Act 1: The Triune God’s Mission of Restoration

Sermon Summary

In the second message of our new series, "Acts: Church HIStory," Pastor Phill explores Acts 1:1-14. He emphasizes that the book of Acts exists to glorify Jesus Christ by making disciples of all nations through unified prayer. This sermon unpacks the opening verses of Acts, setting the stage for how our church's history is truly HIS story, centered on Jesus and His mission.

Sermon Outline:

1. Acts 1:1-2: The book of Acts exists to GLORIFY JESUS CHRIST.

2. Acts 1:3-5: The book of Acts exists to glorify Christ BY MAKING DISCIPLES.

3. Acts 1:6-11: The book of Acts exists to glorify Christ by making disciples OF ALL NATIONS.

4. Acts 1:12-14: The book of Acts exists to glorify Christ by making disciples of all nations THROUGH UNIFIED PRAYER.

Sermon Text: Acts 1:1-14

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, ² until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³ He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

⁴ And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. ¹³ And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. ¹⁴ All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it look like to make disciples through prayer?

2. How does Jesus continue to make disciples while sitting at the right hand of the Father?

3. How does Acts 6:8 help us further understand how Jesus is ruling and reigning over all things?

4. How do we see and know Jesus is working through suffering and death?

5. How does the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives impact our daily lives?

6. How does Acts 19:1-7 help us further understand the Holy Spirit coming down on them when they heard of Jesus?

7. What does it look like to trust God with the future?

8. What does it look like for the church to be a part of Jesus’ story and build his kingdom?