Sermon Notes from Pastor Jon
*The need to take the gospel to the world is great
-250 Million lost people in North America
-Half of the worlds 7 Billion people have little or no access to the gospel
-Over 3,000 people groups have No access to the gospel
*Let me be specific about what I want today & thru the whole series
1) I’m praying that some will leave Fairview to be foreign missionaries
2) I want us to be on mission here: work, school, neighborhood, hobby…
Main Point of Acts: Acts is about Jesus establishing His Kingdom thru the Spirit- empowered Movement of the gospel to the ends of the earth
1. We need to be Prepared for The Movement (1:1-5)
*Acts is the 2nd volume written by Luke to Theophilus (1st was Luke)
*Jesus proved His resurrection by appearing to them
1 Corinthians 15:6 Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive…
1 John 1:1 “That which…we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands…”
*Luke wants to show the Reliability of these books
*Jesus appeared to them after the resurrection to train them for mission
*Luke 24:44-49 tells us what he instructed them in (summary):
-OT foretold that the Messiah MUST suffer & DIE (whole OT about HIM)
-THEN, He would be gloried (Resurrection from the dead & Ascension to the throne)
-This message would be preached, people will repent, & receive forgiveness
-It will start in Jerusalem, but it won’t stay there. It’ll go to the ends of the earth!
*Luke was about the Beginning of Jesus’ ministry & mission
*That means this book is the Continuation of Jesus’ ministry & mission
*The Church is NOT the HERO of ACTS; Jesus is
- Jesus is the Hero of every sermon in Acts
- 2:36 God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord & Christ
- 3:15 And you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead
- 5:14 They did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Messiah
- 13:23 Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.
- Jesus is the one who Saves
- 4:12 And there is salvation in no 1 else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved
- 16:14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia…The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul
- 16:31 And they said, “Believed in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”
- He ADD people to the church
- 2:47 And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved
- He forgives Sin (13:38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you”
- He FREES (13:39 And by Him everyone is freed…”)
- It’s His NAME that Heals
- Peter says to a lame man “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up & walk!” (3:6)
- Peter says, “Men of Israel…why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?…and His name – by faith in His name – has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health…” (3:12, 16)
- The leaders ask them “By what power or by what name did you do this? Then Peter…said to them, ‘…let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead – by Him this man is standing before you well.
- 9:34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you…”
- Jesus is presented as the Fulfillment of the OT (8:35; 13)
- Jesus is the one who will Judge the earth (10:42; 17:31)
- Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Him (11:17)
- His Word spreads (13:49; 19:20)
*This book is about JESUS, the spread of HIS REIGN & KINGDOM through His Spirit-empowered followers
APPLICATION: If you have the Holy Spirit you must be on Mission
2. We need to Participate in The Movement (1:6-11)
*Disciples are thinking let’s pick up our swords, kill the Romans & re-est the kingdom.
Psalm 72:8-9 May He have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! 9 May desert tribes bow down before Him, & His enemies lick the dust!
*His Empire extends as the Gospel is preached in the power of the Holy Spirit and the Peoples of the earth bow their knees to King Jesus
*Acts 1:8 gives the outline to the whole book
- Acts 1-7 Jerusalem witness
- Acts 8-12 Judea & Samaria witness
- Acts 13-28 World witness
*In Acts the gospel extends to Rome, and there is no conclusion
*The story of Acts is meant to be Fairview’s Story…How?
1. Be a Missionary where you live, work & play
2. Learn how to witness/share your Testimony
-God rescued you to rescue your “household” (network of influence)
-Training in The Movement starts next Sunday at 5PM
3. Invite people to church/events
4. Short-term Mission trips
5. Become a Foreign missionary
6. Give to missions sacrificially
7. Adopt a Kurdish family
