a good book to read - dee bowman

A Good Book To Read

by Dee Bowman
Southside Church of Christ
Pasadena, Texas

I enjoy a good book. I think everyone does, especially if the subject is to one’s liking. I’ve just finished a couple of really good books. The first, a historical account of the life of our first President, is called George Washington, The Indispensable Man, by James Thomas Flexner. It gives a fine look at Washington, the man, the commander, the politician, the gentleman farmer. I also read recently a good book about the life of Alexander the Great. It, too, was a fresh look at the man who, before he was 30 years old, conquered the then- known world. Both books were interesting, informative, and helpful.

But there’s a book I want to recommend to you. It’s Acts of Apostles. Have you ever sat down and read it? How long ago? It is one of the most moving, informative, and helpful books you’ll ever read. And the more you read it, the more you will find in it. It’s an inexhaustible read.

Everyone enjoys a good story, a narrative that has high adventure and explosive action. Acts of Apostles is chock-full of such high adventure. It speaks of trials, imprisonments; it records stories of riots, persecutions, courageous martyrdoms, of shipwrecks and rescues. And the entirety of the book is laced with heavenly callings, and an indefatigable constancy that could come only from an intense conviction and unflagging faith. The message of the book is clear: the gospel of Christ is the power of God to save men’s souls. No persecution, no plan or stratagem could thwart the plan of God to establish and maintain His church. Acts of Apostles is the story of our heritage—more so than is the story of George Washington. It the account of our history—much more so than is the story of the conquests of Alexander the Great. It is the story of our beginnings, the rousing, inspiring, motivating narrative of how we became what we are. It consequently deserves our most intense scrutiny.

Acts of Apostles naturally divides into two main sections: the first half deals basically with the work of its main character (though he is certainly not the only participant), the work of the church at Jerusalem, her leaders and relationships. The second half has Paul (Saul of Tarsus) as its man character (though, again, he certainly is not the only outstanding person), the work of the congregation at Antioch, and Paul’s missionary journeys, culminating with his journey to Rome.

Acts of Apostles contains the recipe for restoration. Its author, Luke, wrote with the pen of inspiration, the approval of God. His narrative tells us how to preach the gospel, how to establish local congregations, how those congregations are to be governed, how to endure trials and pressures from outside sources, how to solve problems inside the local congregation, how to treat those who are preaching the gospel and how to deal with those who profess to be but aren’t preaching the truth. Every one of the 28 chapters in the book has a message—a clear, distinct message—that will result in the approval of God if it is followed. It reveals the mind of God as it pertains to the church and as a result should be model for restoration in this, or any other age.

One of the grand themes of Acts of Apostles is the progress of the gospel message. It begins with the preaching of the very first gospel sermon in Acts 2. Its first spreading was along geographical lines: from Jerusalem and the Pentecost sermon, it went to Samaria (Acts 8:5), the to the seacoast (8:40). From there it went to Damascus (Acts 9) and Caesarea (Acts 10), from thence to Antioch (Acts 11:26), where the disciples were first called “Christians.” From there it went to Asia Minor (Acts 13:13), Europe (Acts 16:11), and finally to Rome. It speaks to the determination of the evangelists, the support of the congregations, the difficulties of dealing with those who opposed the progress of the gospel, and, ultimately, the overwhelming success of the presentation of the gospel message. “The author introduces us to a church that cannot be stopped. Scourgings and threats are powerless to halt its mission for Christ” (Dr. Alger Fitch).

One cannot read Acts of Apostles and not be impressed with the sheer determination of those who spread the gospel message. They did it without any big programs; they did it with dedicated people. They did it without any ecclesiastical hierarchy; they did it with personal involvement. They did it without some big promotional scheme; they did it with individuals who were filled with the joy of their own salvation and who couldn’t help but pass it on to others. “As many as were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4) is the best of all plans for converting the world. It is the missionary society. It costs nothing and yet it costs everything. Its cost in monetary terms is very little, but its cost in the lives of those who do it is their total dedication to the cause of Christ.

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16). Read Acts of Apostles this week. It’s our model of how this can and should be done.