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Acts 1:1-14
"We need a sense of moving toward something, but we can discern that busyness can't provide a destination to anything outside of us. It draws us deep within ourselves. Busyness asks us to run faster, not to go anywhere in particular but just to remain busy so we can feel full..."
–Andrew Root
The Congregation in a Secular Age: Keeping Sacred Time Against the Speed of Modern Life
Acts 1:1-14
1 I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Truths of Discipleship in Acts 1:
• Disciples are people who know who Jesus is.
John 16:7 Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.
• Disciples learn to wait for God (vs. 4).
Acts 1:4-5 While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”
• Disciples wait on God's promise.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
• Disciples live as witnesses of the resurrection (Christ's and our own).
"How many people in our lives know without any shadow of a doubt our forgiving and accepting love? Witnessing is not just spouting concepts or outlining plans of salvation. It is profound caring for and sometimes suffering with and for people. People are first on God's agenda."
–Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie
Drumbeat of Love
Who are five people who need the love, wisdom, knowledge, and faith of Jesus?
