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

Psalm 63

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