ACTS: what? Part 1 Luke the life of Jesus Part 2 Acts the early church [CLICK] each line

ACTS: when? c80-90 AD Luke 1:1-4 Acts 1:1-2 [CLICK] for verses

ACTS: why? history – mission of God goes forward in the power of the Holy Spirit encouragement – keep taking the good news of Jesus to the world [CLICK] each line

ACTS: where?

ACTS: why study? written to the church living in a world that did not trust Jesus that’s our world

The gospel is so much more than sin management

ACTS: key verse But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere— in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Abraham: nations blessed Israel: light to the nations Before Time Creation Rebellion Redemption New Creation Abraham: nations blessed Israel: light to the nations Jesus: light of the world Church: so send I you 2nd coming of Jesus: all made new [CLICK] each item

Kenya

ACTS 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere— in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 17:1-2 Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people.

Acts 17:3-4 He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.

Acts 19:16-17 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there.

Acts 19:18 He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”

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Acts 19:16-17 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and he spoke daily in the public square to all who happened to be there. Back into Acts 17

Acts 19:18 He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”

live questionable lives

Acts 17:19-21 Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.)

connect everyone to Jesus and his mission

connect everyone to Jesus and his mission everyone means every generation; everyone means we break through stereotypes to ensure everyone knows Jesus loves them; everyone is welcome just as they are. OCC is a place where a perfect God meets imperfect people; everyone means we cross borders in our neighborhoods & around our world to bring the good news of Jesus.

Acts 17:22-23 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.

Acts 17:24-25 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.

Acts 17:26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

Acts 17:27-29 His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. [CLICK] for emphasis

Acts 17:30-31 God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.  For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.

Hebrews 1:1-3 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.

N. T. Wright If you want to know who God is, look at Jesus. If you want to know what it means to be human, look at Jesus. If you want to know what love is, look at Jesus. If you want to know what grief is look at Jesus. And keep looking until you’re no longer a spectator but part of his grand story.

Abraham: nations blessed Israel: light to the nations Before Time Creation Rebellion Redemption New Creation Abraham: nations blessed Israel: light to the nations Jesus: light of the world Church: so send I you 2nd coming of Jesus: all made new The whole story of Jesus as the fulfillment of the promises of God

Acts 17:32-34 When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” That ended Paul’s discussion with them, but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Truth & Meaning Beauty & Worship Authentic Community Missional Journey OCC core values Truth & Meaning Beauty & Worship Authentic Community Missional Journey [CLICK] each line