NT260 | Phase 2.1 — The Savior, His Church, and the Mission

This phase will have us reading about Jesus’s life in the gospel of Luke, the formation of the Church in Acts, and walk through the theology found in Paul’s letters that the Church needs to know about and live out the eternal life given by grace through faith in Jesus.

Below, you’ll find brief synopses of each book in this phase to help you understand the scope of the book and most importantly, how it fits into the full Story of the Bible.

When you click on each day’s link, you will find a link to audio, a summary of the chapter, a key verse from the chapter, and opportunities for reflection and outreach.

Luke

Luke is the first part of a two-volume story (with Acts) written to give believers confidence about Jesus and the good news (Luke 1:1–4; Acts 1:1–2). Early Christians understood the author to be Luke, a physician and coworker of Paul (Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:11). He writes to Theophilus—and to a wider audience—to show that Jesus is the promised Savior for all people: Jews and Gentiles, the poor and the powerful, the outcast and the insider (Luke 2:10–11; 4:18–19; 19:10). Big themes include prayer, the Holy Spirit, costly discipleship, warnings about riches, and God’s grace that lifts the lowly (Luke 1:52–53; 3:21–22; 6:20–26; 11:1–4; 12:32–34).

As a Gospel, Luke reads like an ancient biography centered on Jesus’ public ministry, death, and resurrection. It moves from the temple in Jerusalem to Galilee and back again, with a long “journey to Jerusalem” where Jesus heads to the cross (Luke 9:51). Luke’s style is vivid and orderly, weaving in songs, parables unique to him (e.g., the Good Samaritan; the Prodigal Son), and many scenes of table fellowship that show who belongs in God’s family (Luke 7:36–50; 10:25–37; 15:1–32). Throughout, Jesus is the Spirit-anointed Son of Man who teaches, heals, forgives, and welcomes sinners (Luke 4:1, 14, 18; 5:20–32).

In the big story of the Bible, Luke shows God keeping his promises to Israel and opening salvation to the nations. Jesus fulfills the Scriptures, suffers, rises, and sends his followers out with the Spirit’s power (Luke 24:44–49; Acts 1:8). The kingdom has arrived in Jesus’ words and works, yet we still wait for its fullness—so we live awake, generous, prayerful, and bold in witness until he returns (Luke 11:2; 12:32–40; 21:34–36).

Acts

The book of Acts is Luke’s sequel to his Gospel, written to Theophilus and to a broader audience of early Christians (Acts 1:1; Luke 1:3). Tradition and internal evidence identify Luke, the beloved physician and companion of Paul (Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:11; Philem. 24), as the author. He carefully investigated eyewitness testimony and recorded an orderly account of the risen Christ’s work through His apostles (Luke 1:2–3; Acts 1:21–22). Most likely written in the early 60s A.D., Acts gives believers certainty that the gospel is true and that Christianity is the fulfillment of God’s promises, not a new or dangerous sect (Luke 24:44–47; Acts 24:14–15).

At its heart, Acts shows how the ascended Jesus continues His mission by sending the Holy Spirit to empower His church. The book’s key verse, Acts 1:8, provides its outline: the gospel spreads from Jerusalem (Acts 2:1–47), into Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:4–25), and then outward to the ends of the earth, symbolized by Paul’s ministry in Rome (Acts 28:30–31). Along the way, Luke highlights miracles (Acts 3:1–10; 19:11–12), persecution (Acts 4:1–22; 7:54–60), and the unstoppable advance of God’s Word (Acts 12:24; 19:20). Through it all, Acts demonstrates that nothing—not prison, plots, or shipwrecks—can hinder the spread of the gospel (Acts 5:41–42; 27:23–25).

Acts emphasizes both continuity and fulfillment. Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfill the Scriptures (Acts 2:25–36; 13:32–33), and His exaltation confirms Him as both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). The Holy Spirit marks the arrival of the new age of salvation (Acts 2:16–21; Joel 2:28–32) and unites Jews and Gentiles into one people of God (Acts 10:44–48; 15:7–11). Like Jesus in Luke’s Gospel, His followers perform miracles, face opposition, and walk in obedience to God’s plan (Luke 4:18–19; Acts 3:6–8; 14:8–10; Luke 23:4; Acts 26:31–32). The church’s mission is shown to be both ancient—rooted in God’s promises to Israel (Acts 3:25–26)—and worldwide, extending to “all who are far off” (Acts 2:39).

In the Story of the Bible, Acts is the bridge between Christ’s finished work and the church’s Spirit-empowered witness. It records the first thirty years of gospel proclamation, showing how God’s plan of salvation moves from Jerusalem to Rome and beyond (Acts 1:8; 9:15; 13:47). Acts assures us that the risen Christ still reigns, His Spirit still empowers, and His mission still advances until the day He returns (Acts 2:33; 7:55–56; 28:28). The same Spirit who emboldened Peter, Stephen, and Paul continues to strengthen the church today to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord to the ends of the earth (Acts 4:31; 20:24; 28:31).

Continue reading in our NT260 plan with the second part of Phase 2 — The Savior, His Church, and the Mission.

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