Manytodayhavegivenuponchurch.ButGodhasnotanddoesnotgiveuponthechurch.ThechurchisGod’sidea.AndoncewetrulyunderstandwhatGodhasinmindforhispeople,wecanbecomewhohewantsustobe.BishopClaudeAlexandershowshowtheoriginalChristiansdidnotalwaysunderstandwhatthechurchwassupposedtobe,butGodworkedinthemanywaytobecomethecommunitythatheintended.AftertheresurrectionofJesus,hisfollowersweretransformedfromdisillusionanddoubttobecomeapeopleofconvictionandnewlife.ThebookofActsdescribestheunfoldingpurposes,principles,andpracticesdiscoveredbytheapostlesastheygavethemselvestoChrist’scall.BythepoweroftheHolySpirit,wetoocanbetransformedbyJesusandmodeltotheworldwhatitmeanstoknowhim--asthechurch.
