Have you ever spent time dreaming about the perfect church? We’ve all heard the old saying that even if you are fortunate enough to find the perfect church, you will surely ruin it when you join. (Did you know this came originally from Spurgeon?) Of course, all this insight doesn’t stop us from fantasizing about the ideal facility, the perfect constellation of ministries, a doctrinal statement and liturgical bent that fit like a glove, and the “perfect” Sunday morning music… alongside a good cup of strong coffee.
As we look outside ourselves and assign greater value to Truth than to comfort, we find that the church gathered is about God and not about us. It’s about fulfilling God’s great salvation purposes, so we learn to value each other’s differences as we look toward the future assembly of people and nations and tongues and tribes that will one day surround us as we worship God—and as we look back on our petty preferences and wonder what all the fuss was about.
The church gathered is about God and not about us. It’s about fulfilling God’s great salvation purposes as we look toward the future assembly of people and nations and tongues and tribes that will one day surround us as we worship God.
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The birth and formation of the church are front and center in the New Testament book of Acts, and central to the church’s motive and mission was the resurrected and enthroned Lord Jesus. God’s plan of salvation was at the heart of Luke’s story and remains the heart of his church today. In Saved: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Acts, Nancy Guthrie guides readers into a robust understanding of what it means to be saved, and since Luke uses the word or some form of it twenty-one times, he’s clearly interested in challenging his readers to open our eyes to all the ways God is working out his salvation purposes in our own unique stories.
The book of Acts chronicles the “acts” of the resurrected and enthroned Lord Jesus, and the action is framed around Acts 1:8:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
In this way and according to this order, the church was built: Salvation to Jerusalem, Salvation to Judea and Samaria, and then Salvation to the Ends of the Earth. As participants in God’s rescue plan, we depend on the Spirit of God in our own proclamation of the gospel—the very same message the apostles recorded.
Guthrie begins each chapter with a compelling hook, dives into a manageable chunk of Luke’s story, and then captures the implications for present-day believers. I especially appreciated her skillful connection of Old Testament themes that have been picked up and carried forward in Acts.
For those of us trusting for Spirit-motivated obedience in our walk with God, the book of Acts is both a kick in the seat of the pants and a reassuring hand on the shoulder. Like Jesus’s New Testament witnesses, we can be assured that Jesus is active in our lives enabling us to:
- boldly speak the name of Jesus
- give generously toward the needs of others
- carry his name to people who are still spiritually blind
- reject pride, exclusivity, and ethnic superiority
- practice wisdom in evaluating disagreements within the church
- submit to the decrees of King Jesus
- receive the deep and lasting impression of the word of God
- reject self-preservation and follow Jesus wherever he leads
- desire holiness and a clear conscience
- trust that God’s purposes will be accomplished
More than any other resource on the book of Acts, Saved has pointed my heart’s affection and my mind’s attention to the big picture story that God’s glory will indeed reach the ends of the earth. He will accomplish the work of salvation, all his promises will be fulfilled, and we are honored to cooperate with him in his great work.
What Other Reviewers Are Saying
“Salvation is a favorite term of Luke’s. Nancy Guthrie faithfully and skillfully walks through Acts, showing that God’s heart is for all people to be rescued from their greatest enemies: sin and death. Even though Jesus has ascended to the heavens, the life-giving presence of Jesus continues to spread. This is a must-have book as you work through the narrative.”
―Patrick Schreiner, Associate Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
“Nancy Guthrie walks us through the book of Acts, helping us marvel at the big themes and enjoy the unexpected details, all of which come together to give us confidence that as the news of the risen Jesus is proclaimed, God is saving people. Getting to know Acts can be a daunting prospect, especially if you want to teach through it. I’m thrilled to have a resource like this, which I will be turning to on a regular basis.”
―Amy Wicks, Associate for Women’s Discipleship and Pastoral Care, St. Silas Church, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Holding you in the light,
“No matter who it happens to or how it comes about, salvation is always a supernatural work of God in which blind eyes are opened, giving a person the ability to see who Jesus is and the faith to trust him.” @NancyGuth3 #saved @crossway
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More from Nancy Guthrie…
Nancy Guthrie has been a trusted voice in my ear for a long time, so if you’re looking for resources to enrich your study of God’s word, simply click on the titles below to read my reviews:
Saints and Scoundrels in the Story of Jesus
Even Better than Eden: Nine Ways the Bible’s Story Changes Everything About Your Story
Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation
Nancy also hosts the excellent podcast Conversations on the Bible in which she interviews leading scholars and Bible teachers in friendly and theologically robust conversations with the goal of better understanding books of the Bible! CLICK HERE for more information.
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On the third Thursday of every month, I send a newsletter with biblical encouragement straight to my subscribers’ email inboxes. Frequently, I share free resources, and the newsletter is where everything lands first.
CLICK HERE to read my most recent newsletter where you’ll be given the opportunity to subscribe. I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and I want to help you along that path.
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As you know, I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and it’s my goal to help you along that path. At Living Our Days, I provide biblical content and resources to encourage biblical literacy and faithful living, and now I’m sharing devotional content on the YouVersion app. Visit my profile page to get free access to the reading plans!
I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees. If you should decide to purchase any of the books or products I’ve shared, simply click on the book title, and you’ll be taken directly to the seller. If you decide to buy, I’ll receive a few pennies at no extra cost to you.
Many thanks to Crossway for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
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I love the books of Nancy’s that I have read, though I haven’t read her more recent ones. This sounds like a good one.
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I’ve really come to value her scholarship and her curiosity about the Bible!
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[…] For those of us trusting for Spirit-motivated obedience in our walk with God, the book of Acts is both a kick in the seat of the pants and a reassuring hand on the shoulder. Like Jesus’s New Testament witnesses, we can be assured that Jesus is active in our lives enabling us to: https://michelemorin.net/2024/09/11/what-really-mean-to-be-saved/ […]
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