Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 1:8; Acts 8:4
Theme: Tensions that shape our outreach strategies

Tension #6: Extended, ongoing relationships vs. brief, one-time encounters.

Tension #7: Scholarly defense of the gospel vs. simple statements of the gospel.

Tension #8: Sovereignty and the power of God's Word, vs. persuasion and the power of my words.

Tension #9: Testimony of words vs testimony of works.

Tension #10: Faith for risk vs wisdom for safety.

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 1:8; Acts 8:4
Theme: Tensions that shape our outreach strategy.

Tension #1: Awareness vs. engagement.

Tension #2: Individual effort vs. corporate program.

Tension #3: The sheer joy of witnessing vs. the stark obedience of witnessing.

Tension #4: Compassion for sinners vs. condemnation of sin.

Tension #5: Bold persistence vs. bold intolerance.

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 28:17-31
Theme: Last instructions for witnesses

One: Aim for opportunities to talk.

Two: Communicate a genuine hope.

Three: Anchor your witness to the Bible.

Four: Understand the possible results.

Five: Be ready in any context to speak of God.

Six: Believe in the gospel's success.

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 28:11-16
Theme: How do we keep in mind the big picture of kingdom advance?

One: View perceived delays as God's plan.

Two: Remember that you live as a witness among unbelief.

Three: Rest in God's promise-keeping.

Four: Be encouraged by other believers and their gifts.

Five: Trace the simple kindness of God in your life.

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 27:1 - 28:10
Theme: Advancing the kingdom when daily life is hard.

One: Know that everyone faces the storms of life.

Two: Believe that nothing hinders God's plan.

Three: Take courage from what God promises.

Four: Remember that you belong to God.

Five: Encourage others by sharing your hope.

Six: Use healing and rescue as <## data-preserve-html-node="true"> of the gospel.

You will receive power…you will be my witnesses… ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 25-26
Theme: See how the resurrection anchors the gospel.

One: Jesus died.

Two: Jesus rose from the dead.

Three: God has a plan to save sinners.

Four: Christians aren't crazy.

Five: Christians have hope.

You will receive power…you will be my witnesses… ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 24:1-27
Theme: You should consider how your Christian witness is perceived in order to give the right opinion of God.

Is your witness…

One: …concerned about truth?

Two: …peaceful in manner?

Three: …committed to God (and the word He gave us)?

Four: …confident in the resurrection?

Five: …consistent with behavior?

Six: …focused on faith?

Seven: …convicting with context?

You will receive power…you will be my witnesses… ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 23:11-35
Theme: You can know, and then rest in, the providence of God.

One: God has a plan.

Two: God is faithful to his promises.

Three: God is with us on our pilgrim journey.

Four: God knows all things.

Five: God accomplishes his will – sometimes through unique ways.

Six: We must not define providence solely by our comfort.

Seven: We must trust God to work all things for his glory and for our good.

You will receive power…you will be my witnesses… ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 22:30-23:11
Theme: You can have a confident witness in the face of constant opposition.

One: Know the world you live in.

• Expect opposition.
• Exercise your rights in service of the gospel.

Two: Keep your conscience clear.

• Definition = your standard for right and wrong.
• Your conscience must be shaped by God's truth about right and wrong.

Three: Be wise with your use of truth.

• Aim for the heart of the matter.
• Aim to unsettle the unbelief.

Four: Rest in God's faithfulness.

• Remember God's presence.
• Remember God's purpose.

You will receive power…you will be my witnesses… ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 21:37-22:21
Theme: You must be ready to tell your story of faith in Jesus.

One: As a witness…engage people strategically.

• Be asertive
• Be defensive
• Be relational
• Build a bridge

Two: As a witness…follow the rescue storyline.

• Before faith in Christ
• Encountering Christ
• Living for Christ

Three: As a witness…trust God with the results.

You will receive power…you will be my witnesses… ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 21:17-36
Theme: We must accept suffering as God's will.

One: Doing God's will includes suffering.

• That's the story of Paul's ministry.
• That's the truth of Bible teaching.
• That's the example of stormy seas.
• That's the reason for God's promise.

Two: God uses suffering to accomplish his will.

• The advance of the gospel.
• The gospel itself.

Three: We must trust God's perfect plan to use our suffering.

Four: We must trust God's faithful promise to end our suffering.

You will receive power…you will be my witnesses… ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 21:1-16
Theme: Doing God's will in the face of suffering.

Question: Was Paul right or wrong to go to Jerusalem?

Answer to the Question: Paul was right to go.

Reasons that Support the Answer:

1. Paul's ministry is characterized by the Spirit's leading.
2. Paul's reasons for going to Jerusalem were good.
3. Paul knew the Spirit's constraint to take this specific trip.
4. The Spirit had revealed an awaiting danger.
5. Danger was a part of Paul's commission to ministry.
6. Paul doesn't consider this decision to be a mistake.
7. Paul later considers this outcome as a gospel benefit.
8. The people cannot press their conclusions on Paul, and yield to the will of God.
9. We must consider what the Spirit actually said.
10. The Lord's confirmation of the visit to Jerusalem.

Applications:

• Daily cultivate a heart that is submissive to the Spirit.
• Define God's will by his revealed Word.
• Face uncertainty and known hardships with faith.

You will receive power…you will be my witnesses… ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 20:28-38
Theme: What should a congregation expect from overseers?

One: A congregation should expect to be warned about false teaching.

• The means: distort truth and draw away
• The end: harm to the flock

Two: A congregation should expect to be encouraged in meaningful relationships.

• Investment of time
• Investment of truth

Three: A congregation should expect to be directed to the Chief Shepherd.

• Commended to the person of God
• Commended to the promises of God

Four: A congregation should expect to be called to diligent service.

• Hard work to help the weak
• True gain comes by giving

You will receive power…you will be my witnesses… ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 20:28
Theme: The Role of Careful Oversight

One: Careful oversight…

Two: …should be diligently exercised…

• Inward - over self
• Outward - over disciples

Three: …by qualified elders

• About elders…
  • Multiple elders in each church
  • Also called bishop & pastor
• Following the Holy Spirit
• Imitating the work of Christ

Four: …over God's church.

• Purchased with his blood
• Secured by his love

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 20:17-27
Theme: How can you live a model life?

One: Serve with humility.

• As to the Lord
• When life is hard

Two: Speak with truth.

• The truth of the Word's benefit
• The truth of the gospel's demands

Three: Live by faith.

• Faith - in the Spirit's leading
• Faith - in the face of uncertainty
• Faith - in the light of eternal values

Four: Rest in grace.

• Enabling grace
• Forgiving grace

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 20:1-16
Theme: Encouragement is essential in the daily work of kingdom living.

One: Encouragement is purposeful in giving.

Two: Encouragement is necessary for weakness.

Three: Encouragement is fostered by cooperation.

Four: Encouragement is anchored to God's Word.

Five: Encouragement is representative of new life.

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 19:1-41
Theme: The name of the Lord Jesus is the power for Kingdom advance.

One: The power for discipleship based on the truth.

Two: The power for boldness in the face of unbelief.

Three: The power for healing as a picture of salvation.

Four: The power for holiness in response to Christ's value.

Five: The power for protection in the midst of opposition.

You will receive power…you will be my witnesses… ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 18:18-28
Theme: God uses the unique gifts of his people for the advance of the kingdom.

One: Paul – off the stage.

Two: Apollos – a rising star.

• Eloquent, competent in the Word
• Instructed, fervent, accurate
• Bold, humble

Three: Priscilla & Aquila – behind the scenes.

• A gentle approach
• An encouraging approach
• A truth-based approach

Conclusion

• You must pursue competence in the Word.
• You must use your gifts in the church.

You will receive power...you will be my witnesses... ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 18:1-17
Theme: We must hear the Lord's encouragement to offset our fear in sharing the gospel.

One: A Common Hurdle

• God's people have often struggled with fear.
• How do we know Paul was afraid?

Two: The Simple Instructions

• Stop being afraid.
• Keep on speaking.

Three: The Convincing Reason

• God's powerful presence
• God's sovereign electiom
  • Election glorifies God
  • Election fuels evangelism

Conclusion: Believe God's promise to you; proclaim God's gospel to others.

You will receive power…you will be my witnesses… ~ Acts 1:8

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 17:16-34
Theme: We must share the gospel; it fills the void that sin leaves

One: The void sin leaves reveals sin's lie.

Two: The void sin leaves masquerades as enlightenment.

Three: The void sin leaves drives a perpetual search.

Four: The void sin leaves rejects God's revelation.

Five: The void sin leaves leads to final judgment.

Six: The void sin leaves necessitates a gospel witness.

Seven: The void sin leaves is remedied by repentence and faith in Jesus.