What does First B Jackson teach about book of acts?
Drawn from the messages where it was actually addressed: the words said from the front, the passages taught, and where to hear the whole thing.
At First B Jackson, the teaching on the book of Acts begins with the conviction that Acts is serious history, not religious mythology. Luke tracked down eyewitnesses, named real governors and real places, and none of it has been disproved. The point, as both Pastor Mark and Pastor Nathan have made in opening this book with the congregation, is that Christianity cannot be separated from actual events. Remove Jesus from it and there is nothing left.
The series has given sustained attention to what the earliest community of believers actually looked like, starting in Acts 1 with a small group of people in an upper room, praying together and waiting. They obeyed, they stayed together, they prayed, and they went to scripture. Pastor Ryan, teaching more recently through the recurring Greek word homothymodon, translated as 'with one accord' or 'according to one passion,' traced that word through ten of its eleven New Testament appearances in Acts and showed that it is Luke's intentional thread through the whole story. The unity of that early church, he argued, was not organizational but a shared orientation toward God, and it showed up in daily temple gatherings, shared meals, and care for one another's needs.
One of the more striking observations from Ryan's teaching is that the word homothymodon is not always a good thing. The crowd that stones Stephen is unified. The silversmiths shouting for Artemis in Ephesus are unified. His point was plain: it is entirely possible to be unified and be wrong, to have concord that is completely detached from truth and humility. The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 stands as the clearest example of the word used well, where real disagreement was worked through together with scripture and prayer, and the result was a letter that said twice it seemed good to them, and good to the Holy Spirit. No beam of light from heaven, just people called into one family doing the hard work together.
Taught from Acts 1:1 · Acts 1:8 · Acts 2:43-47 · Acts 15:24-29 · Luke 1:1-4
The passage taught · Acts 12:20-23
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
21 On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them.
22 The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died.
World English Bible
Messages that go deeper
- September 7, 2025 Unity Is Confusing for the World and Very Attractive A Wyoming congregation studies the Greek word "homothymodon" through Acts, exploring what it means to pursue genuine unity rooted in Christ rather than mere agreement.
- October 27, 2024 Everything Jesus Began to Do and to Teach The pastor opens Acts 1 at First Baptist Jackson, exploring how the early church prepared for the Holy Spirit through obedience, fellowship, prayer, and scripture.
- May 19, 2013 Introducting Acts, Traditions Acts 1 shows four things the early church did to prepare for the Spirit's move: obey Jesus, gather together, pray persistently, and study God's Word.
- May 19, 2013 Introducing Acts, Morning Praise The pastor opens Acts by showing how the early church prepared for the Holy Spirit: through obedience, fellowship, persistent prayer, and recognizing God-appointed leaders.