1. God’s Love For His Glorious Church Lesson 1: (Acts 1:1 - 2:21)

2. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) God the Son “preached” about the church (1:3) –“speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (1:3) –Spoke of the kingdom/church all the time  His first sermon (Matt. 4:17)  His first one-on-one study (John 3:1-5)  His last words (Acts 1:3)  His word = “word of the kingdom” (Mt. 13:19)  His purpose = “preach the kingdom” (Lk. 4:43)  Jesus loves the church (Eph. 5:25)

3. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) God the Father “promised” the church (1:4-8; 2:1-4, 33) –Jesus “commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father” (1:4). –What was “the Promise of the Father”?  “…the Promise of the Father ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me…you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (1:4-5).

4. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) God the Father “promised” the church Holy Spirit Filled; miracles Church (v. 47) Pentecost (~AD 33) Jeru (v. 5) Promise (v. 33) Acts 2 Jeru- salem Prom. of Father (4) Not Spirit’s authority The Father will send Promise of the Father The Holy Spirit Receive power Kingdom (v. 3, 6) You… witnesses Acts 1:8 The Spirit of truth Guide you Jn. 16:13 The Holy Spirit To you Teach you Jn. 14:26 From on high Endued w/ power Upon you, until you Lk. 24:49 With Power Kingdom Some alive not die Mk. 9:1

5. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) God the Father “promised” the church –The coming of the Holy Spirit (the Promise of the Father) was astounding:  Tremendous sound (2:1-2)  Tongues like fire on each apostle (2:3)  Apostles preached in languages they had never studied (2:4-6)  3,000 were converted (2:36-41)  The church was established (2:41, 47) –The Father’s promise was directly connected with beginning of the church.

6. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) God the Holy Spirit “predicted” the church (1:9-2:21) –Four O.T. passages in Acts 1-2:  David’s allusion to Jesus’ betrayal (1:15-17; cf. Psa. 41:9)  The psalmist’s reference to Judas’ “blood money” (1:18-20; cf. Psa. 69:25)  The psalmist’s prediction of Judas’ replacement (1:20-21; Psa. 109:8)  Joel’s predictions of the “great and awesome day”—a possible reference to day the church was established (2:12-21; cf. Joel 2:28-32)

7. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) God the Holy Spirit “predicted” the church (1:9-2:21) ~ See Joel 2:29-32 –Coming of church = “great & awesome day”  There was an “immersion” –Holy Spirit poured out on “all flesh” (2:17) –First, on Jewish apostles in Acts 2:4-6 –Then, on Gentile household in Acts 10:44- 45; 11:15

8. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) God the Holy Spirit “predicted” the church (1:9-2:21) ~ See Joel 2:29-32 –Coming of church = “great & awesome day”  There was a “revelation” –Individuals began to prophesy the revelations they received via dreams & visions (2:17-18) –This was regardless of gender, age or social status –Fulfilled when 1 st -century Christians endowed by H.S. with miraculous powers (beginning on “great & awesome day”)

9. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) God the Holy Spirit “predicted” the church (1:9-2:21) ~ See Joel 2:29-32 –Coming of church = “great & awesome day”  There was a “cessation” of Jewish system –“Blood,” “fire,” “smoke” and “sun turned into darkness” were symbolic of calamity (cf. Ezek. 32:6-8; Isa. 13:9-10) –Jesus used same imagery of fall of Jeru- salem & O.T. system (Mt. 24:1-2, 25-30) –“The great and awesome day” saw the replacement of the Jewish system with the N.T. church.

10. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) God the Holy Spirit “predicted” the church (1:9-2:21) ~ See Joel 2:29-32 –Coming of church = “great & awesome day”  There was the provision of “salvation” –Peter quoted from Joel 2:32, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (2:21). –He identified Jesus as Lord (2:22-36). –He told them how to be saved (2:38). –In response, 3,000 were baptized and the church was established on that “great and awesome day” (2:41, 47).

11. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) God the Holy Spirit “predicted” the church (1:9-2:21) ~ See Joel 2:29-32 –Coming of church = “great & awesome day”  Joel 2:28-32 are not the words of Joel.  “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21).  The Holy Spirit predicted the coming of the church and surely it was a “great and awesome day.”

12. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) Applying It to Me –If we love the N.T. church:  It will be the focus of our lives! –As it was the focus of Jesus’ life (Mt. 4:17; 11:11; 18:3; Mk. 1:14-15; Lk. 9:62; Jn. 3:5). –He told us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” (Mt. 6:33). –Is the kingdom first in your life… »In finances? »In time? »In energies & efforts? »In prayer?

13. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) Applying It to Me –If we love the N.T. church:  It will be the focus of our lives!  We will work to help it grow! –As proper church growth was emphasized by Jesus (Acts 1:8). –He told us, “…according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:16). –What are you and your family doing to help the church get to where it needs to be?

14. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) Applying It to Me –If we love the N.T. church:  It will be the focus of our lives!  We will work to help it grow!  We will defend it when necessary! –As the Holy Spirit did thru Peter (2:12-16). »Made reference to time of day (v. 15) »Pointed to O.T. prophecy (v. 16) »Apostles “under the influence” of H.S. –We need to be “set for the defense of the gospel” (Phil. 1:16), “the gospel of the kingdom” (Mt. 24:14).

15. God’s Love for His Glorious Church (Acts 1:1 - 2:21) God the Son “preached” about the church God the Father “promised” the church God the Holy Spirit “predicted” the church Applying It to Me –If we love the N.T. church:  It will be the focus of our lives!  We will work to help it grow!  We will defend it when necessary!