Birth of the Church
- Cornerstone Church
- Jul 11
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 18
Last week covered the Great Commission that Jesus gave to his disciples before his ascension into heaven. Remember that between the death of Jesus and his ascension was a 40-day period in which Jesus was appearing to and teaching his disciples, some of which will appear in the readings. This week will focus on the birth of the Church on the day of Pentecost. Jesus had said that he would send a helper, meaning the Holy Spirit. The coming of the Holy Spirit ushered in what is called the ‘Church Age’ or the period of time between Christ’s ascension and Jesus’ 2nd coming. Jesus gave his marching orders last week in the Great Commission, and this week will be the power behind the mission in the Holy Spirit, and that is the Big Picture.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Week 29
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Prayer Plan
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2025 to see how Love Shows Up from the Old Testament and into the New Testament. How do we understand so many stories and lessons through the entire Bible while trying to stick to the "sacred timeline"? The answer is the big picture. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in Acts, Luke, and John, what is impacting you the most? How has praying daily through the Psalms impacted you? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
STUDY IT.
Read John 14:16-17, Luke 24:49, and Acts 1:4-5. What did Jesus promise? Read Acts 2:1-4, 8. What were the signs that accompanied and affirmed the initial gift of the Holy Spirit to the first believers in the Church Age?
Read Acts 2:11-12. What was the question the Jews visiting from all over the world had? Read Acts 2:36-39. What was God’s purpose in the timing of the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues in known languages?
Read John 20:21, 24-29. What does this story about Thomas’ belief tell us about Jesus?
Read John 13:37-38, Luke 22:60-62, and John 21:15-17. What does this story about Peter’s restoration tell us about Jesus?
Read Luke 24:39-43. What does this tell us about Jesus' resurrected body? Read 1 John 3:2. What does this verse say Christians will be like in God’s presence?
SHARE IT.
Read John 7:5 and Acts 1:14. Who had come to believe in Jesus that did not previously? Who are you praying for now?
Read Acts 1:7-8, 14. What anticipation of God moving drew the believers together to pray? Pray that Cornerstone Church would have the same attitude for God’s moving that would produce both personal and corporate prayer.
Read John 20:25. How do you handle doubt in your own life? Can you think of a time when God directly or through others showed you grace to handle your doubts?
Read Acts 2:4,7-8. If you could choose a language to know instantly what would it be and why? Spend some time praying for the missionaries and speakers of that language to come to know Christ.
Read Luke 24:45. As you have been reading through scripture and praying through Psalm 119, what has God shown you this week? How have you been encouraged or challenged?
FINAL THOUGHT
“27 For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:27-29). Everyone is treated as a firstborn son in God’s Kingdom. There are no second-class heirs, unlike the culture of the day, in which the firstborn got a double inheritance, or women’s testimony was not worth that of a man’s in court. God ordained that women would be the first to testify to the empty tomb. Even though all are equal, this does not mean that everyone has the same gifts or the same roles. Christians are gifted differently, and men and women have different roles in ministry and the family. However, all are equally valuable in God’s family and “firstborn” heirs. God promised to Abraham that through him would be a blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:3), and we know that to be Jesus Christ. Jesus was born in the nation of Israel as the Jewish messiah for the world, and the church has been given the ministry of reconciliation, empowered by the Holy Spirit. How were you reconciled to God? “He (God) made the one (Jesus) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him (Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)”
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