1. ImmerseBible.com/messiah
Groups
Books available
Kindle version
Family Guide – 40 days.
Audio available (free on website and on itunes)
Groups Went from 30 tp 90 people in groups!
Books available
Kindle version
Family Guide – 40 days.
Audio available (free on website and on itunes)
Today we are in the second session

2. 2. The Book of Acts The Messiah volume begins with Luke-Acts
5 Key factors in the Book of Acts.
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3. 1. Witness
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.” P. 61 (Acts 1:8)
Key verse in Acts
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me First note the ministry. Witness. Testify. Speak about what you know.
Where?
everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” P. 61 (Acts 1:8) This is how it looks
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4. Click – Circle around Jerusalem – chapters 1-7
Click – Circle around Judea and Samaria – chapters 8- 12
Click – Circle around big area – including Rome
– chapters 1450 miles as the crow flies from Jerusalem to Rome.
This is a pattern for us as well.
Jerusalem – Riverwood
Judea – Local area – Riverworks,
Samaria – Region – church planting and Pulse conference
Ends of the earth – support of missions, Wiebes, Tita (Funwi in Uganda right now), and this new venture.
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5. Brian Alnes
Jordan Camp Video
Brian Alnes - Camp

6. 2. Miracles
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders P (Acts 2:42-47)
After Jesus gave them the commission to be witnesses in the entire world, the ministry launched in Jerusalem. After the Holy Spirit came and gave them spiritual gifts and power, this is what happened.
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders
This is our second factor, which is miracles
CLICK - miracles
Miracles in the Bible are clustered in 3 time frames, Moses, Elijah and Elisha, and with Jesus and the early church.
30 times in the book of Acts we see miracles.
People miraculously raised from the dead, and some struck dead.
Physical Healings – paralyzed, blind
Deliverance from demons
Miracles in natural, (wind, prison doors open, chains fall from people.
Interestingly there is one major section of the book where we don’t see any.
“And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity”
This is our second key factor, which is joy.
CLICK - joy
There is a lot to be joyful about! Let’s keep moving.
“all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
Which is our fourth key factor in the book of Acts, which is growth.
CLICK - growth
We see numerical growth, places where God is adding to the numbers of believers, or geographical growth, where the gospel in brought to new areas.
So this sounds just great, doesn’t it?
But there is one more key factor.
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7. Spencer Beise Great Story of God Interview with Spencer Beise
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8. 3. Joy 4. Growth Witness Miracles Joy Growth
And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved P (Acts 2:42-47)
Witness
Miracles
Joy
Growth
“And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity”
This is our third key factor, which is joy.
CLICK - joy
There is a lot to be joyful about! Let’s keep moving.
“all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
Which is our fourth key factor in the book of Acts, which is growth.
CLICK - growth
We see numerical growth, places where God is adding to the numbers of believers, or geographical growth, where the gospel in brought to new areas. Here are some examples.
Acts 6:7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
Acts 12:24  But the word of God increased and multiplied.
So this sounds just great, doesn’t it? Look at what is going on.
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Key factor 1- witness; people sharing their faith in Jesus.
Key factor 2: Miracles
Key factor 3: Joy
Key Factor 4: growth.
That is just awesome. And we sometimes think that if we just do church right, this will always be happening. Well, for the first three chapters of Acts, that was pretty much the case.
But there is one more key factor, much different from the others.
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9. 5. Problems
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees.  These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. P. 66 Acts 4:1-2 (NLT)
But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food P. 70 (Acts 6:1)
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees.  These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. P. 66 Acts 4:1-2 (NLT)
CLICK – 5. problems
It didn’t take long for things to go south, and our next key factor is problems. We see lots of them in Acts.
The first problems we see are from outside the church. The religious leaders were not happy about what was happening. Confronted/disturbed.
But sometimes in churches problems aren’t just out there. Sometimes there are actual problems inside the church.
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But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food P. 70 (Acts 6:1)
Problems!
Don’t we wish this factor was not present.
But even in the early church, as they were witnessing, as they saw miracles, as they had joy, and as they grew, they had problems.
Churches have problems, and so do people in the church.
Health/Finances/relationships/job/”not enough” –food, transportation, “too much” – stress, noise, pain.
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.  Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering... 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT)
In fact, time and time and time again in the book of acts we see these factors together. Not all of them at one time, but they are together.
Here are some examples:
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10. Witness Miracles Joy Growth Problems
But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.  But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.  Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah.  Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did.  Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed.  So there was great joy in that city.
P. 74 (Acts 8:3-8)
Witness
Miracles
Joy
Growth
Problems
But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.  
CLICK – problems
But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.  
CLICK – witness
Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah.  Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did.  Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed.  
CLICK – miracles
So there was great joy in that city.
P. 74 (Acts 8:3-8)
CLICK – Joy (no mention of growth)
Here is another example.
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11. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly … and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.  So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.  Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town…  And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit P. 85 (Acts 13:46-52)
Witness
Miracles
Joy
Growth
Problems
 Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly …
CLICK - witness
and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.  
CLICK - growth
So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.  Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town…  
CLICK - problems
And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit P. 85 (Acts 13:46-52)
CLICK – joy (no miracles)
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12. Witness Growth Miracles Problems Joy
The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers.  Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas.  But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders… Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them. P. 85 (Acts 14:1-5)
Witness
Growth
Miracles
Problems
Joy
The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power
CLICK - witness
that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers.
CLICK - growth
Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas.  
CLICK - problems
But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord.
And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders… 
CLICK – miracles (no mention of joy)
Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them. P. 85 (Acts 14:1-5)
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13. The Key Factors in Your LIfe?
Witness
Growth
Miracles
Problems
Joy
Who are you in the story?
CLICK ONE BY ONE
Witness – word and deed?
Growth – are you growing spiritually? What is God doing in your life?
Miracles – you may need healing – come forward for prayer.
Problems – What are you facing today? – come forward for prayer.
Joy – The joy of the Lord is your strength. The fruit of the spirit is love, JOY. Paul says “in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds. 2 Corinthians 7:4 (NIV)
Today as we come to the table, we remember the words from the book of Acts
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14. The Lord’s Supper
  There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. P. 66 (Acts 4:12 )
 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. P. 66 (Acts 4:12 )
Words of institution
CLICK – next slide (Lord’s prayer)

15. The Lord’s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever Amen.
CLICK – Communion song