Empowered to Be Witnesses
This is That • Sermon • Submitted
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· 25 viewsThe early church was characterized by a bold determination to preach the gospel everywhere, even in the face of opposition. Students should exhibit that same determination to share the gospel in our present world.
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Ask students to share ways they publicly demonstrate their faith.
How have they seen others demonstrate their faith in the public sphere?
How can we use our platforms to promote the greatest message of all—the gospel?
One way can be the way we live, how we carry ourselves really determine the kind of lifestyle we live. The way we talk, act, dress both guys and girls. This reflects what our influence is and if God is in us his spirit influences us into showing what it means to be a Christ follower.
To be honest I can’t recall ever seeing someone demonstrate their faith outside of church sounds sad but is true. Social media…OF COURSE at least one of us have seen someone demonstrate their faith through a post or even on their bios
I’ll let you answer.
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This: Believers in the Book of Acts Boldly Shared the Gospel Everywhere They Went
1. Acts 5:42 gives us the itinerary of the early church: “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ” (KJV).
Outreach was not something they had in their calendars as something they need to do at this time: it was their everyday lifestyle.
They preached in the Temple (God’s house). It certainly is biblical to preach the gospel in a church setting.
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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 4:8-12
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Numbers 11:29 (Context: The Elders were given the spirit of the Lord and they prophesied..)
29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!
Isaiah 52:7–8
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; That bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; That saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; With the voice together shall they sing: For they shall see eye to eye, When the Lord shall bring again Zion.
Romans 10:14–17.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
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Empowered to Be His Witnesses
Luke 24:46-49
Jesus gave His disciples a message to deliver: “repentance and remission of sins . . . in his name” (Luke 24:47). Compare this verse with Peter’s words in Acts 2:38.
What similarities do you see between these two verses
How was Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost a fulfilment of Jesus’ words in Luke 24:47?
Jesus promised that before becoming His witnesses (Luke 24:48), believers would be “endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49)
Jesus again spoke of this power in Acts 1:8.
The word translated “power”—dunamis (Strong’s Concordance)—is the root of modern English words such as “dynamite” and “dynamic.”
It may sound cheesy, but the Holy Spirit truly is spiritual “dynamite” that empowers us to be dynamic witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Power to Overcome Opposition
Jesus promised to give us power because He knew our witness would face opposition.
In professions such as mining, dynamite sometimes is used to remove obstacles.
Likewise, the dunamis power of the Holy Spirit can help us overcome obstacles that would prevent us from being witnesses.
Sometimes people oppose our witness, but often our greatest opposition is internal rather than external. We can be our own worst enemy.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Acts 4:29–31
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
