2. Our Text
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
Acts 1:1–11 2
3. Our Text
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
Acts 1:1–11 3
4. Our Text
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
Acts 1:1–11 4
5. Our Text
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,
Acts 1:1–11 5
6. Our Text
“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.
Acts 1:1–11 6
7. Our Text
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.”
Acts 1:1–11 7
8. Our Text
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
Acts 1:1–11 8
9. Our Text
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
Acts 1:1–11 9
10. Our Text
into heaven, will come in the same way as
you saw him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:1–11 10
12. Richard Halverson
Former Chaplain of the US Senate
In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and
women centering on the living Christ. Then the church
moved to Greece where it became a philosophy. Then it
moved to Rome where it became an institution. Next, it
moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally,
it moved to America where it became an enterprise.
12
17. William
Booth
The chief danger that confronts the coming
century will be religion without the Holy
Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness
without repentance, salvation without
regeneration, politics without God, heaven
without hell.
17
18. Jesus’ call
If anyone would come after me, let
him deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23 18
19. CS Lewis
To Follow Jesus is to Become Like Him. Following
Jesus, then, entails both obeying his teachings and
imitating his example. But this is not the sum of the
matter. For obeying and imitating are not ends in
themselves but are means to a greater end.
19
20. The call is too hard
1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV 1900)
1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
20
21. Discipleship
All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me. Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son
Matthew 28:18–20 21
22. Discipleship
and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the
end of the age.
22
23. By Jesus’ authority
As you go
Make disciples
Baptize them
Teach them
Jesus is there
23
26. Bring Light
In the same way, let your light shine
before others, so that they may see
your good works and give glory to
your Father who is in heaven.
26
27. Bring Others
Go out to the highways and hedges
and compel people to come in, that
my house may be filled.
Luke 14:23 27
28. Be Awakened
Then he opened their minds to
understand the Scriptures,
Luke 24:45 28
29. You Need More Power
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the
dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus
from the dead will also give life to your mortal
bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:11 29
30. Our take-Away
1. Have you decided to follow Jesus?
2. What’s your proof?
3. Are you willing to become a
fellowship?
30
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.”
I loved Tim Allen as Tim the Tool Man Taylor. More Power.
Church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
Former Chaplain of the US Senate
In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome where it became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America where it became an enterprise.
Fellowship- met day by day and house by house and ate together. Shared everything
Philosophy- the writing of the New Testament- Greek turned it sideways at time
Institution- the Catholic church. Established churches
Culture- Europe was shaped by it. Art, literature, Architecture. The infusion of Church and state.
Enterprise- business, more Christian books, music, churches, 2016 378 B
We have too many churches and too few fellowships.
How do we get back to a fellowship?
A fellowship is where the Holy Spirit dynamically operated
Mark 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Time- fulfilled
Kingdom- kingdom is now and to come
Repent- turn from sin
Believe- The gospel (Keep it if your believe it)
Founder of the Salvation Army-The chief danger that confronts the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell.
With this formula converts are made but disciples are not.
Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me
The Gospels record 20x when Jesus said to “follow me” never ounce did he say repeat this prayer after me
Luke 9:24–25 (ESV)
24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
Following Jesus, then, entails both obeying his teachings and imitating his example. But this is not the sum of the matter. For obeying and imitating are not ends in themselves but are means to a greater end. That end or goal of discipleship is to become like Jesus himself: to think as he thought, to feel as he felt, to act as he acted, desire what he desired. As John puts it, “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:6). Because Jesus is the image of God in human form (Col. 1:15; Heb. 1: 3), as we become more and more like him, the image of God is increasingly restored in our lives.
1 Corinthians 11:1 follow me as I follow Christ
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 them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
As you go
Make disciples
Baptize them
Teach them
Jesus is there- maybe if we aren’t making disciples Jesus isn’t needed
Teaching them all I have commanded you
Be Light
Bring Children
Be Pure
Matthew 5:14–16 (ESV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Luke 14:16–24 (ESV)
16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
Luke 24:44–49 (ESV)
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Leo’s actions
Have you decided to follow Jesus?
What’s your proof?
Are you willing to become a fellowship?
