1. Reaching Out

2. Reading Acts Ancient History Apologetic Historiography
Transforms readers
Continuation of biblical history
Apologetic Historiography
Motivates readers

3. Reading Acts About a people, not a person
God can raise up “sons of Abraham” from these “stones”
If not us, then someone else.
The Book of Acts does not end; we continue to write.
Continuity and discontinuity
Pride and awe
Formation more than facts

4. Applying Acts The changing American landscape Atheism and antipathy
Kinnaman, You Lost Me, UnChristian
Lost identity among our youth
Misunderstood identity in the world
Telling stories of courageous faith

5. Reaching out Requires the Spirit
Staring up into the sky… (1:10)
Restoring Israel’s leadership (1:21-22)
Restoring Israel
The return of the exiles (Isa 56:1-8)
The renewal of Mt. Sinai (Exod 32)
The true Messiah (Acts 1:36; 5:31; 7:35-37)

6. Reaching out Requires Regimen
Athletes of Virtue (Acts 2:42-47)
The body athletic and the body politic
The greatest society made possible through the Spirit
Spirit infused
God WITH us

7. Reaching out to Rejects
The lame man
The connection between physical and spiritual ailment
Access to the Temple
Isa 35

8. Reaching out to Rejects
The Samaritans
History of escalation
Elitism
Radical solutions

9. Reaching out to Rejects
The Ethiopian eunuch
The testimony of Scripture
Deut 23
Isa 56
Baptism as priestly washing

10. Reaching out to Rejects
Gentiles
Luke 4, 7, and 23
Stereotypes and Self-righteousness
The borders of God’s Kingdom are greater
Redefined/rediscovered by Peter (Acts 3:22-23)
Always a step ahead of the Apostles

11. Barriers to Reaching Out
External pressures?
Church grew at a rapid rate
Influenced those influenced by the others
God pursues the persecutors
Answering prayer (Stephen)
Answering doubts (Ananias)

12. Barriers to Reaching Out
Internal issues
Use of possessions
Elitism
Buying fame (Achan, Judas, Simon)
Failure to read instructions
Jesus’s command (Acts 1:8)
God’s activity (Acts 10:47 & 11:17)

13. Reaching out with Humor
The angel “strikes” twice
When one door opens another is closed
God sometimes believes in prayer more than we do