The opening words of Acts contain a small phrase with a very big meaning. Luke writes, “In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach” (Acts 1:1, NLT).
Notice that Luke speaks about what Jesus began to do and teach. His Gospel records the earthly ministry of Jesus, but the story did not end with the resurrection or ascension. Acts tells the next chapter—the story of what the risen Christ continued to accomplish through the Holy Spirit working in His people.
In that sense, the book of Acts is not simply the Acts of the Apostles. It is the continuing work of Jesus through His Spirit-filled Church.
Jesus made the purpose of His ministry clear very early. In the synagogue at Nazareth He read from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free” (Luke 4:18, NLT).
Jesus was drawing upon an Old Testament promise. Isaiah had written, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1, NLT).
This was the work Jesus began: bringing good news, healing broken lives, releasing people from bondage, revealing God, and calling people into His Kingdom.
But this mission did not begin only with the prophets. Throughout Scripture we see God's desire to reach and restore people. God told Abraham, “All the families on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3, NLT).
The psalmist writes, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (Psalm 34:18, NLT). Micah summarized the life God desires from His people: “To do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NLT).
Jesus brought these promises into focus. His words, His compassion, His miracles, His teaching, and ultimately His death and resurrection revealed God's saving purpose. After His resurrection, Jesus helped two discouraged disciples understand that His suffering had always been part of that purpose: “Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” (Luke 24:26, NLT). Luke continues, “Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27, NLT).
Then Jesus returned to the Father—but His work continued. Before ascending, He told His disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8, NLT). And that promise includes us. The Church is not simply an organization that remembers what Jesus did two thousand years ago. We are the Body through which Christ continues His ministry in the world. Paul writes, “All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27, NLT).
That means every Christian has a place in Jesus’ continuing work. Some teach. Some preach. Some encourage. Some serve quietly. Some give generously. Some care for people who are hurting. Some lead, organize, pray, visit, welcome, or simply listen. As Paul reminds us, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well” (Romans 12:6, NLT). Our gifts may be different, but our mission is shared.
We do not serve Christ merely because the church needs volunteers. We serve because Christ has invited us to participate in what He is doing. That distinction is important. Christian ministry is not primarily about what we can accomplish for God. It is about making ourselves available so that God can accomplish His purposes through us.
Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NLT). Yet Paul could also say, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13, NLT). These two truths belong together. Apart from Christ, we are inadequate. With Him, we become available instruments of His grace.
He has also given His Church a clear mission: “Go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19, NLT). And He significantly attaches a wonderful promise to that command: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NLT). Jesus has not sent us out alone. The One who sends us goes with us.
Perhaps we should imagine Luke's Gospel as Volume One and Acts as Volume Two of the continuing story of Jesus. But notice that Acts ends without really ending the story, because Jesus’ work continues in every generation, and now we are part of that story.
So the question is not a simple, “What am I doing for God?” The better question is, “Jesus, what are You doing, and how can I be part of it?”
God may be working through your encouragement of a discouraged friend, your compassion toward someone who is struggling, your willingness to teach, your generosity, your prayers, your service, or the simple act of telling someone what Jesus has done for you.
Paul gives us a great description of our calling: “For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT).
The story Luke began recording nearly two thousand years ago is still being written—not as another book of Scripture, but in the continuing witness of Christ's people. This leads to some questions for each of us: What chapter is Jesus writing through my life today? Where is Christ already at work around me? What does He want to do through the gifts He has given me? Whom might He want to encourage, help, love, or reach through me? Jesus began His work in Galilee and Judea. He continued it through Peter, Paul, Lydia, Barnabas, Stephen, Philip, and countless others.
And today, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus continues to do and teach through ordinary people who are willing to say, “Lord, I am available. Continue Your work through me.”
Blessings on you and yours,
Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org
Appendix: Scriptures used — all from New Living Translation (NLT) Genesis 12:3 — God's promise to Abraham that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. This points toward God's larger redemptive purpose ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and rescues those whose spirits are crushed. This reflects the compassion and restorative ministry seen in Jesus. Isaiah 61:1 — The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord anoints His servant to bring good news to the poor. Jesus applied this passage directly to His own ministry at Nazareth. Micah 6:8 — God's people are called to do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. These qualities remain central to Christian discipleship and service. Matthew 28:19 — Jesus commissions His followers to go into the world and make disciples of all nations. The mission Jesus began becomes the continuing mission of His Church. Matthew 28:20 — Jesus promises His continuing presence with His followers as they carry out His mission. Luke 4:18 — Jesus announces His Spirit-anointed mission to bring Good News, freedom, healing, and release to those in need. Luke 24:26 — The risen Jesus explains that the Messiah's suffering and subsequent glory were part of God's redemptive plan. Luke 24:27 — Jesus interprets Moses and the prophets for the disciples on the Emmaus road, showing how the Scriptures point toward Him. John 15:5 — Jesus teaches that His disciples must remain dependent upon Him because lasting spiritual fruit cannot be produced apart from Him. Acts 1:1 — Luke introduces Acts by referring to everything Jesus “began to do and teach,” providing the central idea of this essay: the ministry begun by Jesus continues. Acts 1:8 — Jesus promises the power of the Holy Spirit and commissions His disciples to become His witnesses throughout the world. Romans 12:6 — God gives different gifts to His people according to His grace so that they can participate in His work. 1 Corinthians 12:27 — Christians collectively form the Body of Christ, while every individual believer has a place within that Body. Ephesians 2:10 — Believers are God's workmanship, recreated in Christ to accomplish the good works God has prepared for them. Philippians 4:13 — Paul expresses his dependence upon Christ, who gives him the strength necessary to face every circumstance.