OceanSide church of Christ

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THE BOOK OF ACTS

 

The Close of Jesus’ Earthly Ministry

Acts 1:1-11

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Our study of the book of Acts is being used to help keep us focused on our theme for this year:  “Sowing the Seed in 2014.”

 

B.    We will be studying the book of Acts section by section.  We want you to do three things in your study.

1.     Title the section

2.     Outline the section

3.     Answer this question:  “How can I apply this section to church growth?”

 

C.    This morning our study will look at Acts 1:1-11.

 

D.    Assignment for next week:  Acts 1:12-26

 

I.               THE TITLE OF ACTS 1:1-11

 

A.    The Close of Jesus’ Earthly Ministry

 

B.    The Past, the Present, and the Future

 

II.            THE OUTLINE OF ACTS 1:1-11

 

i.               THE FORMER TREATISE (Acts 1:1-3)

ii.             THE FINAL ASSEMBLY (Acts 1:4-9)

iii.            THE FORTIFYING PROMISE (Acts 1:10-11)

 

III.          THE APPLICATION OF ACTS 1:1-11 TO CHURCH GROWTH

 

A.    Church growth begins with a treatise about Jesus (Acts 1:1).

 

The former treatise have I made, O Theolphilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.

 

B.    The apostles had been selected by Jesus to carry out His work after His ascension (Acts 1:2).

 

…after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen.

 

C.    The resurrection of Christ is pivotal part of our message.  It is not an alleged event; it is a proven fact (Acts 1:3).

 

To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days…

 

D.    God was actively involved in the planning and the implementation of His plan to save humanity (Acts 1:4).

 

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

 

E.    The Holy Spirit would empower the apostles to be witnesses because they did not have the New Testament in written form as we have it today (Acts 1:8).

 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

F.     Jesus had to depart from the earth for the Holy Ghost to come (Acts 1:9, see John 16:7).

 

And when he had spoken these things, while they behold, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

 

G.    Jesus, who was taken into heaven, is going to return again.  Until He does, we need to carry out the mission of taking the gospel to the lost (Acts 1:11).

 

Which also said, Ye men of Galiliee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 

 

Others:

 

1.     Instead of looking up, we need to look out toward the lost (v.11).

2.     Personal work cannot be done while standing (v. 11).

3.     Start where you are.  The apostles began in Jerusalem (v. 8).