The Unstoppable Gospel
Acts 4:1-12

Purpose: to encourage the believer of the guarantee of Gospel success.

1. The Unconquerable Will of the Father (Acts 4:1-4)

2. The Undaunted Witness of the Spirit (Acts 4:5-10)

3. The Unmatched Name of the Son (Acts 4:11-12)

The Gospel is guaranteed to accomplish the plan of God to redeem a people for Himself, because it is the work and will of God, not man.

The Miracle, The Question, & The Answer
Acts 3:11-26

Purpose: Jesus is exalted by God as the way to salvation (Acts 3:15, 19)

1. God Gathers His Audience with a Miracle (Acts 3:11)

2. The Question that Must be Answered! (Acts 3:12)

3. The Five-Fold Answer:
      1. God Glorified Jesus, Raising Him from the Dead (Acts 3:13-15)
      2. Dead Men Don’t Do Miracles (Acts 3:16)
      3. Repent, Return, be Restored (Acts 3:17-21)
      4. A Long-Awaited Promise Fulfilled (Acts 3:22-24)
          – Fulfilling Deuteronomy 18:15, 18, 19

      5. God’s Covenant of Salvation in the Risen Jesus (Acts 3:25-26)
          – Fulfilling Genesis 22:18, 26:4; and see Galatians 3:8 with Genesis 12:3

“Therefore, repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19)

The Purpose of Miracles

Acts 3:1-10

Purpose: to show the purpose of miracles, signs, and wonders.

1. A Miracle Needed (Acts 3:1-2)

2. A Miracle Performed (Acts 3:3-8)

3. A Miracle Completed (Acts 3:9-10)

The purpose of God’s supernatural works, is to lead people to praise and glorify and trust in the powerful, life-giving name of Jesus.  

Holy-Spirit-Empowered Church

Acts 2:37-47

Purpose: to see how the Holy Spirit gives life to the believer and to the church!

1. Holy-Spirit-Empowered Gospel Preaching
   1. The Gospel of the Risen Jesus Christ (Luke 24)
   2. The Promised Holy Spirit Arrives (Acts 1-2)
   3. Holy-Spirit-Empowered Gospel Preaching
      1. This Jesus is the very one you crucified! (Acts 2:23, 36)
      2. But God raised Jesus up again! (Acts 2:24, 31, 32)
      3. God made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36)           
   4. The People Respond to the Preaching (Acts 2:37-41)
      1. Repentance (Acts 2:38)
      2. Baptism: 3,000 added! (Acts 2:38, 41)
      3. Salvation and Receiving of the Holy Spirit

       

2. Holy-Spirit-Empowered Gospel People (Acts 2:42-47)
        1. The Word: Continual Devotion to the Apostles’ Teaching (Acts 2:42, 43)
        2. The Fellowship (Acts 2:42)
        3. Hospitality: Breaking of Bread (Acts 2:42)
        4. Prayer (Acts 2:42)
        5. Meeting Needs Ministry (Acts 2:44)
        6. Worshipful Unity:
               1. Public Worship in the Temple (Acts 2:46)
               2. Family Fellowship House to House (Acts 2:46)
               3. Praising God (Acts 2:47)
         7. Favorable Witness (Acts 2:47)

“And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47)

Holy-Spirit-Empowered Gospel Preaching Begets Holy-Spirit-Empowered Gospel People!

Jesus’s gospel saves people, giving them the Holy Spirit, and brings them together in the body of Jesus Christ, the church! Individual faith is inseparable from corporate faith!

The church is built upon the gospel of the risen Jesus Christ, is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and added to by the Lord. From beginning to end, the church is a creation of God Himself!

Proclaiming Christ in Promised Power

Acts 2:14-36

Purpose: to join with Peter in boldly proclaiming the glory of the risen Christ.

1. The Promise Explained. (Acts 2:14-21)

2. The Gospel Proclaimed. (Acts 2:22-32)

3. The LORD Jesus Acclaimed (Acts 2:33-36)

The Holy Spirit has come, and has empowered us to boldly proclaim and glorify the risen Christ.

God’s Power to Proclaim

Acts 2:1-13

Purpose: To join God in what only He can do, the salvation of the nations!

1. The Promise Arrives! (Acts 2:1-4)

2. The Preaching Begins! (Acts 2:5-11)

3. The People Respond! (Acts 2:12-13)

Holy Spirit power to preach Jesus Christ to all nations is a miraculous reversal of the Babel curse (Gen 11:9), God’s salvation is now open to all, and we must take our place in His work!

Faithful Preparation for Gospel Proclamation

Acts 1:12-26

Purpose: to take our place as Jesus Christ’s witnesses requires faithful preparation.

1. Faithful Preparation Requires Obedience (Acts 1:12-13)
        What is God asking you to do in preparation?

2. Faithful Preparation Requires Unity (Acts 1:14a)
        Who do you need to be reconciled to so that your witness isn’t hindered?

3. Faithful Preparation Requires Engagement (Acts 1:14b)
        Who are you praying for that needs the Lord, and how are you praying that you might be used to see them saved?

4. Faithful Preparation Requires Anticipation (Acts 1:15-20)
        What are you expecting the Lord to do in and through your witness?

5. Faithful Preparation Requires Intentionality (Acts 1:21-22)
        What steps are you taking to grow your capacity for faithful witness?

6. Faithful Preparation Requires Action (Acts 1:23-26)
        What is your next step to prepare to be a faithful witness? Take it.

Holy Spirit empowered witness requires that we are actively and expectantly preparing for faithful gospel proclamation that Jesus Christ is alive!

Witnesses Of the Risen Savior
Acts 1:1-11

          Purpose: to take our place as Jesus Christ’s witnesses for the salvation of the nations!

1. It All Begins With the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:44-53)
       All the OT is Fulfilled in the Gospel Event of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:44)
       Scripture-Saturated (Luke 24:44-46; 3X)
       Gospel-Centered (Luke 24:46; 1 Cor 15:1-4)
       Mission-to-the-Nations (Luke 24:47)
       Apostolic Witness (Luke 24:48)
       The Promise of Power (Luke 24:49)
       Ascension and Worshipful Abandon! (Luke 24:50-53)
       Sin paid for, death defeated, Satan shamed, God glorified above all!

2. It All Culminates in Our Witness of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:1-11)
       Orders Given (Acts 1:3)
       Jesus is Alive! (Acts 1:4)
       Holy Spirit Promised Power (Acts 1:4-5)
       Kingdom Confusion (Acts 1:6-7)
       Kingdom Clarity, the Great Commission in Acts (Acts 1:8)
       Between Two Events/Advents! (Acts 1:9-11)

3. Promise Kept!
       All of Acts is a Result of the Gospel of the Risen        Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 24)
       All of Acts is a Fulfillment of the Prophecy of Jesus Christ (1:8)
       Jerusalem (1:6-6:7), Judea & Samaria (6:8-12),
       Remotest Part of the Earth (13-28)
       All of Acts is Empowered by the Promised Holy Spirit (1:8)
       God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit on Mission through His Church to Save All Nations!
       God calling His church into existence for Worship, Discipleship, and Mission

The Book of Acts is all about the Father and the Son brining salvation to all nations of the world through Holy Spirit empowered witness that Jesus Christ is alive! All who repent and believe in the risen Lord Jesus are saved to the
glory of God!

Living In. Living Out.

The Book of ACTS

Purpose: To see how we put the gospel in action

1. Living In, And Living Out Acts.

• What is a New Testament Church?
• We exist to glorify Christ in Worship, Discipleship, and Mission.
• One time, All-time, Our time

2. The Gospel In Action

• Where we have been
• Where we are going

3. Being An A.C.T.S. Church

• A Church That … Spreads the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8)
• A Church That … Seeks the Lord in Prayer (Acts 1:14)
• A Church That’s…Spirit-Led (Acts 1:5, 8, 16; 2:1-4; 13:2)
• A Church That … Surrenders
• A Church That … Studies God’s Word (Acts 2:42)
• A Church That … Sends (Acts 1:8; 13:2-4)
• A Church That … Stands Up to Earthly Judgment (Acts 22-28)

YHWH, Is Redeemer
Ruth 4

Purpose: To see God’s hand in redemption.

1. The Would-Be Redeemer (Ruth 4:1-6)

    

    

    

2. The Lesser Redeemer (Ruth 4:7-12)

    

    

    

3. The Greater Redeemer (Ruth 4:13-17)

    

    

    

4. YHWH, Our Redeemer (Ruth 4:18-22)

    

    

    

Both in the story of Ruth, and in our own story, it is God who is working through His providence to redeem a people for His own inheritance.

There Is a Redeemer

Ruth 3

Purpose: To see the greater redemption in Christ.

1. Redemption Planned (Ruth 3:1-5)

2. Redemption Sought. (Ruth 3:6-12)

3. Redemption Found. (Ruth 3:13-18)

We see in the details of Ruth and Naomi’s redemption in Boaz a picture of the greater redemption Christians find when they humbly submit themselves to Christ for salvation.

The Lord of Providence Restores Hope
Ruth 2

Purpose: To act on our trust in the Lord based on our persevering hope in God’s providence.

1. The Lord prepares Ruth to be blessed despite her unawareness. (Ruth 2:1-2)
        Introduction of Boaz – a kinsman
        Conversation between Ruth and Naomi
        Relevance of Ruth being referred to as a Moabitess
        The act of gleaning and what it means

2. The Lord provides for Ruth based on her faith and hope in the Lord. (Ruth 2:3-17)
        Faith and hope acted upon by Ruth
        The character of Boaz on display
        Ruth and Boaz meet

3. The Lord restores hope when we sincerely trust Him. (Ruth 2:18-23)
        Ruth reports back to Naomi
        Hope is restored
        Naomi’s outlook and attitude change

4. The Lord is in control of all things.
        How do we respond when life throws a curveball?
        Do we place our hope in Him?
        How big or small is the Lord in your life?

When we trust in the Lord and His providence, by faith placed into action, even when we do not know what lies ahead, our hope is then truly in Christ alone.

YHWH, LORD of All!

Chapter 1

Purpose:  To trust the LORD in all things.

1. The LORD Controls Nature (Ruth 1:1-7)

2. The LORD is Worthy of Worship (Ruth 1:8-18)
        Dialogue in Moab
        What does Naomi want her d’s-in-law to do?  (vv. 8-13)
        Why?  - Kinsman Marriage (see Deut. 25:5-10)
        How does the writer of this book want us to view God?
        What is Ruth doing in going with Naomi? (vv. 14-18)

3. The LORD, Our Only Hope (Ruth 1:19-22)
        Returning to Bethlehem
        What do verses 20 and 13 have in common
        What does this say about the writer’s concern?
        What does this say about Naomi’s view of God
        The beginning of the harvest! (v. 22) Why is this important?

4. Character Studies in Ruth Ch. 1  
        Naomi - 1:13, 20
           Destitute - no family = no
   inheritance/welfare/health care/social security
           Widowed, depressed, and hurting, has the LORD left her?
           “Bitter” is the same word used in 13 and 20

                      Ruth - 1:18; Matthew 1:5
                         Moabite
                         Widowed (same position as Naomi) - she could have gone back to family
                         Personal commitment and sacrifice - 1:16-17
                         To whom is the commitment and sacrifice
                         What does it cost her?

                         What does Ruth believe about God? 
                         How would you describe Ruth’s character/behavior?

            YHWH LORD - 1:1, 6, 8, 9, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21 
                       In full control of famine and food in the ‘natural realm’
                       In full control of hardship and blessing in the ‘human realm’
                      How is our God referred to here? 
                      Any miracles performed, religious activity done, prophets speaking for God?
                      Does God act in this way (i.e., vv. 13, 20) in people’s lives? (See Job 2:10)
                      When we believe in Jesus Christ, we are believing in YHWH, the LORD of all creation and providence in our lives!