Acts of the Apostles: Authorship, Purpose, and Our Mission Today (Ep 130)

Introduction and Overview

---

Jason: Thank you for listening, and welcome to the podcast. I am your host, Jason McConnell. If the Bible were a movie, the Gospel of Luke could be considered part one, introducing us to the main character, Jesus Christ, showing us his miracles, teachings, his death, and his resurrection. But then if we just stop there, it might feel incomplete.

We'd be left wondering, well, what happens next? How did the small group of believers grow into a movement that changed the world? And that's where the Book of Acts comes in. It's the bridge between the life of Jesus on earth and the life of Jesus through his church. It's a sequel, but it's also the launchpad.

If Luke's gospel shows us what Jesus began to do and teach Acts, shows us what he continues to do this time through the power of the Holy Spirit working in his people. Now, right from the start acts pulls us into this moment of anticipation. Here's Jesus. He, he's risen from the dead, gathering his disciples, and he tells them in Acts one, verse eight, but you'll receive the power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you'll be my witness in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

It's like the opening line to a great adventure. We've got power, purpose, and a plan that spans from this small little corner of the Middle East to every nation on the earth. The best part, this story isn't over. We're still living it today. In this first episode of Acts of the Apostle Series, we're gonna take a closer look at who wrote Acts, why it was written, and how it connects directly to the Gospel of Luke.

We'll also set the stage for the big movements and miraculous moments that unfold in its 28 chapters. Acts isn't a dusty record of the past. It's a living call to action for every believer past, present, and future.

The Author: Meet Luke, the Doctor and Historian

---

Jason: Alright, before we dive into all the miracles, shipwrecks and daring Escapes and acts, we need to talk about the guy holding the pen because knowing the rider gives us some insight into the style, the tone, and the purpose of the story we're reading.

Now, you might note that I didn't call him the author because the author is God. The author of the entire Bible is God. He used men to write his message to us. So who wrote Acts? Well meet Luke. Now, when you think of the New Testament writers, you may be imagining a bearded fisherman like Peter or this fiery preacher like Paul.

Luke's a little different. He's the kind of guy who would show up to the Bible study with a leather bound notebook, three sharpened pencils, and maybe a stethoscope hanging around his neck. Because, because he was a doctor. Paul even calls him our dear friend, Luke, the doctor in Colossians four 14. But let's be real for just a moment.

Being a physician in the first century wasn't exactly a cushy clinic job. There was no hand sanitizer, no x-rays machines, just keen eyes, steady hands, and a whole lot of vinegar and oil. But what makes Luke so fascinating isn't that he could stitch a wound or diagnose a fever. He was a first class historian.

In fact, at the start of the gospel, uh, of his gospels, he says in Luke one verses three through four. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you most excellent Theos, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke was careful. He was methodical. I mean, I want you to think. Sherlock Holmes of the biblical era, he interviewed eyewitnesses, crosschecked facts, arranged events in a way that told the story of Jesus with precision and beauty. And here's where it all gets fun. Acts really is volume two. You can almost imagine Luke writing the gospels and then at the end realizing, well, I'm really not done.

So he flips the page and starts page part two. Acts picks up right where Luke leaves off. Jesus has risen from the dead. He's spending 40 days teaching his disciples, and the stage is set for the next big move, the Holy Spirit's arrival and the birth of the church. And Luke even gives us the link in Acts one verses one and two.

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach. Until the day he was taken up to heaven. Now, that former book is the Gospel of Luke. That's the link and Theophilus our mysterious recipient. He gets a front row seat to the sequel. Now, we don't know everything about Theophilus.

In fact, we know very little. His name means lover of God. So he, he could have been some high, uh, ranking person, or maybe Luke's just writing to anybody who loves God and wants to know him more. Either way, the, the dedication is a warm invitation. Come along, you're gonna want to see what happens next. And here's something I really love about Luke's writing.

He never makes himself the center of the story. In fact, we only catch him in acts when he subtly switches pronouns from they to we in a few travel sections, letting us know that he's right there with Paul. I mean, it's like he photo bombs his own book without drawing too much attention to it. What does this mean for us today?

Why does this matter for us today? Because it shows us that God used all kinds of personalities and skill sets in his kingdom. I mean, as I mentioned, Luke wasn't this fiery preacher or a rugged fisherman. He was a details guy, a behind the scenes thinker, a healer with a pen, and yet God entrusted him with writing over a quarter of the New Testament.

So when we turn the pages of Acts, remember. This is Luke's orderly account, researched with Doctor's precision, written with a storyteller's heart and guided by the Holy Spirit's inspiration. This isn't just some ancient history tomb, this is the record of how the church began. It's, it's meant to strengthen your faith and remind you the story is still going.

The Purpose of Acts: Continuation of Jesus' Mission

---

Jason: So I wanna zoom out for a moment and ask the big question. Why did Luke actually write the book of Acts? Was it because he was bored and needed a new hobby? I don't think so. Was it because he just had leftover ink from writing the Gospel of Luke also? Probably. No. Now Luke wrote acts with a clear mission to show that the gospel didn't stop when Jesus ascended to heaven.

It kept moving, kept growing, it kept spreading like wildfire and only instead of destroying things, it was bringing dead hearts to life. Acts in Acts one verses one and two. Luke reminds Theophilus. In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven.

That little word began is kind of a big deal here. Luke's Luke is basically saying, Hey, Jesus may have left Earth physically, but he's not done working. Acts shows us the continuation of his mission through the Holy Spirit in his people. I want you to think of it like this. The gospels aren't, are the origin story, but acts as the mission in action.

ad.: 1960

And here's what makes this fascinating Acts ends with Paul under house arrest, still preaching the gospel boldly and without hindrance. You can see that in Acts 28 verses 30 and 31, for two whole years, Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught.

The Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. There it is. Right there. That's it. There's no the end, no dramatic fade to black. Just to be continued. It almost feels like Luke set his pen down. Mid-sentence. Why? Well, because the story of the gospel isn't finished. The mission is ongoing, and Paul's life at that point was still unfolding.

Acts had been written later, say in the seventies or eighties ad we'd almost certainly see Luke mentioning the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in, in 70 ad, one of the most cataclysmic events in Jewish history. But he doesn't. Now we'd probably also hear about Paul's eventual trial before Caesar, or even his martyrdom under Emperor Nero, which most historians place around 64 to 67 A.

But again, silence, nothing. The fact that Luke leaves these major moments out suggests that Acts was written while Paul was still alive, and while the story was still very much in motion. And this makes Acts one of the earliest historical accounts of the Christian movement. We're not looking at something that was written centuries later with layers of tradition piled on it.

We're looking at the story while the dust is still settling, while the eyewitnesses are still alive, while the church is still very young and vulnerable. And this is exciting for us as readers because it means. We're standing close to the events. The ink is barely dry. The memories are fresh. The people who saw Jesus alive, who felt the wind of Pentecost, who survived the riots, and Ephesus, they were still around when Luke wrote this down.

Acts doesn't read like a polished myth or a legend. It reads like boots on the ground history. Maybe that's why Luke ends so abruptly. It's almost like he's reminding us that the mission is not wrapped up in Paul's story or in the first generation of Christians. The gospel doesn't stop when the book closes.

It keeps moving right up to us today. In other words, you and I are part of Acts 29. We're the Acts 29 generation, if you want to call it that. The pen is still in God's hand and he's still writing. Through the lives of his people. Now, you and I probably won't make it into the Bible, but hopefully you get my point.

We are the continuation of God's plan that started in acts.

Historical Context: The Roman Empire and Early Christianity

---

Jason: Now the story unfolds in, in a world dominated by the Roman Empire. I mean, you know, I want you to picture this for a moment. There's marble cities, mighty legion emperors on coins and roads stretching across the continents like veins in a body, Rome.

Had essentially built the first international highway system, you could hop on a Roman road in Jerusalem, and if you had the stamina and the sandals that would hold up, you could make your way across the Mediterranean world. And here's the unexpected upside. Those roads, plus the common Greek language, made it much easier for the apostles to travel and share the gospel.

Add in it, the, the Pax Romana, the the Roman Peace, and you've got a recipe for a global movement. The empire was stable, at least politically, and that stability proved or provided more open doors for messaging of Christ and allowed it to spread faster than you might even expect. But here's the catch.

While Rome was politically stable, it wasn't exactly spiritually welcoming. At first, the Romans treated the Christians like some quirky branch of the of Judaism. Since Judaism was already tolerated in the empire, Christians enjoyed a bit of cover then. But as the church grew, and especially as Gentiles started joining in Rome began to notice, and Rome did not like the competition.

The core of the Christian message is Jesus' Lord. See that in Romans 10 verse nine. This wasn't just a personal statement of faith, it was a direct confrontation to the emperor's creed. Caesar is the Lord. Look to declare Jesus as Lord was to say Caesar was not. Ultimately, and in a world where emperors demanded loyalty, bordering on worship, that was a dangerous thing to say.

Christians weren't executed for being nice to people who love Jesus. They were targeted. Because their allegiance was, was challenging the very foundation of Roman power and idolatry. So while the roads were open and the peace was steady, the gospel still traveled in tension. It moved along Roman highways.

Yeah, sure. But it was carried by men and women willing to risk their lives to declare a kingdom greater than Rome, a king greater than Caesar and the Lord, greater than any emperor. That's why the Book of Acts is so explosive. The backdrop isn't calm suburbia. It's the clash of kingdoms. On one side, the emperor of Rome, the whole empire of Rome with its legions and laws.

And on the other side, the kingdom of God with fishermen, tax collectors, and a crucified but risen messiah. And spoiler alert, Rome eventually collapses, but the gospel never does. So Acts opens in Jerusalem, the beating heart of the Jewish faith and culture. This is a city with the temple, the place every faithful Jew longed to visit at least once in their lifetime.

I mean, pilgrims came here to celebrate Passover, Pentecost, and the great feasts. It was the hub of worship, sacrifice, and identity. So when the first Christians proclaim that Jesus was a. Promised Messiah, it made sense that the movement would begin here. After all these believers were Jewish men and women who had grown up memorizing the law, celebrating the feasts, and waiting for God's anointed one.

They didn't see themselves as starting a new religion. They saw themselves as the fulfillment of their faith. But. Not everyone agreed. Some Jewish leaders saw this message, uh, of Jesus as blasphemy, a dangerous distortion that had to be stamped out. Others were curious, but a little hesitant, kind of standing at the edge of the crowd thinking, uh, you know, could this be true or is this just another false teacher?

And then came the wild card, the Gentiles. Now to the Jewish Minds mindsets, Gentiles were the outsiders. They were spiritually unclean, certainly not part of the Covenant family of God. Yet suddenly, through Visions, miracles and the works of the Holy Spirit, Gentiles were just, they weren't just listening in, they were being welcomed in.

This created some really awkward dinner table moments. I mean, imagine Peter explaining to his Jewish friends that he had just shared a meal with Gentiles, something that was unthinkable for a devout Jew. They just would never happen. In Acts 10 verse 28, Peter tells them plainly, you are aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate or visit with the Gentile, but God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.

Wow, that was a bombshell statement. Peter wasn't just breaking cultural tradition. He was declaring that God himself was tearing down century old walls of separation. And of course, this stirred all kinds of debate. Some Jewish believers wanted Gentile converts to follow the old covenant laws that the circumcisions, the dietary rules festival observances.

Others, like Paul argued passionately that salvation was by grace through faith, not by works of the law. And this tension eventually led to the Council of Jerusalem in Acts chapter 15, where church leaders wrestled with how Jesus and Gentiles could be one family in Christ. And that's one of the most powerful themes and acts.

The gospel isn't just for one group, for one culture, for one nation. It's for everyone. What began in in the narrow streets of Jerusalem would soon ripple outwards across the Roman Empire and eventually to the ends of the earth. But it all started with those first awkward, groundbreaking moments. Jewish believers realizing that God's table was bigger than anything they ever imagined, and the Gentiles finding themselves pulled into a chair.

They never, ever thought they'd be invited to. So why write acts back to the original question? Well, there's, there's three big reasons, really. First, to show the unstoppable spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. Nothing, persecution, prisons, storms, or snake bites could stop it. Nothing could stop it.

Two, to highlight the role of the Holy Spirit. I mean, acts could just easily be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit. Every major breakthrough is spirit led. And number three, to encourage believers, whether in the first century or the 21st century acts reminds us that we're part of a mission way bigger than ourselves.

Here's where it gets kind of exciting for us today. The mission of Acts one, verse eight isn't over. We're still in that to the ends of your phase. If Luke were alive today, he could still be adding chapters about missionaries in Africa, churches in South America, underground believers in Asia, and yes, maybe even you and your witness in your neighborhood acts as a living story.

The same spirit who empowered Peter to preach at Pentecost, who sent Paul across the Mediterranean, and who comforted the persecuted church in Jerusalem. That spirit lives in you. The historical context is fascinating, no doubt about that, but the spiritual part of it that's even more thrilling, and you and I, we get to be part of the sequel.

My friends, it's time to hop into our ancient travel van, or it's actually more like a combination of a camel caravan, fishing boat, and a Roman road trip, if you will.

The Spread of the Gospel: From Jerusalem to the Ends of the Earth

---

Jason: But let's take a quick tour through all 28 chapters of acts at a high level. Now, I'm, I'm not gonna read every verse today. That would be, that would be insane, but think of this as your big picture map for the rest of the series.

But we're gonna see this in three main movements. Now, the first movement. Is Jerusalem where the church is born, and this is where we start. We start in Jerusalem, right where Jesus told his disciples to wait. So in Acts chapter one, Jesus ascends to heaven leaving his followers with the promise of the Holy Spirit.

his famous sermon, and about: 3000

Then Acts chapter three and four, Peter and John heal a Elaine beggar at the Temple Gate, and then boldly preach Christ earning themselves a one-way trip to jail. But instead of being silenced, they pray for even more boldness. Let me have chapter five. Uh, Ananias and Shariah lie into the Holy Spirit about their offering, and let's just say their time in the church ends a little abruptly.

Let me have Acts chapter six and seven. The church appoints seven deacons to help care for the growing community, and Stephen, one of them, preaches so boldly that he becomes the first Christian martyr. Now at this stage. The movement is still centered in Jerusalem, but, but that's about to change as we move into the second movement, which is Judea and Samaria, where the gospel kind of breaks through some boundaries.

And when the, when the persecution breaks out, after Stephen's death, believers scatter and the gospels start moving into new territories. And then in chapter eight, Philip heads to Samaria preaches to an Ethiopian official. And the good news. Begins to cross those cultural lines. And then in chapter nine we have a big twist.

Love this chapter Saul, the church's fiercest enemy, meets Jesus on the road to Damascus and becomes the apostle Paul, and he is proof that nobody is beyond's God's reach. And then we have chapters 10 and 11 where Peter has a vision of a sheet full of animals and learns that the gospel is for Gentiles too.

And this is huge. God's plan is way bigger than one ethnic group. Then we have chapter 12 where Peter is miraculously freed from prison while King Herod learns the hard way that opposing God never ends well. But here we have, the church is now mult, multicultural, multilingual, and moving out in massive power.

So now we enter into the third movement. Which is this, to the ends of the earth. And this, this highlights a lot of Paul's missionary journeys, but this is where the action packed parts of acts comes into play. Think of this as the Indiana Jones section, but instead of chasing treasure, Paul is chasing lost souls with the gospel.

So we have Acts, acts chapter 13 and 14, which is the first journey where Paul and Barnabas had to cyp, uh, Cypress. And Galacia facing opposition, but still planting churches. And then that Acts 15, I talked about Council of Jerusalem Church leaders finally settle the debate about whether Gentile believers need to follow Jewish ceremonial laws.

Spoiler, salvation is by grace alone. Then we have the second journey in Acts chapters 15 through 18, where Paul teams up with Silas and Timothy, they preach in Philippi where. He and Silas sing in jail. You'll, you'll enjoy that part, and, and they debate philosophers in Athens. Then we have the third journey in Acts 18 through 21.

Paul strengthens churches, spends years teaching in Ephesus and warns believers about false teachers. And then we move into Acts 21 through 26 where Paul is arrested in Jerusalem, narrowly escapes death multiple times and testifies before governors and kings. Then Acts 27 and 28, the Journey to Rome.

Paul survives shipwrecks, shakes off poisonous snakes in Malta, and finally reaches Rome, proclaiming Christ under house arrest. Now, if you look closely, acts follows the exact pattern Jesus laid out in Acts, chapters one, chapter one, verse eight. Jerusalem Acts one through seven, Judea and Samaria Acts eight through 12.

Of the Earth Acts 13 through 28. The story of acts flows like ripples in a pond, starting with a single splash in Jerusalem and spreading into Judea and Samaria, and then stretching outwards to the very ends of the known world. Every chapter is like watching those ripples widen new cities, new cultures, new languages, new people, groups, all being touched by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here's what's really remarkable. As I mentioned earlier, the final chapter of acts doesn't end the way most books do. There's no conclusion, no happy ever after. No, uh, scrolling of the words at the end know the end. It's instead closes with Paul under house arrest in Rome, proclaiming the Kingdom of God, quote, with all boldness and without hindrance.

Acts 28 31. Then silence. Luke just stops writing and the baton has been passed. What Jesus began in Jerusalem through his apostles, he continues today through us. We are part of the ripples. Your conversations, your prayers, your acts of kindness, your courage to speak the name of Jesus, they're all ripples that move outward.

Touching lives you may never even see. So in a sense. Again, we're living in Acts, chapters 29, the unwritten chapter where the spirit of God continues the mission through his church today and one day when the history is wrapped up and Christ returns, we'll see how all of those ripples came together into a mighty wave that reached the actual ends of the earth.

Acts. Is the ultimate reminder that God's word doesn't just stay in one place, it moves, it's mobile, it's unstoppable. And as we study this book, we're not only gonna see that God or what God did then, but we'll recognize what he's doing now through ordinary people. People like you, people like me. Okay, so we've covered the background, the author, the purpose, the big sweeps of events.

But now I wanna, I wanna slow this down. Camp on one of the most important moments in Acts, in my opinion. I want you to picture this scene. The disciples have just spent 40 days with the risen Jesus. They've seen him eat fish. They've seen him walk, talk, and teach after conquering death. I mean, their faith is absolutely sky high, but their understanding is we'll call it a work in progress.

And then we have acts. Chapter one, verses one through eight. I'm gonna read the whole thing in entirety this time. In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven. After giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen, after his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.

He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion while he was eating with them, he gave them this command. Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift of my father promised, which you have heard me speak about for John baptized with water. But in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Then they gathered around him and asked, Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said to them, it is not for you to know the times or dates the father has set. By his own authority, but you'll receive the power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you'll be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria into the ends of the earth.

So have a few observations about this, this scripture. First one is that Jesus is still teaching. Luke tells us Jesus spent those 40 days speaking about the kingdom of God, and this is huge. The, the resurrection wasn't the final mic drop. It was the proof that his authority and his, and it was his prelude to his final instructions.

And I want you to notice that the phrasing in verse one, all that Jesus began to do and teach again, that word began, means the work isn't finished. Acts isn't the story of Jesus being replaced by the apostles. It's the story of Jesus continuing his mission through them. Observation number two, you have to wait before you work sometimes.

I mean, if I were one of those disciples, I'd be thinking, all right, let's get out there. We've got this greatest news in the world. We've gotta move. We've, we've gotta get out there and do this. But Jesus says in verse four, do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift of my father promised. But wait, why wait?

Because the mission ahead was too big for human abilities. Without the Holy Spirit, the the disciples couldn't, I mean, they could share words, but they couldn't make any, they didn't have any. Life-changing. Power waiting wasn't wasting time. It was preparation. My observation number three on this, the disciples question verses Jesus's answer.

I want you to think about that in verse six. The disciples basically ask, so is now the time you're gonna set up the kingdom and kick out Rome? They're still thinking in terms of political restoration and national power. Jesus is gentle. He doesn't rebuke them. He redirects them. It is not for you to know the times or dates, but you'll receive the power.

In other words, don't get distracted by the calendar. Focus on the calling. And then my last observation, we'll call it the mission blueprint. I've talked about this a couple times already. Verse eight is the, the heartbeat of the entire book. If, if you ask me, you will receive power. This is spirit power, not political, cloud or self-confidence.

It is divine enablement to do what? What we could never do on our own. He says, you will be my witnesses. Now, a witness doesn't make up stories. They simply tell what they've seen and experienced. This is our job description. As believers, you and me we're to be witnesses. We don't have to know every verse in the Bible.

We don't have to have all the answers. We just have to speak. To what you, we've experienced what you've experienced, and, and use that as your story. And then finally, he talks about the timeline or the, the, the trajectory in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. This is both a geographic and spiritual strategy.

Start where you are, move out to surrounding areas, and then keep going until there's nowhere left to go. So.

Living the Mission Today: Acts 1:8 in Our Lives

---

Jason: Here's the thing, acts one, verse eight isn't just for those disciples sitting on a hill outside of Jerusalem. If you're a follower of Jesus, you're, you're included in that. You'll be my witnesses.

We all have a Jerusalem, our, our, our immediate family or friends, community, whatever. We all have a Judea and Samaria, you know, those places nearby that, uh, might be different than us in, in a number of ways. And we all have an ends of the earth people far away who need to hear the good news. And if you remember nothing else from this episode, I want you to remember this.

The mission of Acts one, verse eight is still going. The torch is in our hands and the same spirit to empowered the early church is ready to empower you if you're willing to receive it and obey it. Alright, so we've traced the story, we've unpacked history, we've zoomed in on Acts one, verse eight. But now the big question is, what does this mean for us today?

Because here's the truth, and I, and I can't stress this enough. Acts isn't just a book about what they did back then. It's about what we're called to do right now. We are still living in Acts one, verse eight. Jesus said, you will be my witnesses, acts one verse eight. That wasn't a suggestion. That was wasn't just for Peter, John, and Paul.

That was for every follower of Christ. I mean, think about it. If the early church had kept the gospel to themselves, you and I wouldn't be here today. Somewhere down the line, someone shared Christ with someone else who shared him with someone else until eventually the message reached you and now it's your turn to carry the torch.

So what is, let's expand on what is your Jerusalem, judeas and Marriot and the ends of the earth. And I wanna break this down a little bit more practically. So let's start with your Jerusalem. This is your inner circle. Your, your, as I mentioned, your family, your close friends, maybe your coworkers. These are people who see your life almost every day, if not every day.

Being a witness here means living with integrity, kindness, and boldness, living it out. Then we have your Judea. Let's expand it a little bit. These are the people near you, but not always as close. Maybe your neighbors, your broader community, your classmates being a witness here may look like serving, uh, just showing up, uh, building bridges.

And then there's your Samaria. Now these are the tough places. These are other people who, who are different from you, maybe even the people you'd rather avoid. The disciples didn't wanna go to Samaria, but Jesus sent them anyways For us, this might be crossing cultural or social divides to love people that others overlook.

And then you have your ends of the earth. And look, this doesn't always mean hopping on an airplane, though it can. But it could mean supporting missionaries, praying for the unreached people groups, or even connecting online with believers worldwide. These are ways we can join God's global mission. So let's talk about now.

How do we live this out in: 2025

Uh, try to live out the gospel. Your actions, you've heard the term actions speak louder than words. Be the person who shows Christ and how you treat others. Don't have to say a word. Just be the, be the Christ follower. Speak boldly when you're prompted. I mean, look, you don't have to have all the answers.

You don't have to memorize tons of Bible verses and, and be ready for debates. You, you can share your story. As I mentioned before, witness just tells what they've seen, what they've experienced, and that's one of the most compelling ways you can share the gospel, telling others what Christ has done for you, and then try to support the mission beyond yourself.

Give, serve or even connect with missionaries and and missions that carry the gospel further than you can go. Now I would like to offer a little bit of encouragement because there's good news here, not just the gospel, good news, but good news for you. You don't have to do any of this on your own strength.

Remember the promise. You will receive the power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. This means that if that when you feel unqualified, the spirit qualifies you. When you feel weak, the spirit strengthens you. When you don't know what to say, the spirit will give you the words. The same spirit who empowered Peter to preach at Pentecost and Paul, to testify in front of Kings that spirit lives in you today.

So what is your Jerusalem? Who is God putting on your heart this week? And, and just start there. Pray for boldness. Step out in faith. Remember, you are not writing a brand new story. You're stepping into the greatest story ever told one that began in acts and continues through you.

Conclusion

---

Jason: As I wrap up this very first episode in the Acts of the Apostle Series, I want you to take a step back and let's look at the big picture Acts.

It's not about the past. It's a story of what Jesus continued to do through his people, by the power of the Spirit and the story of ordinary men and women who became extraordinary witnesses because God filled them, guide them, and sent them out. And I do wanna challenge you this week, identify your Jerusalem.

Who in your life needs to see or hear the love of Christ from you? Maybe it's a family member, maybe it's a coworker. Maybe it's the person behind the counter at your favorite coffee shop, whoever it is, I'd like you to start there. Be a witness wherever you are. And remember, you don't do this alone. That same spirit who turned fishermen into preachers and prosecutors into apostles is alive in you today.

He is the power behind this mission. Until next time, keep loving your neighbors. Dive into God's word daily and may the Lord bless you and keep you and fill you with his peace. Take care. God bless, and I'll see you in the next episode.

Share Episode

Shownotes

Transcripts

Follow

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube