The Basic Witness

Opening Comments:

Please journey with me in your copy of God’s Word to Acts 1:1-11. If you’re using one of our church provided Bibles, you can find your place on pg. 855.

Today marks week 12 in our summer series we have titled “Back to Basics: Becoming a First Century Church” where we have been answering the question, “What does the Bible say a church should be?” Because we don’t want to build a church based around our own desires and preferences but we want to build a church based on what the Lord has given us in his word.

Along the way we have been likening the church to building and living in a home.

We’ve seen that Christ is the foundation, unity is the framework, elders and deacons provide structure, and inside the house God gives discipline, preaching, worship, and spiritual gifts.

And now today:

Picture with me a house at night, it’s porch light glowing brightly. That light signals life, warmth, and welcome. Without it, the house seems empty, closed off, and uninviting.

For the church, the gospel of Jesus is that light radiating through us into a world stumbling in the darkness of sin.

Gospel Defined: Jesus, the eternal Son of God, became fully man without ceasing to be fully God (John 1:14). He lived the life we could never live (Hebrews 4:15), then took our place on the cross, bearing the punishment we deserved (2 Corinthians 5:21). He shed His blood as the substitute for sinners (1 Peter 2:24), rose bodily from the grave in victory over sin and death (1 Peter 1:3–5), and ascended to heaven where He intercedes for us even now (Hebrews 7:25). And He offers eternal life to all who will repent and believe (Romans 10:9–10).

This is the gospel—the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). This is the message that takes broken sinners and makes them new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This is the radiance we carry into the world, the porch light of the church that pierces the darkness of sin and despair, and beckons weary sinners home.

Now, lets read our text this morning. This is God’s Holy Word:

Acts 1:1–11 ESV

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 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.”

Introduction:

In our text this morning, Luke (the author) tells us that this is the continuation of his Gospel (v.1-2) where he told of all that Jesus began to do and teach—His life, His death, and His resurrection.

After rising from the dead, Jesus spent forty days with His disciples giving them undeniable proofs that He was alive and continuing to teach them about the kingdom of God.(v.3)

During that time, He instructed them not to rush off in their own strength, but to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, the coming of the Holy Spirit, who would baptize them and give them the power they needed(v.4-5).

But the disciples asked, (v.6)

Only read quotes

Acts 1:6 ESV

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Jesus redirects them, telling them their task was not to speculate about times and dates, but to live as His witnesses in the world.

Then, with those words still fresh in their ears, Jesus was taken up before their eyes into heaven. As they stood there in awe, two angels appeared and promised that the same Jesus would one day return in the same way they had seen Him go.

And right at the center of it all is verse 8, driving the course of the rest of Acts and simultaneously defining the mission of the church: 

Acts 1:8 ESV

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.”

This is the calling of everyone who is a part of the Lord’s church. And it’s what we’re going to unpack today as we observe “The Basic Witness of the church”.

1.) The Power We Receive.

Acts 1:8 ESV

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”

The disciples expected political restoration, but Jesus promised something far greater, the power of His Spirit.

Power (Greek dynamis)- God’s own might. This is not human charisma, eloquence, or effort. It is the very power of God working through His people to accomplish His mission.

The disciples had already seen this power in Jesus’ ministry: calming storms, casting out demons, healing the sick, and raising the dead.

Now Jesus promises that same Spirit will dwell within them.

For them, that would come at came Pentecost when the Spirit descended with wind and fire (Acts 2:1–4) and from that point, the early church was unstoppable.

For us, the Spirit comes at the moment of salvation.

Romans 8:9 ESV

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

From the moment you trusted Christ, the Holy Spirit took up permanent residence in you, equipping you to proclaim His name.

Think of a cordless drill. It might look sleek and well–designed, but without a battery it’s powerless. Snap in the battery, and it drives screws through solid wood.

Application: Christian, the Holy Spirit is your power source. Without Him, our efforts to share the gospel will fall flat. But with Him, you can speak Christ with boldness not matter how timid or shy you might be. 

The question is are you using it for the mission Jesus gave you?

 Acts 1:8 doesn’t say the Spirit empowers us to be comfortable, successful, or busy—it says He empowers us to be witnesses.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

He’s not talking about getting “more” of the Spirit—you received Him fully at salvation. He’s talking about letting the Spirit have more of you—your mind, your heart, your voice, your willingness to speak for Christ. Being filled with the Spirit means depending on Him in prayer, soaking in His Word, and stepping forward in obedience when He gives you opportunity.

So let’s ask ourselves: when was the last time you actually shared the gospel with someone clearly, intentionally, pointing them to Christ?

Not just inviting them to church, not just being a “good example,” but actually telling them the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

If that feels intimidating, you’re in good company, the disciples themselves hid in fear until the Spirit filled them. But when He did, they couldn’t keep quiet.

This means two things for us as a church:

Personally – Each of us must lean on the Spirit for courage in our daily conversations.

That may be speaking about Christ with a family member, bringing up faith at the lunch table at work, or offering to pray with a neighbor who is hurting.

You don’t need a seminary degree. You need the Spirit and the willingness to open your mouth.

Corporately – As a church, we must measure our health not just by attendance or programs; but by gospel witness. If the Spirit’s power is at work here, people should be hearing the gospel through us—in this community and beyond.

If we are silent about Christ outside these walls, we are not walking in the power He promised.

2.) The Testimony We Bear.

Acts 1:8 ESV

“…and you will be my witnesses…”

Witness (Greek, martys) Where we get martyr. Someone who testifies to what they’ve seen or heard, even to the point of death.

That’s significant. To be a witness isn’t casual. It’s more than passing along religious information. It’s testifying with your whole life, saying, “I know this is true, and I will stand by it no matter the cost.”

A.) What Witnesses Proclaim

At its core, to be a witness means proclaiming the gospel.

A witness not only shares facts but also shares what Jesus has done for them. 

1 John 1:3 ESV

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Think of the blind man in John 9. He didn’t have a theological degree. He couldn’t answer every objection. But when pressed, he simply said:

John 9:25 ESV

25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

That’s a witness.

B.) Preparing to be a witness

While you don’t have to be an expert to share your faith story, it does help to be prepared.

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

That’s where learning tools like: the Romans Road, Three Circles, or A Law and Gospel approach can help you share the gospel of Jesus clearly and simply with those we come into contact with.

Application: So here’s the question: Are you living as His witness? 

Jesus doesn’t give this as an option but as our identity: “You will be my witnesses.”

That means:

At work, your integrity and your words should point to Christ.

At school, your courage to stand apart shows others what hope looks like.

In your neighborhood, your kindness and your testimony open doors for the gospel.

Sharing the Gospel isn’t just for pastors and missionaries, its for every believer. The only question is not whether you are a witness, but whether you are a faithful one.

3.) The Mission We Share.

Acts 1:8 ESV

“…in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

With this phrase, the Lord Jesus sketches three widening spheres of our gospel witness.

A.) Jerusalem – Our Home Base

For the disciples, Jerusalem was their starting line, but also their greatest challenge. It was the very city that crucified Jesus. If they could proclaim Christ there, they could proclaim Him anywhere.

Jesus was reminding them that the mission always begins closest to home.

For us, “Jerusalem” means our immediate circle—our homes, our families, our neighborhood, and our church community.

Parents, this is your greatest witnessing opportunity.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 ESV

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Home life is perhaps God’s greatest design for disciple-making. Before we think about missions across the globe, our first mission field is sitting at our kitchen table. They may be the hardest people to witness to, but they are also the ones God has placed nearest to you.

As a church, our “Jerusalem” is right here in our community.

This is why we do things like saturation days, and our yard sale. (This year we’ll have a prayer tent) These aren’t just events on the calendar; they’re ways of saying to our neighbors: the porch light is on, and you’re welcome here.

So let’s ask: does the glow of the gospel shine first in our homes? Do our neighbors know that the people of Heritage Winchester love Jesus? Before we can shine to the ends of the earth, we must shine here in our Jerusalem.

B.) Judea – Our Wider Community Judea was familiar ground for the disciples, yet it was also a place of rejection. Jesus Himself ministered there, and many turned away.

Judea represents our county, our workplaces, our schools, the people we interact with beyond the front porch but still close enough to touch daily.

Some will welcome the gospel; others will reject Jesus. But we keep pressing on.

Are you praying for your “Judea”? Looking for open doors at work, in the community, or even at the ball field?

The gospel isn’t meant to stay locked inside the house, it’s meant to shine outward into the places we live and work.

3. Samaria – The Outsiders This was the shocking part. Jews and Samaritans had centuries of hostility (as we discussed a few weeks ago) Yet Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses there too.”

Samaria represents those we might avoid: people of different backgrounds, lifestyles, or even political views.

Ephesians 2:14 ESV

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

If He tore it down, who are we to build it back up?

Who is your Samaria? The coworker you avoid? The neighbor whose values clash with yours? The porch light shines for them too.

We don’t get to choose who’s “worthy” of the gospel, because none of us were.

4. To the End of the Earth – The Global Mission For the disciples, this meant Rome, Asia, and lands they’d never dreamed of reaching…and it means the same for us.

We’ll talk about this more next week.

Think about how light travels. The bulb on your porch throws the first glow at your doorstep (Jerusalem). Step farther back, and the light spills into the yard (Judea). Look again, and you see it reaching the sidewalk, where passersby notice (Samaria). And beyond that? The faint glow can be seen from a distance in the dark. The gospel is meant to radiate outward, reaching one circle after another until every corner of the world has heard.

Application: Where is God calling you to shine the light right now? Maybe it’s in your Jerusalem—your children, your neighbor, your friend. Maybe it’s your Judea—your school, your workplace, your team. Maybe it’s your Samaria—people you’d rather avoid. Or maybe He’s stirring your heart for the nations. Jesus didn’t say, “If you feel like it” or “When it’s convenient.” He said, “You will be my witnesses.” This mission is ours—together.

Conclusion:

Acts 1:8 is not a suggestion, it’s a calling. The Spirit’s power is given so that the light of Christ would shine through us, in our homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, then crossing the divides we’d rather avoid, and radiating all the way to the nations.

So let’s ask honestly:

Is the porch light on at Heritage?

Or have we grown content to keep the light to ourselves?

Maybe you’re still in the dark. The good news is that Jesus died and rose again for sinners, and He offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who repent and believe. You don’t earn it—you simply receive it.

John 5:24 ESV

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Prayer

Father, thank You that through Jesus, the Light of the world, You have shined into our darkness. Forgive us for when we’ve been silent. Fill us with Your Spirit so we can boldly share Christ in our homes, in our community, and to the ends of the earth. And Lord, if someone here has never trusted Christ, give them the courage right now to call on You in faith. Thank You that whoever calls on Your name will be saved. In Jesus’ name, Amen.