1. Welcome to Your Story Acts 1:1-11

2. ACTS GIVES US... Courage Significance

3. ACTS IS THE STORY OF THE... unstoppable growth of God’s kingdom… kingdom = the rule of God on earth Before Acts 1: the nation of Israel After Acts 1: the church non-military, non-political multi-ethnic, multi-national

4. ACTS IS THE STORY OF THE... unstoppable growth of God’s kingdom… through witnesses of Jesus… one who testifies to the truth of something

5. Luke 24:46-48 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

6. ACTS IS THE STORY OF THE... unstoppable growth of God’s kingdom… through witnesses of Jesus… “There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born and the day we discover why.” William Barclay

7. ACTS IS THE STORY OF THE... unstoppable growth of God’s kingdom… through witnesses of Jesus… who are empowered by the Spirit… joins us to Jesus’ church

8. 1 Corinthians 12:13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

9. ACTS IS THE STORY OF THE... unstoppable growth of God’s kingdom… through witnesses of Jesus… who are empowered by the Spirit… joins us to Jesus’ church empowers our witness in word & deed

10. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…

11. ACTS IS THE STORY OF THE... unstoppable growth of God’s kingdom… through witnesses of Jesus… who are empowered by the Spirit… joins us to Jesus’ church empowers our witness in word & deed

12. ACTS IS THE STORY OF THE... unstoppable growth of God’s kingdom… through witnesses of Jesus… who are empowered by the Spirit… and called to reach every nation…

13. OUTLINE OF ACTS 1-7… in Jerusalem 8-12… in Judea and Samaria 13-20… to the ends of the earth 21-28… to the capital of the ends of the earth

14. Revelation 7:9-10 …and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb… crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

15. ACTS IS THE STORY OF THE... unstoppable growth of God’s kingdom… through witnesses of Jesus… who are empowered by the Spirit… and called to reach every nation… until Jesus returns.

16. “[The church] is spread by witnesses, not by soldiers, through a gospel of peace, not a declaration of war, and by the work of the Spirit, not by force of arms, political intrigue or revolutionary violence.” John Stott

17. Are you part of the story? Are you being a witness? Learn to share your faith 11am Sept 6 & 13 in Room 501 Be ready to share your testimony Pray for 3 people who need to hear

18. @GraceBibleBlake Blake Jennings grace-bible.org/resources Grace Bible Church App Resources