While We Wait (5 of 5)
Series: The Rising
Craig Smith
Acts 1:1-11
I. Introduction
[a few details about last weekend]
But as incredible as Easter is, it's not the end of the story. What happens next is, in some ways, even more amazing. So we're going to pick up where the Gospel of Luke left off, by turning to the book of Acts. Some of you may know that the book of Acts is actually the Gospel of Luke, part 2. It was written by the same guy who wrote the Gospel of Luke and it was written as an intentional sequel. We can easily forget that because somewhere along the way, for some reason that no one really understands anymore, the Gospel of John got stuck in between Luke and Acts, but Luke and Acts are meant to be read as a series, something that Luke makes very clear with the very first words of the book of Acts:
II. Main Body
A. The Program
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. (Acts 1:1-2)
The most interesting part of this is that Luke says, ''in my former book...I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach.'' That's an interesting statement, isn't it? ''All that he began to do and teach''. The implication is pretty clear: Jesus isn't done doing or teaching. His ''departure'' to heaven wasn't the conclusion to his work...it was simply the beginning of the next phase of his work. Ok, but how does Jesus' work continue if he has gone away? The answer, which is crucial to understanding the book of Acts is that Jesus continues his work through his followers. We often call this book the Acts of the Apostles, but it might actually be better to call it The Acts of Jesus Through His Apostles. Let's be clear about this: if you are a follower of Jesus, he wants to continue his work through you. I know that sounds audacious, but it is the clear teaching of Jesus himself. Some ...
Series: The Rising
Craig Smith
Acts 1:1-11
I. Introduction
[a few details about last weekend]
But as incredible as Easter is, it's not the end of the story. What happens next is, in some ways, even more amazing. So we're going to pick up where the Gospel of Luke left off, by turning to the book of Acts. Some of you may know that the book of Acts is actually the Gospel of Luke, part 2. It was written by the same guy who wrote the Gospel of Luke and it was written as an intentional sequel. We can easily forget that because somewhere along the way, for some reason that no one really understands anymore, the Gospel of John got stuck in between Luke and Acts, but Luke and Acts are meant to be read as a series, something that Luke makes very clear with the very first words of the book of Acts:
II. Main Body
A. The Program
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. (Acts 1:1-2)
The most interesting part of this is that Luke says, ''in my former book...I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach.'' That's an interesting statement, isn't it? ''All that he began to do and teach''. The implication is pretty clear: Jesus isn't done doing or teaching. His ''departure'' to heaven wasn't the conclusion to his work...it was simply the beginning of the next phase of his work. Ok, but how does Jesus' work continue if he has gone away? The answer, which is crucial to understanding the book of Acts is that Jesus continues his work through his followers. We often call this book the Acts of the Apostles, but it might actually be better to call it The Acts of Jesus Through His Apostles. Let's be clear about this: if you are a follower of Jesus, he wants to continue his work through you. I know that sounds audacious, but it is the clear teaching of Jesus himself. Some ...
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