Living Acts Chapter 29 Series

Living Acts Chapter 29

Start series by saying “Turn to Acts 29, please. . .” They can’t, there isn’t one!

We are responsible to LIVE Acts 29. Each day we get up, and we pick up a pen and paper, and we write our verse of chapter 29. What does it say? Does it look like the first 28 chapters?

Most of our churches are NOT living Acts 29.

- California church sitting on $2 million property, no services on Sunday, because only 1 person besides (working) pastor comes to church.

- Another church I heard about where the laymen were pushing for an outreach program, and the pastor said “I just don’t think it’s necessary.”

- A member of a church spoke to me recently, telling me that they had a new family coming to church, and asked the pastor if he’d do a Bible study with them on their level. “That’s just not my thing – I don’t feel comfortable with it.”

- A friend of mine grew his church rapidly – and then split off the denomination where he was. . . took in a bunch of new members against the church by-laws so he could get it passed.

THAT’S NOT Acts 29!

Acts 1:1 ¶ The former account I made*, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;

5 "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

6 ¶ Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

There are 5 things you need to remember if we are to live in Acts 29:

1. We are the continuation of Jesus’ ministry. “Of all that Jesus both began to do and teach. . .”

This is why we are called - “The body of Christ.”

Once a village had a statue that showed Christ reaching out to all. Then a great storm came through and destroyed it. They managed to put all the piece back together except the hands. Some were in favor of tearing the statue down, until someone suggested they put up a plaque beneath the statue: “I have no hands but your hands...”

Look at what Jesus did, you’ll see what the church did.

- You see him preaching, they preached.

- you see Him praying, they prayed.

- You see Him filled with the spirit, they were.

- You see Him healing, they did.

- He even raised the dead, and they did.

- You see Him showing compassion, they did.

- You see him sacrificing his life, they did.

And now, 2000 years later, can it be said that we are doing what Jesus did? Whatever Church History IS, it SHOULD be the record of a group of people that carry on where Jesus left off!

2. We have a message that is certain. “Presented himself alive by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during 40 days and speaking. . .” (V. 3)

The truth of our message does not rest on experience. It’s a thousand miles from only a subjective “You ask me how I know he lives, He lives within my heart.” He’s alive, and has proved it WITHOUT a DOUBT!

3. We have a Spirit that is empowering us.

“...you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (V. 5)