# 2 9 R E C AP
T H E M IS S ION OF J E S US C H R IS T
4.12.15
ACTS 1 :1 -11
INTRODUCTION
Q. Have you ever wondered why the church has lasted so long? **2,000 years.
• It’s all because of the God–Man, Jesus.
• The story of the Bible = God > Man > Sin > Jesus > Church > Sent
WHO WROTE ACTS? Luke
•
•
•
•
•
Wrote Luke and Acts
Only Gentile to write Scripture
Doctor (Col. 4:14)
Historian
Traveling companion of the Apostle Paul
• An early church father said this concerning him: “Indeed Luke was a Syrian, a doctor by profession, a
disciple of the apostles: later however he followed Paul until his martyrdom, serving the Lord blamelessly.
He never had a wife, he never fathered children, and died at the age of eighty-four, full of the Holy Spirit.”
WHO RECEIVED ACTS? Theophilus
• (Likely) Some kind of Governmental Official - LUKE 1:2 “Most excellent Theophilus”
• (Likely) Benefactor of Luke’s investigative journeys—Theo footed the bill. ***This is how Missions is possible: there are Goers and Senders.
GETTING TO KNOW THE BOOK OF ACTS
LUKE 1:1-4 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an
orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you
have been taught.
•
•
•
•
•
Sequel to the Gospel of Luke:
Eye witness testimonies of the events — We can trust the book of Acts
Covers about 30 years (Around AD. 33-62) 30 years that changed the world!
Acts tells the story of how the gospel exploded throughout the entire known world!
Christian Family History (more than a history book!)
• We’re not going to study Acts as Historians. We’re going to study Acts as Missionaries.
Q. How did the church, that’s lasted so long, get it’s start? A. It’s all about Jesus.
• Mentioned in every verse of Acts 1:1-11.
We’re going to ask two questions today and look to the answers from Acts 1:1-11.
1. What was Jesus’ Mission? 2. What Is Jesus’ Mission Now?
Q1. WHAT WAS JESUS’ MISSION?
1. LIVE, DIE, RESURRECT
1. LIVE (vv. 1)
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
• Luke is pointing us back to his first book, the Gospel of Luke.
• He tells us that Jesus’ life consisted of DOING and TEACHING.
1
• What Jesus did & what Jesus taught are inseparable—John Calvin called them a Holy knot.
ILLUSTRATE
• Some like what He Did / Taught. But we can’t choose one aspect anymore than with a spouse / president.
APPLY
• BUT! Jesus didn’t merely teach and perform miracles—He lived as our substitute. He fulfilled the Law.
• When you see and trust what Jesus has done to fulfill the Law for you, you’ll be free from the
weight of your performance.
“To see the Law by Christ fulfilled, to hear His pardoning voice,
transforms a slave into a child and duty into choice.”
2. DIE (vv. 3b)
3 He
presented himself alive to them after his suffering...
Q. Why did Jesus have to suffer and die? A1. Because we’re not good. A2. Because God is good.
• When you see and trust in what Jesus has done on the cross—taking the debt of your sin on Himself and paying His blood so you can be forgiven—when your faith is in Jesus, you’ll
be radically changed.
“Why should I gain from His rewards? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.”
Q. So, Jesus died. Then what Happened? The unimaginable! The unthinkable! He resurrected!
3. RESURRECT (vv. 3a)
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.
Q. Have you ever doubted the Resurrection of Jesus? His Apostles did.
Q. What would it take for you to believe and trust that Jesus resurrected? A. That’s what they got.
Without the resurrection, Christianity would’ve never gotten off the ground!
Q. WHAT IS JESUS’ MISSION RIGHT NOW?
1 In
the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus BEGAN to do and teach,
• The founders of every other major world religion have already done everything they’re going to do and said everything they’re going to say. But not Jesus. Jesus is alive! Jesus is still at work.
Luke is saying, “Jesus is not finished; He’s just getting started.”
John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
• This is where you and I come in. Jesus is going to Advocate, Empower, & use us to Make Disciples.
2. ADVOCATE, EMPOWER, & MAKE DISCIPLES
1. ADVOCATE (vv. 9)
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.
• Jesus ascended to heaven, to the right hand of God the Father to be our Advocate!
• John 2:1 “If any one sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
Q. What does it mean that Jesus is our advocate?
• An advocate is someone who has a personal relationship with you so that whatever the advocate
achieves, you achieve, whatever the advocate loses, you lose.
ILLUSTRATE
• In Ancient times, each army would have what they called a “Champion.” *explain
• Q. Do you remember David and Goliath? They’re each put forward as their people’s champion.
APPLY
• Jesus is our Champion—the true and better David. That stories not about you, it’s about Jesus!
• When we sin, Jesus is at the right hand of God the Father as our Champion.
Q. Is Jesus your Advocate? If He is, He’s never going to stop.
Secondly, Jesus mission is to
2. EMPOWER (vv. 4-8a)
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”. . . 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.
• Jesus has commanded you to do exactly what you can’t do. So He sends us the Holy Spirit to
change us, enable us, strengthen us, and emboldened us to a new life on a His mission!
ILLUSTRATE
• Alfred Nobel was a 19th century Swedish Chemist and Inventor. *explain
• When Jesus shows up through the person of the Holy Spirit, it’s like an explosion!
• You can’t have a personal encounter with Jesus through faith and remain unchanged anymore than a rock formation could when it has an encounter with dynamite.
APPLY EMPOWER
• The life of Jesus is not to be merely admired, it’s to be experienced and lived out.
• AND! If you want to know what it looks like to live empowered by the Holy Spirit, look to the life of Jesus.
This is why Christianity exploded (and is still exploding) throughout the entire world. Because Jesus sends us the explosive power of the Holy Spirit.
Third, and finally, Jesus mission is to
3. MAKE DISCIPLES (6-11)
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.”
Q. Why is Jesus Advocating for us? Q. Why is Jesus empowering? A. Acts 1:8
• MATTHEW 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The Mission Jesus is on right now is not only to ADVOCATE & EMPOWER for his church.
The Mission Jesus is on right now is to ADVOCATE for EMPOWER his church to go and be WITNESSES of the good news of what He’s done. And he has promised us that everyone—everyone—who believes will be saved!
ILLUSTRATE
• It’s not our job to try and figure our when God is going to do what He’s going to do, or how it all works. Look at the Apostles here in vv. 6.
• It’s not out job any more than it’s the greens keeper’s job to spend all his time figuring out Tiger Woods’ game plan rather than taking care of his job.
• It’s our job to go and tell people the good news and plead with them to trust Jesus—so they can be forgiven and adopted; so they can have peace with God, a new life and a new destiny with Jesus!
APPLY
Q. Are you on the same Mission that Jesus is on?
• In your workplace, in the gym, in your neighborhoods, with your friends and family.
Q. Are you on the same Mission that Jesus is on? A. I pray that you would be. I pray that we all would be. For Jesus’ global glory, for others eternal good, and for our incorruptible joy.
ROMANS 10:11-17 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For
there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all
who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How
then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom
they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach
unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.