This is Church Week 1:

Cleaning the garage is a project that gets done…but it’s never done.

IT IS AN ONGOING PROJECT WITH EBBS AND FLOWS…

The book of Acts gives us an understanding that the church was birthed but not completed.

What Jesus started in Luke…we’re all continuing in Acts

1. The Preface: From Pages to Purpose

Acts 1:1 NKJV

1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

What did Jesus begin to do? Establish the kingdom

What did Jesus begin to teach? A right perspective of God

In order to fully dive into what the book of Acts has for us, we have to understand what the book of Acts is.

It is not a standalone work.

It is not a new concept.

It is the continuation of Luke’s literary approach to telling the story of Jesus, his followers, and their ministry.

Acts isn't a new idea—it’s the next step in the same story.

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Let’s talk about the gospel of Luke

I won’t be able to do an entire series on the book of Luke, but in order for us to understand Acts, there are some facets of Luke’s account that we need to understand.

Luke 1:1–4 NKJV

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

Luke approaches everything that happens from the perspective of a historian that is preserving the truth about Jesus time on earth.

The gospel of Luke is thought to be one of the most historically verifiable documents for a variety of reasons.

Geography – Accurate place names and routes

Titles of officials – Like calling the governor of Cyprus a "proconsul" (Acts 13:7), which is historically accurate for that time.

Cultural context – Including Jewish customs, Roman laws, and Greek-speaking norms

The archaeologist Sir William Ramsay, originally skeptical of Luke’s reliability, famously changed his mind after years of fieldwork. He said:

“Luke is a historian of the first rank... this author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians.

The gospel of Luke is volume one of a two volume work that Luke would write…The book of Acts is volume 2.

Big idea: Luke told us what Jesus began. Acts tells us how that mission continues—through us.

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📚 2. The Perspective – A Historian with Holy Insight

What sets Luke apart?

There are a couple of elements that Luke focuses in on that give us context and help us know what the book of Acts is telling us.

Luke highlights Jesus ministry to the marginalized…

Luke focuses on Jesus ministry to Gentiles, Women, The poor, And the outcast in a way that the other gospel writers don’t

This fact sets up the global mission and the without exception nature with which the gospel is preached to all people in the book of Acts.

These documents are important doctrinal pieces of the scriptural narrative to such a degree that they make up 27% of the New Testaments real estate.

In summary: Luke gives incredible detail in describing the narrative of Jesus life and ministry in such a way as to prove the divinity of Jesus.

The book of Acts shifts from telling us about the God we serve to showing us the mandate we carry.

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🌍 3. The People – Outsiders on the Inside

Luke’s Gospel makes room for the marginalized—and that’s no accident.

He intentionally captures moments with people society ignored:

The Samaritan leper

The sinful woman who weeps at Jesus’ feet

Zacchaeus, the tax collector

The widow of Nain

This thread continues in Acts, where the Holy Spirit falls on every kind of person—Jews and Gentiles, men and women, rich and poor.

Quote:

“If Luke’s gospel widened the door, Acts kicks it off the hinges.”

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Jesus finished salvation…but only began evangelism

“All that Jesus began to do an teach.”

We always talk about the finished work of Christ.

There is nothing that needs to be added to what we talked about last week.

The cross was an all sufficient price for salvation…The empty tomb shows that victory has been won!

But the finished work is that of salvation…there are other things that Jesus did not complete…He only began.

The work of salvation was completed…the work of evangelism was just getting started.

___________ Understand the primary role that we play in this Christian experience after having accepted Jesus is in telling the story.

We were not simply saved to feel better about our former wrongs.

We were saved so that we would tell others about the God who has changed our lives!

It isn’t our job to save people…It is our job to tell people they can be saved.

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🤝 4. The Partnership – Knowing Our Place in the Plan

Acts 1:2 NKJV

2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

The son of God that has just proven he is capable of anything.

Death could not hold him…The veil tore before him…He’s unstoppable

But he seemingly is having trouble getting the disciples to get on his wavelength.

Luke 24:36–37 NKJV

36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

Jesus tells them to have peace—and they panic

This has to be slightly frustrating…I can beat death…but I can’t beat your stubborn way of thinking…

You explicitly tell your kids something…they do the opposite.

This fact is an act of voluntary submission on the part of Jesus.

But here’s what’s profound: Even though Jesus was God in the fullest fashion, He didn’t overstep into the role of the Holy Spirit.

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The role he told us HS would have.

John 16:13 NKJV

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

The Holy Spirit is who was given the role of revelation…so Jesus allowed the Holy Spirit to operate in that role.

There is something for us to learn in this…We have to investigate carefully what our role is.

Within relationships…you can’t be everything for everyone

Within organizations…One person can’t do everything.

WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THE TRINITARIAN RELATIONSHIP OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT!

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We need the Holy Spirit to win the lost

There is something freeing when it comes to evangelism to understand the role of the Holy Spirit when it comes to revealing the truth of God.

Our words are not nearly as important as His work!

Sometimes we let insecurity keep us from sharing the love of God…

As though our inability to properly follow the script will be what makes or breaks someones decision to follow Jesus.

The gospel is not an intellectual exercise…It is a Spiritual experience.

More than we need to know good doctrine…We need to walk closely with the one the doctrine is about.

Many people spend a lot of time worrying about being able do defend the validity of the gospel.

An experience is better than an explanation.

For too long the church has worked towards having a description of a move of God

The world is hungry for a body of believers who will give them a demonstration of the move of God.

More than we need apologetics we need anointing.

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👑 5. The Priority – Kingdom Over Concepts

Acts 1:3 NKJV

3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Luke turns the attention of the readers to the content of Jesus teaching in his short time on earth between resurrection and ascension.

Jesus did not have much time on earth…so he focused on what really mattered.

I love Paul…but Jesus didn’t spend his time talking about justification by faith

Jesus didn’t spend his time explaining what the gifts of the Spirit would be when they showed up

Jesus didn’t focus on doctrine hardly at all.

Jesus spent his time on earth teaching the kingdom.

The kingdom is applicable because the only way a kingdom can function is for the king to be revered.

Many of us are too focused on what we believe about God when what is necessary is for us to simply place Him on the throne of our lives!

I didn’t have to know every detail about my coach to run when he told me to run!

Place him on the throne and we will learn of him as we yield to his kingship!

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🔥 CLOSING THOUGHT

If Luke told the story of what Jesus began, Then Acts tells the story of what Jesus continues—through us.

More than we need apologetics, we need anointing.

More than we need polish, we need presence.

The finished work of salvation is done.

The forward mission of the church is just getting started.