Category Archives: Church

The First Church Fight

Posted on March 2, 2026 by russellmckinney

(Series: “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #10) The world’s first church, the church of Jerusalem, was colossal in terms of sheer numbers. Acts 4:4 puts the number of men at 5,000. If we assume there was one woman per … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Christian Unity, Church, Complaining, Favoritism, Leadership, Pastors, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem" | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The First Church Scandal

Posted on February 27, 2026 by russellmckinney

(Series: “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #9) I don’t care how smoothly a church is humming along, it isn’t immune from scandal. The problem is that people can’t help but be people. They are sin-marred individuals who are members … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adultery, Alcohol, Backsliding, Church, Deacons, Depravity, Discernment, God's Chastening, God's Judgment, Holiness, Hypocrisy, Lying, Ministry, Money, Pastors, Personal Holiness, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem", Sin, Temptation, The Holy Spirit, The Sin Unto Death | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The World’s First Megachurch

Posted on February 25, 2026 by russellmckinney

A megachurch is generally defined as being any Christian congregation that has a sustained weekly attendance of 2,000 people or more in its worship services. With that definition in mind we can say that the world’s first church was also … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Bible Study, Christian Liberty, Church, Church Attendance, Discipleship, Evangelism, God's Word, God's Work, Leadership, Ministry, Missions, Money, Needs, Pastors, Prayer, Preaching, Salvation, Scripture, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem", Service, Stewardship, Sunday School, The Bible, The Gospel, The Holy Spirit, Witnessing, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tongues as a Prayer Language?

Posted on February 23, 2026 by russellmckinney

(Series “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #7) In my previous post, I explained that Acts 2:1-13 teaches that the Biblical definition of speaking in tongues is speaking in a known foreign language that you have never learned. Furthermore, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Angels, Church, Communication, Discernment, God's Word, Prayer, Scripture, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem", Speaking in Tongues, Spiritual Gifts, The Bible, The Holy Spirit | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

4 Basic Questions About Speaking in Tongues

Posted on February 20, 2026 by russellmckinney

(Series: “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #6) We’re in a series on the early church of Jerusalem, and we’ve now reached a place where I’m going to devote a couple of posts to the issue of speaking in tongues. … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Communication, Discernment, Evangelism, Missions, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem", Speaking in Tongues, Spiritual Gifts, The Holy Spirit, The Tongue, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rightly Understanding Peter’s Answer

Posted on February 16, 2026 by russellmckinney

(Series: “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #4) Peter’s Pentecost sermon, which was the first sermon of the church age, caused his listeners to ask, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). His answer was, “Repent, and be baptized, every one … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Belief, Bible Study, Catholicism, Church, Discernment, Evangelism, Faith, God's Work, Repentance, Salvation, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem" | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The First Sermon of the Church Age

Posted on February 11, 2026 by russellmckinney

(Series: “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #2) The “church age” began in grand style. One Sunday, the Jewish feast day known as Pentecost (Acts 2:1), approximately 120 of Christ’s followers were gathered together in a room in Jerusalem (Acts … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ's Second Coming, Christ's Death, Christ's Miracles, Christ's Resurrection, Christ's Return, Church, Dreams, Evangelism, Preaching, Prophecy, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem", Speaking in Tongues, Spiritual Gifts, The Holy Spirit, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Beginning of the Church Age

Posted on February 9, 2026 by russellmckinney

(Series: “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #1) What we call the “church age” began on the Jewish feast day known as Pentecost that is described in Acts chapter 2. It was on that day that God the Holy Spirit … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Church, God's Work, Salvation, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem", The Holy Spirit | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Trouble with Power

Posted on January 28, 2026 by russellmckinney

Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiphas, and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. But they said, “Not during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Character, Church, God's Will, God's Work, Greed, Headship, Leadership, Pastors, Politics, Submission | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The People Had a Mind to Work

Posted on January 26, 2026 by russellmckinney

So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. (Nehemiah 4:6, N.K.J.V.) The book of Nehemiah tells the story of a Jew named Nehemiah. … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Complaining, Deacons, God's Work, Ministry, Missions, Money, Pastors, Sacrifice, Service, Sunday School, Work, Worship | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment