Possibly, The Second Most Important Book You'll Ever Read

Ken Hensley – Senior Pastor – Calvary Church, MN – 30 Minutes In – January 11, 2026

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Video includes introductory notes about everything going on the first week of 2026 and the author of Acts.

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About the Author of Acts: Luke was a physician and careful historian who became one of the most important voices in the New Testament, not because he stood at the center of power, but because he faithfully recorded what God was doing through Christ and His church. As a close companion of the apostle Paul, Luke traveled alongside him during key missionary journeys and witnessed firsthand the spread of the gospel into the Gentile world. Many believe Luke was likely not Jewish but a Gentile, which would make his role even more significant—he stands as a living example of the gospel reaching beyond Israel to the nations. He is traditionally recognized as the author of both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, writing with an orderly, evidence-minded approach grounded in eyewitness testimony. Through Luke, God gave the church not only a detailed account of Jesus’s life and teachings, but also the clearest narrative of how the early Christian movement took root and changed the world.

The Idea Of Cultural Change & What The Bible Says

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Many people today believe that Christianity, like culture, evolves. They argue that since society has become more progressive and accepting, our interpretation of the Bible must change as well. But the Bible’s message hasn’t changed — and it never will. God’s Word is not fluid, bending with social trends or human preference; it is “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Across history, people have treated Christianity in many different ways — as heritage, culture, tradition, or moral framework. Some attend church faithfully, read devotionals, and even lead ministries, yet their understanding of Christianity is shaped more by culture than by Scripture. Jesus Himself warned of this danger: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 7:21). The Bible makes clear that calling yourself a Christian and being a Christian are not always the same thing.

True Christianity has always been defined by repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, and obedience to God’s Word. Paul said that salvation does not come through the works of the Law or human effort, but through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. He taught that if you “confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9–10). Summarizing his message, Paul declared that all people “must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:21). He wrote that “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9), and that “a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law” (Romans 3:28). In Galatians 2:16, he emphasized again that “a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.” For Paul, the message was simple and universal: repent and believe in Christ, for “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This has often been misunderstood, but remember—repentance is part of the package. Christianity does not conform to denominational lines or political ideologies. Whether one attends a Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, or non-denominational church, the foundation remains the same: salvation through Christ alone and a life transformed by His Spirit. That’s why the question, Can a Democrat be a Christian?, is not about church attendance or personal sincerity—it’s about whether the Democratic Party platform and the biblical gospel can coexist. When the two are laid side by side, the conflict becomes undeniable.

How People Redefine Christianity

Many in today’s culture argue that Christianity is not monolithic — that its meaning shifts over time and across interpretations. Progressive movements within churches claim that “love,” “justice,” and “inclusion” allow for moral flexibility. They read ancient commands about sexuality, gender, and marriage as cultural relics rather than moral absolutes. Mainline denominations such as the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the United Church of Christ have embraced this approach, aligning closely with Democratic Party social values — affirming LGBTQ+ relationships, ordaining openly practicing clergy, and celebrating abortion rights as expressions of compassion and equality.

To them, Jesus’ command to “love your neighbor” (Matthew 22:39) means accepting whatever someone chooses for themselves. But they forget the first commandment in that same passage: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind” (Matthew 22:37). Love for neighbor must be defined by love for God — and that love means obedience to His Word.

The Bible’s Clarity About Sin

Scripture speaks in clear terms about sin. It does not shift with the latest fashions or what’s acceptable. Passages like Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:26–27 call same-sex acts “contrary to nature.” Paul wrote these words while living under Roman rule — a society far more permissive, immoral, and violent than our own — yet he never softened his message. The same was true of the early church. The apostles preached one gospel, unchanged by culture: repent, believe in Christ, and be saved.

This consistency is one of Christianity’s greatest proofs. Despite crossing languages, governments, and centuries, its message remained the same. The apostles preached to Jewish legalists in Jerusalem, philosophers in Athens, idolaters in Ephesus, and the morally corrupt in Corinth — yet they never adjusted the gospel to fit their audience. The call to repentance was universal. 

Examples from the Apostles

• Athens (Acts 17:22–31) — Paul spoke to intellectuals and philosophers, acknowledging their religiosity but boldly declaring, “Now God commands all people everywhere to repent.” Even among the “tolerant” elites of his time, he did not water down the truth.
• Corinth (1 Corinthians 6:9–11) — In a city known for sexual immorality and wealth, Paul warned, “Do not be deceived… the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers… will not inherit the kingdom of God,” then reminded them, “And such were some of you.” Transformation — not affirmation — was the mark of grace.
• Rome (Romans 1:18–32) — To the most powerful empire on earth, Paul declared that when societies reject God, they descend into every kind of sin — idolatry, greed, sexual perversion, and arrogance. His words sound as modern as today’s headlines.
• Ephesus (Acts 19:18–20) — Those who practiced witchcraft burned their valuable books publicly. Conversion meant renouncing profitable sins — proving that the gospel demands change.
• Jerusalem (Acts 2:36–39) — To the devout and religious, Peter preached repentance with the same force as to the pagans: “Repent and be baptized… for the forgiveness of your sins.”
• Philippi (Acts 16:16–19) — When Paul freed a slave girl from exploitation, it cost her owners profit — and landed him in prison. Even against economic powers, the message did not change.

Across every culture — whether philosophical, sexualized, legalistic, or corrupt — the apostles’ message was unyielding: sin separates, Christ redeems, and repentance restores. 

The Unchanging Core of Christianity

Throughout Scripture, God’s moral law stands firm even as cultures shift. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Every attempt to reshape Christianity into a more “modern” or “inclusive” faith only distances people from truth. God’s standards do not evolve; they expose human sin so that grace can heal it.

Christianity offers freedom — but not the freedom to redefine sin. It offers love — but not love that ignores repentance. It offers inclusion — but only through the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

Proof Through the Apostles’ Deaths

If cultural convenience could bend truth, the apostles would have abandoned it long before they died for it. Yet not one recanted. Peter was crucified upside down. Andrew was nailed to an X-shaped cross. James was executed by the sword. Thomas was speared. Paul was beheaded. Others were stoned, flayed, or exiled — all proclaiming the same message to their final breath: Jesus Christ is Lord, and salvation comes only through Him.

Their courage across continents and centuries demonstrates that the truth of Christianity is not cultural — it is eternal.

Culture changes, but truth does not. Christianity does not evolve to meet the desires of the day; it confronts them. From Jerusalem to Rome, from the first century to today, the call has never changed: repent, believe, and follow Christ. f your version of Christianity bends to fit culture, it may carry the name, but it has lost the cross.

NOTE: Footnotes included in book. See book for references.