Acts presents a ministry ON FIRE!

WELCOME!

Luke-Acts Devotional Series

ACTS CLASS #2

Pasig Region

Metro Manila Christian Church

THE BOOK OF ACTS (review)

• A ‘strong finish’ to the Bible story (Gen, Ex, Lev, Num, Deut, Jos, Jud,

Ru, 1-2 Sam, 1-2 Ki, Ezra, Neh, Lk, Acts)

• A ‘complete fulfillment’ of Old Testament scripture

• A ‘living proof’ or testimony of God’s faithfulness (Ac 1.1+)

TIMELINE OF LUKE-ACTS

350BC

63BC

6 AD

30AD

65AD

Old Testament

Gospels

Acts

Birth of Jesus

Pentecost

Crucifixion

Birth of John the Baptist

Paul’sdeath

Jesus’ ministry in Acts

Post-Jesus ministry

– A Spirit-led ministry – A Goal-oriented ministry – A Seeking & Saving ministry – An Open Arms ministry – A Joy-filled ministry – An ‘Anyone Can!’ ministry

The church in Acts

• CHARACTERISTIC #1

THE SPIRIT-LED MINISTRY(Part 1)

The ‘natural’ outline

Ac 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Spread of the FIRE in Actsaccording to the ‘natural outline’

• Jerusalem – Acts 1-7

• Judea and Samaria – Acts 8-12

• ‘Ends of the earth’ – Acts 13-28

How did the FIRE spread? Through 3 P’s that God allowed

• These three P’s are the things that God allowed (through his Holy Spirit) that made the natural outline happen

–Pentecost – Acts 2

–Persecution – Acts 7

–Paul – Act 9

It’s interesting…

• The three P’s were in situations with problems besetting the church

• One of the twelve had died, some disciples doubted, and the disciples were immature and unexperienced Pentecost

• The gospel was not preached outside Jerusalem; prejudice among Jews & Gentiles Persecution

• One of the main persecutors was an influential Rabbi Paul

Because of Pentecost…

• More workers

• More skills

• More nations

Because of Persecution…

• Reliance on God

• Sifted out false disciples

• Spread of the gospel

  

Because of Paul…

• Main example of a converted Jew

• New apostle to the Gentiles

• Writer of over 1/3 of the New Testament

The 3 P’s were part of God’s plan

• What are some of the P’s that God puts in your life?

• Do we see that God moves through trials?

• How do we respond, when the Holy Spirit’s Fire wants to move in our lives?

• Do we strive to surrender ourselves to God’s ‘natural outline’?

Conclusions

• In the Spirit-led ministry, God has a ‘divine outline’ that He reveals to his people.

• In the Spirit-led ministry, God chooses to use trials to strengthen the church.

• In the Spirit-led ministry, God uses problems to show his glory in the future.

Let’s glorify God, and keep the fire burning, by being (just like Acts) a Spirit-led ministry!

Discussion time

• Group yourselves into circles of 3-4 people. Pwedeng mixed men/women.

• Just like the Acts story has an ‘outline’ with positive ‘turning points,’ God allows our personal stories to have turning points. Share 2-3 of those (3-4 mins per person).

• Someone in the group prays, thanking God for the turning points in our lives.