We believe the church is the body of Christ on earth, working toward fulfilling its calling to prepare humanity for Christ's return and entry into the kingdom of heaven. Understanding when and how the church was built helps us better fulfill that calling. This series, The Church Jesus Built, examines the early church's life and origin as described in the Book of Acts.
Much of the early church comprised Jewish worshippers. However, it was never in doubt, from the commissioning of Christ to the calling of the Holy Spirit, that the gospel is for all places and people. If we had any doubt, God specially set Paul and Barnabas aside for the purpose of cross-cultural evangelism. When ministering to those near to home, the disciples could rely on the shared culture of Judaism, but it was now becoming increasingly important to relay the gospel to other cultures. In the same way that a tool can be used for many purposes, or medicines used for many ailments, Christianity works as the salve to heal the wounds and repair the broken pieces of the human spirit throughout cultures and peoples.