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Introduction
This past week we had quite a bit of flooding in the area.
Flooding is interesting to watch especially when it is gradual.
Over last week or two as we have taken Joseph to school we have seen the water in the river and in the vineyards, and orchards slowly get higher and higher and spread further and further.
As it kept raining, the flooding spread.
Eventually the water flooded roads and fields forcing people to acknowledge and address the rising water.
In the early church described for us in the book of Acts we see something similar with the gospel.
It keeps spreading, growing, and rising until it forces people to acknowledge and address it.
As more and more people are saved the gospel spread like rising water.
I believe it is Christ's intention that the gospel keep spreading today.
And so we want to study the book of Acts and see how they did it.
How did the gospel spread from Jerusalem, to the surrounding cities, and ultimately to the world?
If you look at the top of your handout today, under the message title you will see...
Acts: The Foundation Of The Church
This is what I believe to be the title of the book of Acts.
Under that you will see...
The Spread of the Gospel Message to a World of Unbelievers
This is what I would call the theme of the book of Acts.
There are two ways to divide the book.
The first is using the outline found in Acts 1:8.
This is the division that we actually see very clearly in the book, and it is the division I have chosen.
But we also want to note that there is a second way to divide it.
The second way is to divide it by the primary individual that is featured in the section.
Peter – Chs.
1-12.
Paul Chs. 13-28.
This way is a little bit arbitrary in that there are two chapters dedicated to Stephen's martyrdom, a chapter dedicated to Philip's preaching activity, and a chapter dealing with the Jerusalem council.
But this gives you a good idea of the book as well.
With the other books we have gone through I have preached through the entire thing at the end.
With Acts I want to preach through it at both the beginning and the end.
The book of Acts covers the events of the early church beginning with Jesus' ascension in 33AD and ending with Paul's first imprisonment anywhere from 60-64AD.
The book was likely completed around 63AD.
There are a lot of different variations in timelines for Acts but here is one that I particularly like (S).
The only thing I disagree with here is the date for Galatians.
I agree with those who put it about the same time as James.
All but three of Paul's epistles are written during the events of Acts.
This morning we will teach through the book while noting some important timeline points along the way.
The goal is to gain a working knowledge of Acts and see how God used various means to carry out the spread of the Gospel to the world.
As we understand that God can use any circumstance to spread the gospel we will be challenge to see the events of our lives as opportunities to present Christ to others.
The first thing we see in Acts is...
1.
The Spread Of The Gospel In Jerusalem Chs.
1-8:3
a.
The Preparation Of The Disciples To Preach Ch. 1
i.
Spiritual Preparation 1:1-11
They are first prepared to preach the gospel through the ministry of Christ.
This is seen in the first three verses.
Then they are prepared through Christ's promise of the Holy Spirit in verses 4-8.
They will not preach in their own power, but in the power of God! Finally they are prepared to preach through the expectation of Christ's return.
ii.
Physical Preparation 1:12-26
After being spiritually prepared the disciples prepare themselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit through prayer and through placing Matthias into the ranks of the disciples.
It is important to realize that all of this is done in obedience to the command in v. 4 to wait for the Holy Spirit.
b.
The Enabling Of The Disciples To Preach Ch. 2
i.
Enabled By The Holy Spirit 2:1-13
This enabling is manifested in two ways.
First is the supernatural ability to speak languages they had not previously known.
Secondly is the powerful message given in these languages by the Holy Spirit.
Everyone present head them speaking the wonderful works of God!
ii.
Enabled By The Word Of God 2:14-39
Peter's message is fascinating because it is built from the prophecy of the Old Testament.
We have Joel's prophecy expounded in vv.
14-21 and David's in vv.
22-35.
These are both connected to the person of Christ in vv.
36-39.
iii.
Enabled By The Body Of Christ 2:40-47
In these verses we are given the formation, function and fellowship of the body of Christ.
As the body of Christ in the early church grew, so did the spread of the gospel message.
c.
The Opportunity For And Opposition Against The Disciples To Preach Chs.
3-4:31
i. Opportunity Presented Through Healing 3:1-26
After they heal this man people gather and are amazed at what has happened.
Peter see's all the people present and immediately seizes the opportunity to preach!
This is how we need to be!
Take advantage of every opportunity!
But when we do we will face what Peter does here.
ii.
Opposition Promoted By Unbelief 4:1-31
I find it interesting that the persecution of the early church is begun by the Sadducee's over the issue of the resurrection.
These men didn't believe in the resurrection and so they arrest and interrogate the disciples.
V. 8 says that Peter is filled with the Spirit and so he preaches Christ to the Sanhedrin!
The rulers can't ignore the miracle, so they threaten the disciples and release them.
The response of the early church is that of rejoicing, prayer, and and an increase in bold preaching!
d.
The Problems That Burden The Disciples To Preach Chs.
4:32-6:7
i.
The Problem Of Lying To The Holy Spirit 4:32-5:11
The end of ch. 4 sets up the problem at the beginning of ch. 5. Barnabas gives and a couple wants the acclaim of giving without the sacrifice.
The Holy Spirit supernaturally takes their lives and the faith of the church is strengthened.
ii.
The Problem Of Arrest And Imprisonment 5:12-42
The cause of the disciples arrest here is almost amusing.
They were healing people and this angered the high priest and Sadducees!
They arrest them, an angel promptly releases them, and they preach in the temple!
They are rearrested and confronted with the fact that they had been commanded not to preach.
Peter responds by preaching the gospel again.
Gamaliel councils the leaders not to fight against God and after threatening, beating, and again commanding the disciples not to preach Christ, they let the disciples go.
They immediately preach again!
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