of hell!

Lately I have been looking to the New Testament and particularly the book of Acts and comparing the practices and methods of the early church with those of today. I would challenge you to do the same. Is it possible that our traditions and patterns of thinking have placed a heavy load on us that God never intended? Could these traditions and patterns of thinking actually hinder us from enjoying life in the fullness of God’s wonderful plan?

Jesus challenges us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Him. Maybe not an easy path, but definitely one that will liberate us from the self-centered version of the Gospel that we often hear today. It is only in losing our lives that we truly find our lives fully in Him!

Podcast: What can we learn from the First Century Church? Part 4

January 13, 2026 / / 0 Comments

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A famous statement in the bible proclaims “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8) For those of us who believe in Him these are powerful and encouraging words. So no matter how discouraging local and world events may seem, He is yet at work in this world and among His people. It has become my conviction that the Hand of God can be seen by those who look for and are expecting Him. He is at work in places and in situations that I may never see. I am thankful that my limitations do not limit Him!

You may have heard this saying: “The largest room in the world is the room for improvement.” By asking the question, “What can we learn from the First Century Church,” I am suggesting that with all of our progress over the past 2,000 years, there might be a great amount of room for improvement in Christian circles. Even Paul, the apostle of Christ sought to put the past behind him and press forward in His pursuit of Christ. (Philippians 4:13-14). How can we so easily settle for less of Him?

At times I have read some of our modern customs and practices into the stories in the book of Acts. Only when I saw how some of these customs and practices created problems, did I go back and re-read the story. I was amazed and shocked to find that many of my traditions are simply not there. Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting that we today can or should precisely reproduce everything we see in Acts. I am suggesting that we can learn valuable lessons — not only can but should learn from them. That I believe is the very reason the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to write this book!

Acts opens with the last few days that Jesus had with His disciples after His resurrection. Just as it was during the entire last 3 1/2 years of His life and ministry, His concern was things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3). Then, before He was taken up into a cloud, He commanded them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4) The entire book of Acts could be summed up in these final words:

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power, but you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:7-8)

He had already reminded them of what John the Baptist told them. John came baptizing in water but Jesus would baptize them in the Holy Ghost and fire! Here was the reason for this baptism, this emersion in the Holy Spirit. It was to empower them to live as He lived, bearing witness to His resurrection by lives that show what God intended for us from the beginning!

Everything that follows in the 28 chapters of Acts could only be made possible by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God! They waited until 50 days after the Passover, and the power of the Holy Spirit came. Soon afterwards a great number of hearts were turned to Christ!

In this a principle was established. Jesus would no longer be physically present with His followers, but He would lead them just the same. The key to their success was in their obedience to Him. In Acts and throughout the bible we find examples of people who did not trust in their own abilities but in the mysterious guidance of the Holy Spirit. Lord help us to remember their examples every day, as well as those of the multitudes who up to our day have through faith seen your wonders performed in Your Name.

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