Hebrews 11:23-27 | Acts 7:17-34

Hebrews 11:23-27 | Acts 7:17-34

Pat Kappenman

The Church and Her Practices

The Church and Her Practices

Andrew Lovette

The Church and Her Practices

(Acts 2:42-47) 

MIS: The gospel formed Church continually devotes herself to the scriptures, the prayers, and the fellowship. 

I. Devotion to the Scriptures (v. 42)

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” 

John 16:12-15

“He had promised the twelve that the Spirit should come to teach them what in His own earthly ministry he had left unsaid, and He kept His promise; so that the apostolic teaching was in reality the complete and final version of His own.” 

J.I. Packer

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” 

Ephesians 2:19-21

II. Devotion to the Prayers (v. 42)

For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ. 

1 Timothy 2:5

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” 

Hebrews 7:25

“Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” 

Romans 8:34

“Let your gentleness be clear, for the Lord is near. Do not be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition, be thankful, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” 

Philippians 4:5-7

III. Devotion to the Fellowship (v. 42-47)

Koinonia (κοινωνία) - sharing, harmony, unity, giving, communing, partnering, loving

1. “…Be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50)

2. “…Wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)

3. “…Love one another…” (John 13:34)

4. “…Love one another…” (John 13:34)

5. “…Love one another…” (John 13:35)

6. “…Love one another…” (John 15:12)

7. “…Love one another” (John 15:17)

8. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love…” (Romans 12:10)

9. “…Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)

10. “Live in harmony with one another…” (Romans 12:16)

11. “…Love one another…” (Romans 13:8)

12. “…Stop passing judgment on one another.” (Romans 14:13)

13. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you…” (Romans 15:7)

14. “…Instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)

15. “Greet one another with a holy kiss…” (Romans 16:16)

16. “…When you come together to eat, wait for each other.” (I Cor. 11:33)

17. “…Have equal concern for each other.” (I Corinthians 12:25)

18. “…Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (I Corinthians 16:20)

19. “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (2 Corinthians 13:12)

20. “…Serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)

21. “If you keep on biting and devouring each other…you will be destroyed by each other.”
(Galatians 5:15)

22. “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:26)

23. “Carry each other’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2)

24. “…Be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2)

25. “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32)

26. “…Forgiving each other…” (Ephesians 4:32)

27. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” (Ephesians 5:19)

28. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)

29. “…In humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

30. “Do not lie to each other…” (Colossians 3:9)

31. “Bear with each other…” (Colossians 3:13)

32. “Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.” (Colossians 3:13)

33. “Teach…[one another]” (Colossians 3:16)

34. “…Admonish one another (Colossians 3:16)

35. “…Make your love increase and overflow for each other.” (I Thessalonians 3:12)

36. “…Love each other.” (I Thessalonians 4:9)

37. “…Encourage each other…”(I Thessalonians 4:18)

38. “…Encourage each other…” I Thessalonians 5:11)

39. “…Build each other up…” (I Thessalonians 5:11)

40. “Encourage one another daily…” Hebrews 3:13)

41. “…Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24)

42. “…Encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)

43. “…Do not slander one another.” (James 4:11)

44. “Don’t grumble against each other…” (James 5:9)

45. “Confess your sins to each other…” (James 5:16)

46. “…Pray for each other.” (James 5:16)

47. “…Love one another deeply, from the heart.” (I Peter 3:8)

48. “…Live in harmony with one another…” (I Peter 3:8)

49. “…Love each other deeply…” (I Peter 4:8)

50. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (I Peter 4:9)

51. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others…” (I Peter 4:10)

52. “…Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…”(I Peter 5:5)

53. “Greet one another with a kiss of love.” (I Peter 5:14)

54. “…Love one another.” (I John 3:11)

55. “…Love one another.” (I John 3:23)

56. “…Love one another.” (I John 4:7)

57. “…Love one another.” (I John 4:11)

58. “…Love one another.” (I John 4:12)

59. “…Love one another.” (2 John 5)

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Fellowship or Koinonia grows from love in at least five ways. 

1. Awe (v. 43)

Phobos (φόβος) - panic flight, fear, the causing of fear, terror

“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” Acts 9:31

 2. Unity (v. 44)

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14

3. Generosity (v. 45)

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9

4. Hospitality (v.46)

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:8-9

5. Evangelism (v. 47)

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

“Now the Christians O king, by going about and seeking have found truth, for they know and trust in God the Maker of heaven and earth who has no fellow, from Him they receive those commandments which they have engraved on their minds and which they observe in the hope and expectation of the world to come, they refuse to worship strange gods, and they go their way in all humility and cheerfulness, falsehood is not found among them, they love one another, the widow’s needs are not ignored, and they rescue the orphan from the person who does him violence, he who has gives to him who has not unbegrudingly and without boasting, when the Christians find a stranger they bring him to their homes and rejoice over him as a true brother, they do not call brothers those who are bound by blood ties alone, but those who are brethren after the Spirit and in God, when one of their poor passes away from the World each provides for his burial according to his ability, if they hear of any of their number who are imprisoned or oppressed for the name of the messiah they all provide for his needs and if it is possible to redeem him they set him free. If they find poverty in their midst and they do not have spare food they fast two or three days in order that the needy might be supplied with the necessities. They observe scrupulously and the commandments of their messiah living honestly and soberly as the Lord their God ordered them. Every morning and every hour they praise and thank God for His goodness to them, and for their food and drink they offer thanksgiving. Such O’ king is the commandment given to the Christians and such is their conduct.” - Aristedes 

The Church & Her Leaders

The Church & Her Leaders

Ian Thomas

The Church & Her Leaders

1 Timothy 3:1-13 | Acts 20:28-35 

Main Idea: Jesus’ church is designed to be led by elders who shepherd the flock and deacons who serve faithfully. 

I. Elders Shepherd the Flock

Terminology: Overseers (20:28a), elders (20:17), and pastors (20:28b ‘care for the church’) are used interchangeably in the NT to address the same office & position, with elder occurring the most often. Elders are pastors and pastors are elders. 

Who are Elders? Elders are called men of exemplary Christ-like character who lead in a particular local church

• “Called” speaks to both “aspiring” (1 Tim. 3:1 &) to the office, confirmed & commended in the local church to ensure the Holy Spirit has brought this about (Acts 20:28)

• “Men”: the office of elder is reserved for men in the Scriptures and it always appears as a plurality

• “Christ-like character” (1 Tim. 3:2-7) is a necessity & qualification, not a preference

What do Elders do? Elders shepherd the flock of God by:

• Knowing the Sheep, caring for the flock among them. 

• Feeding the Sheep (1 Tim. 3:2 | Acts 20:20, 27, 32), the word of God which is able to build up.

• Leading the Sheep, both in example and in organization so that it might flourish.

• Protecting the Sheep, from false teachers (Acts 20:29-31) & from the dangers of sin. 

Why are Elders important? 

Elders who lead faithfully as “under-shepherds” will keep watch over your soul while pointing you to the “Chief Shepherd,” the one who obtained the church “with his own blood” (20:28). They reflect the authority, heart, and voice of Jesus himself, all to the benefit of the flock. 

Hebrews 13:7, 17: “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith… Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

II. Deacons Serve the Flock

Elders serve by leading, while Deacons lead the church by serving. 

Who are Deacons? Men and women of exemplary Christ-like character who lead by serving the church faithfully. 

While the office of Elder is consistently reserved for men in the NT, the office of deacon is less clear: 

• “Their wives” (1 Tim. 3:11, ESV) is simply “women” in the Greek

• Phoebe in Romans 16:1 is called a deacon, and seems to have some kind of official role in the church at Cenchrea

• Women have served in the role of deacon throughout church history, from the early church to modern-day amongst churches that share our theological persuasion

Since deacons do not hold a ruling or teaching office over the whole church (as the elders do), appointing both men and women to the office of deacon best honors the unique & diverse gifts that God has given to the whole body of Christ.

What do Deacons do? Deacons serve the practical ministry needs & opportunities of the flock alongside the elders. 

Acts 6:1-6 shows shows us 3 principles of the (future) role of deacons:

1. Deacons care for practical ministry needs and opportunities

2. Deacons are concerned for the unity of the church

Of the many lessons for deacons from Acts 6, perhaps most overlooked is their role in preserving congregational unity. The situation was no mere culinary quibble. The apostles were faced with a natural fault line that threatened to fracture the very unity Christ died to achieve. The gospel insists, after all, that our unity in Christ supersedes any worldly difference. So make no mistake: the apostles did not delegate this problem to others because it wasn’t important, but because it was. They could have imposed a swift, superficial solution and moved on. Instead they laid groundwork for an ongoing solution and a permanent church office.” ~ Matt Smethurst 

3. Deacons work in a supportive role alongside the ministry of the elders

Why are Deacons important? 

Deacons ensure that the ministry of the church is maintained, unified, and carried out, while they reflect the ultimate Servant who “came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk. 10:45)

The Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead

The Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead

Ian Thomas

Main Idea: The resurrection was the sovereign plan of God to vindicate Jesus as our Savior & Lord.

I. The Sovereign Plan of the Resurrection

Peter quotes Psalm 16 in order to draw attention to:

1. The bodily resurrection of Jesus

“Jesus’ body kicked back to life on that Easter morning. It was a spiritual resurrection and a physical resurrection. His amino acids began to flutter about, his brain stem booted up, and his heart began to pump. Jesus is alive.” ~ J.A. Medders & Brandon Smith

Romans 8:22–23: 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

2 Peter 1:16: For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

2. Jesus’ resurrection as the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7)

“The resurrection of Christ is not just something to believe in; it’s something to be lived. Christ is not a dead teacher. If he was a dead teacher, then being a Christian would just be to believe what he said. Since he’s a risen Lord, he comes and penetrates our lives with a new order of being.” ~ Tim Keller

II. The Saving Power of the Resurrection (2:24)

“The pangs of death were, so to speak, the labor pains of a new life. Christ is the firstborn from the dead.” ~ Herman Bavinck

1 Peter 1:3-5: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Commissioned to make Disciples

*no sermon audio

Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47

The pastoral priority of the Church is to make disciples of those who are being born again.

Jesus' commission calls every local church/pastoral team to thoughtfully and intentionally answer at least three questions and then to thoughtfully, diligently, and consistently execute on their answers.

I. WHO do we seek to make into disciples?

Those whom the Lord adds to our church. These are brothers and sisters who are:

- Authentically reborn

- Publicly identified

- Locally aligned

II. WHAT do we want to make them into?

“Doers” of all that Jesus commanded. What we mean by this, is people whose gospel-informed faith is so infused with gospel-defined hope that their lives are characterized by gospel-inspired love. We call these people “gospel fluent,” because the gospel comes to inform and drive more and more of what they do every day.

We strive to be a community of believers who:

• Find beauty in the ordinary,

• Fight to show up, and

• Faithfully engage in meaningful conversation

III. HOW are we going to do this?

By creating spaces and routines that promote biblical literacy and gospel fluency.

What can you do to make this happen?

The answer is found in our sermon text: And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Simply put, those people who had received the word, who were baptized, and who were added to the number adjusted their lives and routines so as to become active participants in this new thing God was doing in their lives and in their midst. Becoming a disciple of Jesus was the only thing that made sense to them and they were all in.

Called to Mission

Called to Mission

Ian Thomas

Acts 16:6-34

Christianity Today Survey:

• “I believe every Christian has a responsibility to share their faith.” (64% of Christians agreed)

• “I actively seek or create opportunities to share my faith.” (19% of Christians agreed)

Main Idea: God’s mission to save a diverse people is accomplished through divine encounters and opportunities to share the gospel.  

I. The Mission is Directed by God (16:6-10)

How the missionaries were specifically “forbidden by the Holy Spirit” on their travel plans is unclear, but the principle is clear: God had other plans for them at this time. Strategy, rationale, and logic are important in seeking to share the gospel, but everything must be submitted to God’s sovereign plan and direction. 

After shutting doors, God clearly opens one through the vision of the Macedonian man asking for help. The priority is also placed on the fact that “God has called us to preach the gospel to them.” The group understands that the greatest need for those in Macedonia is the good news about Jesus. The church can & should be doing a lot of good things on mission, but gospel proclamation must be the priority. 

This is all a reminder that the mission is ultimately God’s work. This means 2 things for us:

1. The pressure is off. We are called & invited to participate, but ultimately God is the one who is directing and bringing about salvation. 

2. We should be seeking to follow his leading and prompting. Visions like this are not the norm for the Christian life, though God is free to act in this way. However, God has given us his Spirit, his word, prayer, and community. Are we using these means of grace to actively engage seek his will and follow his leading? 

Colossians 4:2-4: Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

II. The Mission is Driven by Divine Encounters (16:11-34)

As the missionaries land in Philippi, God orchestrates 3 divine and opportunistic encounters:

1. Lydia (16:11-15)

There does not appear to be a Jewish synagogue in Philippi, so the group finds a prayer meeting with a group of women. Luke describes Lydia as a ‘worshiper of God,’ a technical term denoting a Gentile who believed in God but had not become Jewish. 

As they were having a conversation about the gospel, “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” Our role in the mission is always to bear witness to the gospel, while God must open the heart to believe. God is the one who saves and who changes our hearts to respond to the good news of Jesus. 

Lydia’s response indicates the genuineness of her faith:  She is baptized (along with her household) and then opens her home. There is a beautiful simplicity in her response that the Lord calls each of us to. “Once the heart is opened, the home is opened too.” ~ John Stott

2. A Slave Girl (16:16-18)

As Paul and his companions were continuing in Philippi, a slave girl with a “spirit of divination” starts following them around for days. The evil spirit is communicating the truth about the identity & work of the group, but was seeking to discredit their message and reputation. 

After Paul rebukes the spirit and it comes out of the girl, her owners stir up trouble for the missionaries. The girl likely would have been abandoned by her owners & welcomed into the new church community in Philippi. 

3. A Roman Jailor (16:25-34)

Despite their difficult situation, Paul & Silas are “praying and singing hymns to God” while imprisoned, so that all may hear them. Gospel joy in the face of sorrow & adversity will always be a powerful picture of the gospel. 

God sovereignly causes an earthquake which opens all the doors of the prison and all of the bonds of the prisoners to break lose. But rather than escaping, Paul & Silas remain, seeking an opportunistic encounter with the jailor, remain in the prison and gain the opportunity to share the gospel with him. 

The jailor realizes the grace of Paul and Silas (and the other prisoners) not escaping, he cries out, “What must I do to be saved?” They tell him of the good news of the gospel and he responds in the same way as Lydia: he is baptized and opens his home for them, rejoicing in his new faith in Jesus.

Application: Recognizing that God sets up divine and opportunistic encounters, we can intentionally position ourselves so that God can use us to start gospel conversations. 

“God isn’t necessarily looking for us to try harder or add more ministry demands on our lives. He wants us to walk in greater awareness and dependency on him in the everyday stuff of life and engage what we we’re already doing with gospel intentionality. This isn’t additional; this is intentional. It’s not about adding more to our busy lives, it’s about engaging all of life for his glory. It’s about fully realizing we have his power because he is present in us and in all we do.” ~ Jeff Vanderstelt

III. The Mission is Defined by Unity & Diversity

The diversity of people that make up the first church in Philippi is shocking. The missionaries, Lydia, the slave girl, and the Roman jailor were all different racially, socially, and spiritually. 

Despite all of these differences, they are all saved by the same gospel and welcomed into the same church. These people who had no earthly reason to be in relationship with one another are now unified by the blood of Jesus, becoming brothers and sisters in Christ. 

“Ideally the church itself is not made up of natural "friends." It is made up of natural enemies. What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything of the sort. Christians come together, not because they form a natural collocation, but because they have been saved by Jesus Christ and owe him a common allegiance… In this light, they are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake.” ~ D.A. Carson: 

Galatians 3:28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Created for Worship

Created for Worship

Ian Thomas

Acts 17:16-34

Worship works from the top down, you might say. In worship, we don’t just come to show God our devotion and give him our praise; we are called to worship because in this encounter God remakes and molds us top-down. Worship is the arena in which God recalibrates our hearts, reforms our desires, and re-habituates our loves. Worship isn’t just something we do; it is where God does something to us. Worship is the heart of discipleship because it is the gymnasium in which God retrains our hearts.” ~ James K.A. Smith

Main Idea: We are designed to worship with our whole being because we are created by and for God.

I. The Inevitability of Worship (17:16)

Athens was the cultural, philosophical, and intellectual epicenter of this region of the world, and was city was of great significance throughout history. Paul is not struck by its beauty or brilliance, however. Instead, he is bothered by the fact it is “full of idols.” He perceives everything in Athens through the lens of worship. 

“There were innumerable temples, shrines, statues and altars. In the Parthenon stood a huge gold and ivory statue of Athena, ‘whose gleaming spear-point was visible forty miles away’. Elsewhere there were images of Apollo, the city’s patron, of Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Neptune, and Diana. The whole Greek pantheon was there, all the gods of Olympus. And they were beautiful. They were made not only of stone and brass, but of gold, silver, ivory and marble, and they had been elegantly fashioned by the finest Greek sculptors” ~ John Stott

“Worship is ascribing ultimate value to an object and engaging your mind, your heart, and your will- your whole being, as you do it” ~ Tim Keller. 

Worship is inevitable for humans. Everyone worships as it is fundamental to who we are. There is no “on” or “off” switch to our worship; we are constantly and naturally ascribing ultimate value to something in our lives, and our entire being is engaged in this activity (head, heart, and hands). 

Application: What are we really worshipping? What has captivated our affections and our loves? Is it really God or something else? 

Paul’s response to this idolatry is instructive for us as the church. He is “provoked” (conflicted, irritated, angered). This word is used in the OT to describe God’s feelings about idolatry; he viewed the city the same way that God does. God is rightly angry at idolatry, but he is also jealous for the worship of his creation. 

II. The Interaction of Worship (17:17-21)

Being “provoked” drives Paul to action in Athens. As was his custom, he first goes to the synagogue (place of teaching & learning for the Jewish people). He then moves on to the marketplace (Gk. ‘agora’), which was the hub and central gathering place of city. 

As he entered these spaces, he engaged in 2 things:

1. Meaningful Conversations (17:17-21). As he engaged with the Jews, Epicureans and Stoics, he was reasoning and conversing with them. He was listening and learning about their belief system, worldview, lifestyle, and ultimately - their worship. 

2. Proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection (17:18a). Paul’s gospel conversations were “strange things” to the ears of those in Athens. The gospel is indeed “folly to those who are perishing” (1 Cor. 1:18), and we should both expect and embrace this “strangeness.” 

Application: Do we know the idols of our neighbors, friends, coworkers, and city? Are we critically engaging with others in meaningful conversation through the lens of worship, or are we unconsciously being shaped by the worship happening around us? 

III. The Inventor of Worship (17:22-31)

Having earned a hearing and the right to speak at Mars Hill, Paul bridges into their worship by observing two things that are true of all humanity: They are “religious in every way” and they are searching (an altar ‘to the unknown god’)

Having established this bridge, Paul then appeals to the Athenians to believe in the inventor of worship. His appeal is steeped in Biblical imagery as he draws their attention to 6 things about God:

1. God is Creator (17:24). He is the Lord over heaven and earth. He cannot be confined & controlled by those whom he has created, and he cannot be manipulated by worship. 

2. God is Sustainer (17:25). God does not need ‘anything’ from us. He is actively involved and is upholding his creation (Heb. 1:3)

3. God is Sovereign (17:26-27a). God is sovereign over when and where we live, so that we might find him. This is God’s purpose for humanity. 

“Human beings are made by and for the Creator, who is known in Jesus Christ. In other words, to be truly and fully human, we need to “find” ourselves in relationship to the One who made us and for whom we are made. The gospel is the way we learn to be human.” ~ James K.A. Smith

4. God is Near (17:27-28). He has come to seek and save the lost through the work of Christ. Paul quotes their own poets to show they have some conception & longing for this. 

5. God is Personal (17:29). He is not a “statue” or an “image” that is impersonal and can be contained & controlled; he has created humanity in his image. 

6. God is Judge (17:30-31). God commands all people to repent, because of the “man whom he has appointed” (Jesus), and his “raising him from the dead.” The time of ignorance is now over because of the manifestation of Jesus Christ.

IV. The Invitation of Worship (17:30, 32-34)

If these things are really true of God, then he is worthy of all of our worship. We are designed to esteem him of ultimate value, and to engage our entire being in orienting our lives around him. 

There are three responses to this message at Mars Hill:

1. Mocking & Rejection (17:32a)

2. Intrigue & Curiosity (17:32b)

3. Repentance & Faith (17:30, 34)

“There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships... And the compelling reason for maybe choosing some sort of god or spiritual-type thing to worship is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive” ~ David Foster Wallace

Waiting Witnesses

Waiting Witnesses

Andrew Lovette

Acts 1:1-11

Jesus calls, equips, and empowers us to be faithful, spirit-filled witnesses until he returns.

I. His Message (1:1-3)

Jesus’ life was marked by teaching and doing. Even after his suffering he appears to his disciples for 40 days speaking about the Kingdom.

“O foolish ones, slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and the Prophets, he interpreted to them in ALL the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27

Jesus spends these 40 days proving who he is by sharing the good news. Jesus primary proof is the scriptures. The scriptures testify about his life. They are an indisputable proof that Jesus is King.

II. His Promise (1:4-8a)

Jesus knows they really need the Holy Spirit. And tells them John’s baptism was external and what they need is internal. They need new ears to hear. They need the Helper.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whole the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be IN you.” John 14:15-17

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:25-26

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is for your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. And when he comes he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement.” John 16:7-8

The need for a new heart isn’t new. Since the garden and the fall we’ve had a heart problem. And all through the Old Testament the temple was the place where the spirit used to tabernacle. The spirit would rest and the people would come to the tabernacle. Now Jesus is promising that same Holy Spirit would actually come and DWELL or tabernacle in his people.

“And I will give you a new heart, and new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove your heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” Ezekiel 36:26-27

The disciples did the math and associated the promise of the Holy Spirit with the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. They took fragments of promises and glued them together with their timing. They thought they understood where this was going and the problem was their perspectives were too small.

The disciples were still thinking local. Jesus was thinking global.

III. His Commission (1:8b-11)

Jesus didn’t solely come for the people of Israel. He came for the world.

“The church must understand it’s sentness, and how sentness flows from and out of the implications of the Great Commission. As we seek to obey and apply the work of the great commission, we find that every Christ follower is commanded in Scripture to a life of being a missionary who initiates contact with a lost world.” - Doug Logan

Jesus left. Go and make. Don’t stay and wait. He’s coming back.