Acts is broken down into 6 panels with each panel ending with a summary statement telling the reader that the Church was expanded and established. Studying each of these panels, the reader will begin to note several keys that contributed to and unlocked the summary statement. The Acts course in the Antioch School assigns a project to write an annotated list of the keys to establishment and expansion of the 1st century Church for each of the 6 panels of Acts. Here is an attempt at the fourth panel:
4. Restructuring to Reach the Gentiles (Acts 12:25-16:5)
1) Leaders emerge from serving faithfully in their local churches and are selected for gospel expansion work. (13:1-4)
2) Straight teaching of the Word breaks opens hearts despite opposition. (13:4-12)
3) Preaching connected the audience to a response to Jesus and His work, especially His resurrection (13:13-42)
4) Those that responded to be disciples of Christ by grace were entrusted to continue in grace (13:43; Galatians)
5) Through Israel’s rejection, Gentiles were responding with joy as part of the plan of God (13:48)
6) The gospel advances in spite of opposition as the church is filled with the Holy Spirit and joy. (13:52)
7) The Lord validates the Gospel witness with signs of the Spirit. (14:3)
8) Persecution causes the Gospel to be spread in other communities. (14:6-7)
9) Persecution is used as a tangible teaching moment to strengthen the disciples by reminding them that it is the path to the kingdom. (14:23)
10) Converts are committed to God by being formed into communities, strengthened, and s\appointed shepherds to continue the work after prayer and fasting. (14:23)
11) It is God’s grace that carries this movement and completes the first phrase that the missionaries rehearse to their sending church as an extension of Antioch. (14:26-28)
12) Attacks from within on the Gospel are dealt with immediately in a discussion manner of wise dealing in light of the biblical theology of the plan of redemption for the nations. (15)
13) A wise decision is reached that instructs freedom in Christ but without using the freedom as a cloak of maliciousness and it enhances the mission of the church. (15:19-21)
14) Communication and proper relational delivery enhanced the church. (15:30-33)
15) Even disagreement between good men served as a tool of the Spirit to expand the mission of the church. (15:36-41)
16) Testing, training, and affirming emerging leaders to serve in a ministry team setting proves to be a crucial part in the expansion (16:1-5)
Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
4. Restructuring to Reach the Gentiles (Acts 12:25-16:5)
1) Leaders emerge from serving faithfully in their local churches and are selected for gospel expansion work. (13:1-4)
2) Straight teaching of the Word breaks opens hearts despite opposition. (13:4-12)
3) Preaching connected the audience to a response to Jesus and His work, especially His resurrection (13:13-42)
4) Those that responded to be disciples of Christ by grace were entrusted to continue in grace (13:43; Galatians)
5) Through Israel’s rejection, Gentiles were responding with joy as part of the plan of God (13:48)
6) The gospel advances in spite of opposition as the church is filled with the Holy Spirit and joy. (13:52)
7) The Lord validates the Gospel witness with signs of the Spirit. (14:3)
8) Persecution causes the Gospel to be spread in other communities. (14:6-7)
9) Persecution is used as a tangible teaching moment to strengthen the disciples by reminding them that it is the path to the kingdom. (14:23)
10) Converts are committed to God by being formed into communities, strengthened, and s\appointed shepherds to continue the work after prayer and fasting. (14:23)
11) It is God’s grace that carries this movement and completes the first phrase that the missionaries rehearse to their sending church as an extension of Antioch. (14:26-28)
12) Attacks from within on the Gospel are dealt with immediately in a discussion manner of wise dealing in light of the biblical theology of the plan of redemption for the nations. (15)
13) A wise decision is reached that instructs freedom in Christ but without using the freedom as a cloak of maliciousness and it enhances the mission of the church. (15:19-21)
14) Communication and proper relational delivery enhanced the church. (15:30-33)
15) Even disagreement between good men served as a tool of the Spirit to expand the mission of the church. (15:36-41)
16) Testing, training, and affirming emerging leaders to serve in a ministry team setting proves to be a crucial part in the expansion (16:1-5)
Acts 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
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