ACTS: THE ACTS OF JESUS THROUGH THE CHURCH - A Survey of the Bible
Acts: The Acts of Jesus through the Church
A Survey of the Bible
For bulletin in PDF form, click here.
Context: Who, Where, When and Why?
Acts Chart - Wilson
Acts Chart - Wilson
Chronology of the Apostoloic Age - Wilson
Unhindered: A Summary of Acts - Swindoll
• Who composed Acts?
• Who was Acts’s original audience?
• When was Acts written?
• Where were Luke and his readers?
• Why was he writing?
Content: How and What?
• How is Acts organized?
Jerusalem: Jesus’ continued work through the church empowered by the Spirit (1:2:-6:7)
• Panel #1: The Church Founded in Jerusalem (1:2:-6:7)
• Progress Report #1: Word of God Spread and Disciples increased in Jerusalem (6:7)
Judea and Samaria: Jesus’ expanding work through the church empowered by the Spirit (6:8-9:31)
• Panel #2: The Church Expanded from Jerusalem (6:8-9:31)
• Progress Report #2: The Church at peace, strengthened and encouraged as they grow (9:31)
To the Ends of the Earth: Jesus’ unhindered work through the church empowered by the Spirit (9:32-28:31)
• Panel #3: The Church Expanded to the Gentiles (9:32-12:24)
• Progress Report #3: Word of God continued to increase and spread (12:24)
• Panel #4: The Establishment of Pauline Apostleship (12:25-16:5)
• Progress Report #4: The church is strengthened in faith and grew in numbers (16:5)
• Panel #5: The Lord Glorified among the Gentiles (16:6-19:20)
• Progress Report #5: Word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power (19:20)
• Panel #6: The Testimony of Christ Carried to Rome (19:21-28:31)
• Progress Report #6: Kingdom of God preached boldly and unhindered (28:31)
• What is the message of Acts?
Conviction: So What?
• Where does this fit?
- Acts is Luke’s second volume that continues his display of the work of Jesus through the Church empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- Acts chronicles the birth and early days of the church fulfilling the Mission of Jesus.
- Acts is a narrative that is descriptive but not always prescriptive. Patterns must be identified.
• What should we believe?
- Jesus is the central message of the church.
- The Holy Spirit is the sole source of power for the church.
- We are involved in finishing the task of the Great Commission.
• How should we behave?
- Focused on Jesus.
- Dependent on the Holy Spirit.
- Engaged in the Mission.
- Prayerfully involved.
Next Steps
• Focus more on your need for the Holy Spirit than your entitlement to satisfaction and success.
• Get engaged “finishing the task”. Learn! Go! Send! Welcome! Mobilize! Pack! Join!
This Week's Growth Guide
God’s Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.
•. Monday - Acts 1:1-11
•. Tuesday - Acts 2:42-47
•. Wednesday - Acts 13:1-12
•. Thursday - Acts 15:1-35
•. Friday - Acts 17:16-34
•. Saturday - Acts 18:18-28
•. Sunday - Acts 28:17-31
Home Church
Our Home Churches meet weekly to facilitate quicker relational depth, study the same passage taught
Sunday to help apply Scripture in the context of community, and pray with one another.
Home Church Questions
• What did you learn from Ken’s presentation of Acts that convicts you or challenges you?
• Acts 1:8 describes us as Jesus’s “witnesses,” empowered by the Holy Spirit. If you were relating your faith to an unbeliever, what undeniable evidence would you point to in your life that Jesus lives within you through the Holy Spirit? Be ready to tell someone if given the opportunity this next week.
• In 13:36, it is said of King David, “after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep…” As best you can, describe the purpose of God for your life in this generation.
• Read Paul’s address to the unbelievers at the Areopagus (17:22-34) in which he engages with them at the point of their belief system. Discuss ways we can engage with people in our increasingly secular society in this way.
• Acts records the spread of the gospel (e.g. 2:46, 6:7, 11:21, 12:24, 13:49, 19:20) up until the very last verse of the book. Read the description of this final stage of Paul’s ministry in 28:30. What can you learn from this description about how you can support the ongoing spread of the gospel?
• What is your personal take-away from the book of Acts? What steps can you take in response?
Finances
Weekly Budget 32,692
Giving For 02/25 32,365
Giving For 03/03 22,539
YTD Budget 1,176,923
Giving 1,273,539
OVER/(UNDER) 96,616
Grill Out and Silent Auction
Join us tonight, 4-6 p.m. for our annual Grill Out + Silent Auction! Bring your whole family for a fun-filled evening with free dinner, games for kids, and an exciting silent auction. All proceeds will support our student mission trips to Mission Arlington and Czech.
New to Fellowship?
We are so glad that you chose to worship with our Fellowship Family to worship this morning. If you are joining us for the first time or have been checking us out for a few weeks, we are excited you are here and would love to meet you. Please fill out the “Connect Card” and bring it to the Connection Center in the Atrium, we would love to say “hi” and give you a gift.
Easter Offering
Fellowship wants to create a welcoming experience for everyone who enters. This year’s Easter Offering goal is $40,000. This will finish the funding for the atrium remodel, making a local architect’s conceptual drawings come to life. Offering envelopes are available by the baskets at every entrance. You can also give online at fellowshipconway.org/give by selecting “Easter Offering” from the menu.
Crucifixion Dinner
Join us on Good Friday for our annual Crucifixion Dinner. We invite you to fast during the day as you meditate on the life and death of Jesus leading up to a time of worship and remembrance, breaking the fast with a bowl of chicken broth and bread. Join us March 29 at 6:30 PM in the Auditorium. Child care for 6 years and younger, please text Shanna at 501-336-0332.
Men’s Muster - The Surrendered LIfe
Men, mark your calendar for our retreat on April 19-21 at Shepherd of the Ozarks. $170 for adults, $85 for ages 14-17. $40 deposit due at registration. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register.
Fellowship Landscape Work Day
We are looking for 4-5 people willing to install new soil into our flower beds in preparation for planting some spring flowers. If you have a strong back or wheelbarrow and are able to help on March 16, from 8 to 1:00 p.m., email Shane at swanamaker@fellowshipconway.org.
Men’s Fellowship Breakfast
Men, join us for a great breakfast and fellowship on Wednesday, March 13, at 6:00 a.m. here in the Fellowship atrium. Come with your Bible, ready to eat, fellowship with other men, and start your day off right through prayer and Biblical insight. Questions? Contact Michael at mharrison@fellowshipconway.org.
F101
We invite you to join us on Sunday, April 7, at 9:00 a.m. to learn more about Fellowship. This is a great opportunity to hear about our mission, values, and our ministries. During this time, you will meet some of our ministry leaders and get to ask questions. Register at fellowshipconway.org/register.