Three Great Themes In The Book Of Acts Series

Three Great Themes in the Book of Acts

Acts 1:1-11

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - May 12, 2013

*Indianapolis pastor Russ Blowers was a member of the Rotary Club. At the club meeting each week, a different member told a little about his job. And when it was Russ’ turn, he said this:

-"I'm with a global enterprise. We have branches in every country in the world. We have our representatives in nearly every parliament and board room on earth. We're into motivation and behavior alteration.

*We run hospitals, feeding stations, crisis pregnancy centers, universities, publishing houses, and nursing homes. We care for our clients from birth to death. We are into life insurance and fire insurance. We perform spiritual heart transplants.

*Our original Organizer owns all the real estate on earth plus an assortment of galaxies and constellations. He knows everything and lives everywhere. Our product is free for the asking. (There's not enough money to buy it.)

*Our CEO was born in a hick town, worked as a carpenter, didn't own a home, was misunderstood by his family, hated by enemies, walked on water, was condemned to death without a fair trial, and arose from the dead. I talk with him every day." (1)

*Christians: We are part of the most important organization the world will ever see: The church of the living God! This Book of Acts tells us about the birth of God’s church. And in these opening verses God shows us the 3 great themes of this book.

1. First: Jesus wants us to see the importance of His work.

*Luke began in vs. 1-3 by stressing the Lord’s work. There this "beloved physician" and medical missionary began by saying:

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.

[1] In these verses, Luke stressed the Lord's work. And one of the really great things to notice about the Lord’s work in vs. 1 is that His work continues.

*Luke mentioned the things that Jesus BEGAN to do. And I’ve always loved that phrase, because it reminds us that God’s not finished yet! Jesus Christ is certainly at work in our world today. And you can trust that He is at work in your life today, even though it may be hard to see at times.

[2] The work of Jesus Christ continues. And it is colossal!

*Jesus Christ is not doing a puny, little work in His universe. He’s doing a God-sized thing! And Luke reminds us of this truth in vs. 3, where he said that Jesus "presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs."

*The KJV says Jesus "showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs." The AMP Bible says that Jesus "showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering in the garden and on the cross) by [a series of] many convincing demonstrations [unquestionable evidences and infallible proofs], appearing to them during forty days and talking [to them] about the things of the kingdom of God."

*John Gill explained that these infallible proofs included the fact that Jesus ate and drank with His disciples. What a blessing it must have been to eat with the resurrected Savior! Church: We're going to get to do that some day.

*Jesus also walked and talked with them in a free and familiar manner. Plus He showed them His hands, feet and side so they might see the scars which the nails and spear had made. In this way Jesus proved to them that He was not just a ghost or a spirit, but was really alive in the same body that suffered on the cross. (2)

*Jesus Christ certainly died on the cross. But He also certainly rose from the dead, and He is alive forevermore! That’s a God-sized work. And God is still at work in our world today: healing sick people, helping hurting people, saving souls, transforming lives and meeting all of our needs!

-Jesus wants us to see the importance of His work.

2. And He wants us to see the importance of His words.

*In these opening verses, the focus is not just on Jesus’ works. It is also on His words. Jesus Christ had a lot to do. But He also had a lot to say.

*Please listen again to vs. 1-3, where Luke said:

1. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and TEACH.