Acts

The book that tells the story of the beginning, the flourishing, the persecuting, and the scattering of the Church.

A narrative written by Luke, you may be tempted to see it just as a story but don't miss these important principles:

1. The place of God's word in the Church and the believer's life.
2. The role of the Holy Spirit in the Church and the believer's life.
3. The importance of prayer in the Church and the believer's life.
4. The need to share the Gospel with a lost and dying world.
5. The need to reach out to society's outcasts.

Letters

After the 4 Gospels and the Book of Acts, the New Testament contains 21 books which originally were actually letters or Epistles, written to churches or individuals in the 1st Century following the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

Paul is primarily the author of these letters which for the most part were addressed to churches that Paul had started. Paul used his letters as a way to give further instruction about God and godly living, in many cases addressing specific issues that existed in the church he wrote to.

These letters sound in many ways like mini-sermons (or full length sermons) which is actually the meaning of the word Epistle. When the church received the letter it would be read out loud to the whole congregation. The letter would then be copied and passed on to another congregation.

The key to understanding these letters is to remember that they were not written for you primarily, but for the people who received it first.

Also, many of these letters were written to new Christians who did not know as much about Christ as you do having read the Gospels. A lot of the basic principles of Christianity can be found in these letters: sin (James 1:15), salvation (1 Peter 1:18-19), faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11), and Christ's return (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) to just name a few.

Revelation

Reading and studying this book truly takes you to another world. A lot of it sounds like science-fiction only this is not fiction. Although full of symbolism these events are real.

The Apostle John received these visions while in exile on the Isle of Patmos, but as John clarifies, this is actually the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

It's message is that Jesus is GOD, He is alive, He has power over sin, and he holds the keys to death and the grave.

In Revelation, death dies.

Enjoy the study of these books remembering to ask the Holy Spirit to teach you through their text.