Who does Jesus want to include?
Background: Stephen’s legacy is that the Good News leaves Jerusalem (1-4)
Who does Jesus want to save and include in the Church He is building?
(1) Jesus wants the despised (5-8 and 14-17)
(2) Jesus wants the deceived (9-13 and 18-25)
(3) Jesus wants the distant (26-40)
Do we want these people on Jesus’ team, and will we help them join?
(1) A problem noted (1)
(2) A solution rejected (2)
(3) Another solution proposed (3-4)
(4) This solution implemented (5-6)
(5) Kingdom growth facilitated (7)
Are we a united and generous body of believers, in which every person is willingly playing their part?
Is my church full of hypocrites? Am I one of them?
(1) A God-honouring community (4:32-37), marked by:
– a shared unity (32a)
– unceasing Gospel testimony (33a)
– heartfelt generosity (32b and 34-35)
(2) A God dishonouring conspiracy (5:1-4 and 7-9)
(3) A God-inflicted penalty (5:5-6 and 10-11)
For the health and holiness of Jesus’ Church, we must shun hypocrisy and pursue honesty.
Opening: Psalm 77
Sermon: Acts 1:12-26
What can we learn from the earliest believers about waiting well as God’s people?
(1) The Church waited obediently (12)
(2) The Church waited collectively (13-14)
(3) The Church waited in unity (14a)
(4) The Church waited prayerfully (14b)
(5) The Church waited Biblically (15-26)
Waiting well will involve obeying Jesus, meeting together, being unified, praying together and submitting to Scripture.
How does Jesus prepare His Apostles for their part in His Kingdom-building mission?
(1) Jesus emboldens (3a)
(2) Jesus equips (3b)
(3) Jesus empowers (4-5 and 8a)
(4) Jesus explains His mission (6-8)
(5) Jesus entrusts His mission (9-11)
We also have been prepared. Will we play our part?