Tensions That Shape Our Outreach Strategies - Part 2
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.
Tensions That Shape Our Outreach Strategy - Part 1
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.
Last Instructions for Witnesses
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.
Keep The Big Picture in Mind
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.
Advancing the Kingdom When Daily Life Is Hard
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
The Resurrection Anchors the Gospel
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
How Your Witness is Perceived
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
Know and Rest in the Providence of God
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
A Confident Witness in the Face of Opposition
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
Be Ready to Tell Your Story of Faith in Jesus
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
We Must Accept Suffering as God's Will
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
Doing God's Will in the Face of Suffering
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:
- Paul's ministry is characterized by the Spirit's leading.
- Paul's reasons for going to Jerusalem were good.
- Paul knew the Spirit's constraint to take this specific trip.
- The Spirit had revealed an awaiting danger.
- Danger was a part of Paul's commission to ministry.
- Paul doesn't consider this decision to be a mistake.
- Paul later considers this outcome as a gospel benefit.
- The people cannot press their conclusions on Paul, and yield to the will of God.
- We must consider what the Spirit actually said.
- 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
What a Congregation Should Expect From It's Overseers
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
The Role of Careful Oversight
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
An Exemplary Life
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
The Need for Encouragement
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.
The Name of the Lord Jesus
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
Gifts for Kingdom Advance
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
Fear in Sharing the Gospel
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
The Void Sin Leaves
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.