The Wild Invitation: A 7-Session Bible Study on the Book of Acts

by Mac Bridges, Kenz Durham

In the earliest days of the church, recorded in the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit transformed ordinary people into courageous ambassadors of Christ's upside-down kingdom. But too often today we settle for a routine, ordinary, "tame" faith, not realizing that the bold, miraculous, explosive, unstoppable faith the early Christians experienced is still available to us.

This seven-week, verse-by-verse study through the book of Acts invites you to embrace the unpredictable, sometimes challenging adventure of Spirit-led living that characterized the early church. Through daily Scripture reading, reflection questions, and group discussion, participants will experience firsthand how a life submitted to the Holy Spirit--though at times inconvenient and uncomfortable--is infinitely more fulfilling than one lived according to safety, comfort, and control.

Genres: Christian

208 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2025

Reviews

[Erin Reads]

The Wild Invitation: A 7-Session Bible Study on the Book of Acts
by Mac Bridges & Kenz Durham

Thank you to Bethany House for the gifted copy.

The Wild Invitation aims to recapture the energy, urgency and spiritual boldness of the early church in Acts. It’s written with enthusiasm and a clear desire to help readers step into a more active, fearless expression of faith. The tone is bright, upbeat and very much geared toward readers who enjoy devotional frameworks and structured Christian study.

As someone who isn’t Christian, though, this didn’t land for me. The language and approach felt heavily filtered through a particular theological lens, one that leans more motivational than reflective and at times it came across more like persuasion than exploration. I kept wishing for a study that acknowledged complexity, history and nuance instead of assuming the reader already shares the same convictions.

I was also hoping to see something more directly empowering for women, and I’m not sure this study gets there. Its handling of Acts stays pretty close to traditional interpretations, which may feel limiting for readers looking for broader representation or for teens trying to understand where they fit within the text.

All that said, Bridges and Durham clearly care about their audience and bring a lot of passion to the material. For readers already invested in this style of devotional study, I can see how the structure and energy would be appealing.

For me, it’s a 2-star read. Not a bad book, just not one I’d hand to my teens, and not one that broadened the conversation in the ways I hoped.

[Christine D’Angelo]

This bible study did a fantastic job of walking you through the book of Acts. I learned a lot and highly recommend.

[Liz]

Presents an inspiring and positive challenge in a bright and sunny way.