We, The Church: Acts 1

Introduction: Why This Study?

One may ask why should we conduct a study on the book of Acts? The book of Acts is critical to the church understanding her purpose, identity, and responsibility.

We’ve seemingly lost the biblical meaning of the church and are ignorant of the primitive example of the church set by Jesus and the apostles.

The Christian community needs to be reframed and re-centered by the biblical example.

See 2 Kings 22-23 c.f. Matthew 5-7

Understanding the Word Church

The English word church comes from the German word kirche, which comes from the Greek word kyriakos. Kyriakos means “the Lord’s (see 1 Corinthians 11:20, Revelation 1:10).” It is a term that means belonging to God. The English use of this term led individuals to refer to the building used for the gatherings of the believers as “the Lord’s.” Effectively, churches today are referred to as the Lord’s House or House of the Lord.

However, when the word church is used in the New Testament, it is never the Greek word kyriakos. It is the word ekklesia. Ekklesia comes from the root word kaleo, which means called, named, or summoned. Therefore, ekklesia is literally means the group of called out ones. It always refers to the congregation, not the building. It refers to the universal body of believers who place their faith in Christ. It also speaks of a group of people who share a common purpose.

Matthew 16:13–19 NLT

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

According to Matthew 16:13-19:

The church is Jesus’s called out ones.

The church is founded upon the testimony that Jesus is the Messiah-Son of God.

The “gates of hell” (the realm and power of death; the location where the dead abides) cannot silence the church.

Premise: The church we know today would be unrecognizable by Jesus and the apostles.

The Solution: A fresh study of the book of Acts to reframe our mind to what the church is and how to uphold it.

What the Church Is Not

To understand what the church is, we should first understand what the church is not:

The church is not a building.

The first purposeful church building was not built until AD 327. The earliest church services held outside the home was held in Syria in a home that was expanded for more room in AD 232.

The idea of a sacred space is a second and third century practice borrowed from the pagans who prayed at the graves of martyrs and decorated them with Christian symbols. In the fourth century, church buildings were built on these burial places and deemed “sacred buildings.”

The “Pastor’s Chair” was the seat of the judge in the Roman basilica and became known as the bishop’s chair or throne in the cathedra.

The Steeple borrows from the Egyptian and Babylonian architectural design and was popularized in 1666.

Pulpits were used by Greeks and Jews for delivering monologues in AD 250.

The church is not its music.

The choir was borrowed from the Roman imperial ceremonies, Greek dramas and temples in the fourth century.

The church is not a persona.

Wearing our Sunday’s best was a late 18th century along with the Industrial Revolution and was became widespread in the 19th century.

Clery Attire began in AD 330 as Christian clergy began wearing garments of the Roman officials. In the 12th century, Christians would wear every day clothing that distinguished them from others.

What the Church Is

The church is the body of believers throughout all time.

The beginning of the church was about:

Launching God’s kingdom on earth as in heaven.

Proclaiming the Savior, Jesus Christ has risen.

The transformation of the creation by the work of the transformed community.

Surveying Acts 1

Author: Luke the physician

Date: Around AD 64

Genre: History

**Read Acts 1**

Introduction: Even though the book of Acts is a history book, it is both descriptive and prescriptive Scripture. The task that lies ahead of us is determining whether the Scripture at hand is descriptive or prescriptive.

Descriptive writings describes events or actions that occurred, without necessarily endorsing them as examples to follow.

The Red Sea

Prescriptive writings contains directives or commands from God that should be followed.

Walk in the Spirit

Repent

Believe on Jesus

Three Themes for the Church:

The presence and power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; John 14:26-27, 15:26, 16:7)

Realignment of kingdom agenda (Isaiah 1:26; Daniel 7:27; Amos 9:11)

Leadership of the apostles

Sermon Premise: God’s purpose is to enable His people to have influence and impact in the world.

God was so motivated to enable His people with the ability to influence the world that He sent His Son to die on the cross—granting us the Holy Spirit.

The Book of Acts is proof that God did not save us to simply be saved and go to heaven. Rather, He saved us to have influence, and until we accept this reality we will never be motivated to do anything for God. When we are convinced that God saved us to do something, we will never sit still. One cannot be convinced that God has saved them for a purpose and do nothing.

Life Value: The book of Acts is describing the result of Christ’s work on the cross that grants the believer the ability to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to impact creation. Henceforth, the greatest way to have impact and influence on the earth is by sharing the message about Jesus Christ (not by being rich, famous, or known.)

In His final discourse, Jesus gave 4 things the Holy Spirit will do for the apostles:

Testify about Jesus: John 15:26 “26 “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.”

Enable the apostles to testify about Jesus: John 15:27 “27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.”

Guide the apostles into all truth, reveal things to come: John 16:13 “13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”

Glorify Jesus: John 16:14 “14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.”

Effectively, Jesus is saying no believer can do any of these things unless they are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, one’s inability to share Jesus is not a confidence, courage, or intellectual problem; it is a Holy Spirit problem.

So, we need the Holy Spirit. [Come Holy Spirit, Come!]

Acts 1 is about three movements:

1. Waiting on God (Acts 1:1-5)

Theophilus is considered a possible sponsor or patron of the work (Acts 1:1).

Jesus found it necessary to provide several proofs of His existence. (Acts 1:3)

Jesus strongly encouraged the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4-5, c.f. Luke 24:49).

Luke 24:49 expresses the need to be endued with power. The idea of power here is actually the ability to have influence.

Being baptized with the Holy Spirit grants us the power to be influential, have influence.

Point 1: True influence comes from the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit literally gives you the strategy, plan, and ability to do what He desires. This means the Holy Spirit is not simply the power that works through you in a worship service, but the enabler that guides you to strategically impact the world that He has placed you in.

Family

Profession

Neighborhood

2. Abandoning our agenda and anticipating the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:6-11)

see Luke 24:21 “21 We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.”

What do you do when Jesus interrupts your plans with plans of His own?

Israel had hopes of seeing the promises of the Davidic kingdom fulfilled (2 Samuel 7:12-16, Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-12, Jeremiah 23:5-6. Amos 9:11-15)

They had just experienced a recent, but short lived moment of independence during the Maccabean revolt.

Point 2: The surest way to see the Holy Spirit move in our life is by abandoning our agenda.

Story of Francis Chan:

Founded Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, CA in 1994 with 30 people; church grew to over 4,000 members.

Bestselling author (Crazy Love, Forgotten God), well-known conference speaker, and respected evangelical leader.

In 2010, felt convicted that the church focused too much on Sunday services and not enough on true discipleship or living like the early church.

Sensed God calling him to leave comfort, security, and reputation for a more Spirit-led path.

Resigned from Cornerstone at its peak; he and his family sold their home, gave away possessions, and began serving under-resourced communities locally and overseas.

This decision surprised and confused many who didn’t understand why he’d leave a thriving ministry.

Moved to San Francisco to start We Are Church — a network of house churches focused on discipleship, multiplication, and empowering all believers.

Began training church leaders in Asia, especially within underground house church movements in difficult regions.

Today, We Are Church continues multiplying house churches across California, reaching places traditional models often can't.

Chan’s journey highlights how surrendering personal plans to the Holy Spirit can lead to unexpected and impactful ministry.

3. Yielding to the Holy Spirit’s moving (Acts 1:12-26)

The work of the Holy Spirit in our life is about yielding to His direction and His guidance.

It is trusting that He will direct you in the decisions you make for His glory, in obedience to His will.

Yielding means to give way under pressure.

The Holy Spirit should be so active that we feel His pressure, His presence, and are compelled to accept His leadership and His guidance in all things.

Point 3: Yielding is our way of making room for Jesus in the decisions we make.

Story of Sadie Robertson Huff:

Background:

Gained fame as a teenager on Duck Dynasty and later Dancing with the Stars

Received offers for modeling, acting, and entertainment industry roles

Originally planned to pursue a larger Hollywood career

The Decision Point:

At age 17–18, felt pressure from fame, insecurity, anxiety, and social media comparison

Felt convicted by the Holy Spirit: “You weren’t made for their applause. You were made for My purpose.”

Faced a choice: continue chasing entertainment or surrender her path to God

Making Room for the Spirit:

Paused career moves that didn’t align with her faith

Committed to daily prayer and journaling

Sought mentorship from older Christian women and pastors

Focused on Bible study over industry networking

Realization: “It wasn’t about saying no to Hollywood — it was about saying yes to Him.”

Outcome:

Shifted her platform toward ministry and encouragement

Founded Live Original, a ministry and speaking platform for young women

Authored best-selling books: Live, Live Fearless, Who Are You Following?

Launched the Whoa That’s Good podcast with Spirit-led conversations

Spoken to hundreds of thousands about identity in Christ, purity, and walking with God.

She once stated, “You may think you need something to make your life complete, but God says, ‘Just wait on Me. I have something better planned for you.’ It won’t always come quickly, but God promises to show up if you will trust in Him.” She also continued, “When I gave God my yes, the Holy Spirit gave me clarity. It wasn’t about saying no to Hollywood — it was about saying yes to Him.”

Chance the Rapper

Application

Write down some major decisions you have to make, and invite the Holy Spirit into those decisions.

Church: We need to make decisions about leadership, guidance, and room for the Holy Spirit.