Make Room: Can I Get A Witness?

CU won this week. S/O

Amazing weather…

6pm Mayhem… who went on a run today? Who went on a hike?

Acts of the Apostles Kick-Off:

We’re going to be studying through the book of Acts over the next 6-8 weeks and I believe God is going to move in a big way as we dive into His Word.

Story: Anybody heard of the phrase “Can I get a witness tonight?” It’s basically you affirming that whatever was said is true of your life.

Can I get a witness that we are moving into the best season of all tomorrow, any Fall lovers in the house?

Can I get a witness that driving peak to peak in the fall with the windows cracked and your favorite fall jams playing in the backdrop is a glimpse of heaven on earth?

Can I get a witness that 90’s rock is the best genre of music outside of worship? :)

Can I get a witness that Boulder is the best place to live, work, and play in the country?

Can I get a witness that the __pm service is the best service to attend on a Sunday?! Let’s go!

We are all witnesses of something in our lives. I believe that a person with an argument has little to say, but a person with a story has everything to say. In a court of law, a judge is not concerned about your opinions or ideas, he is concerned about what you know and experienced.

A witness consists of what you’ve heard, what you’ve seen, and what you’ve personally experienced in your life.

Your story is really all about His story, which as you share changes the world and makes history!

My Story:

I’ve heard from God through His Word and prayer

I’ve seen Him at work in my life and around the world

And I’ve experienced His salvation, presence, miracles, and power in my life!

Can I get a witness in the house tonight? Anybody else?

Passage: Acts 1:1-8 CSB

“I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Pray:

Background:

The author of Acts is Doctor Luke. His name is never mentioned as the author, but based on the introduction, timeline, literary style, and the fact that the author was present for many of the experiences in the book, it is generally accepted that Luke wrote the book of Acts around 62AD.

The Book of Acts is a unique and very important book of the Bible, how strange if we jump from the Gospels straight to Romans. We would be left with so many questions… “How did the Christians spread throughout the Roman Empire?!”, “Where is the promised Holy Spirit?”, “Who is Paul?”. Acts recounts the historic events surrounding the expansion of the early church.

Title/Big Idea: Can I Get A Witness?

A theme all throughout the Gospels, and continuing through the book of Acts, is that God uses ordinary and unlikely people to do extraordinary things for His glory and the expansion of His Kingdom!

For those of us that are ordinary, this is great news!!! You don’t have to be qualified to be used. You don’t have to be exceptional to be approved. Write this down… “You don’t have to be gifted to be grafted!” No! You have been chosen, called, anointed, empowered, and released to be witnesses in the movement of God!

Look at your neighbor and say “You are a witness.”

Main Points: A Faithful Witness Starts With...

1. The Resurrection of Jesus
   1. “After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days…” - Acts 1:3a

   2. This is the Gospel

      1. Jesus was sent by God
      2. He lived a sinless life
      3. He died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins
      4. He rose on the third day, victorious over sin, death, and the enemy. WE SERVE A LIVING GOD! HE’S NOT DEAD, HE’S NOT HIDING, HE’S NOT DISTANT, HE’S ALIVE AND PURSUING YOU EVEN NOW!
      5. He’s working today to draw people to His salvation and to empower them to live a victorious life in His name.

      6. “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” - Romans 10:9

         3. Question: How has this Gospel message transformed your life?

      7. This is your witness. This is your story. This is your testimony.

      8. What was your life before Jesus? How did you receive Christ? How is your life different as a result of grace?
      9. The Kingdom of God
         1. “...appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” - Acts 1:3b
         2. “In Boulder as it is in heaven”
      10. The Kingdom of God is what the earth looks like when God has His way. Seeking the Kingdom of God is to bring heaven to earth.
      11. As we bring heaven to Boulder we see a city that is transformed by the Gospel. A people that love and respect with no prejudice or racial divide. We see a people committed to meeting needs in our community. We see people serving out of an overflow of God’s grace in their lives. We see rich and authentic relationships being built.
          3. They asked about the timing of the kingdom, He pointed them to work in His power!
      12. “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” - Acts 1:6
      13. The emphasis of their request is that of the defense. “When are you going to restore the Kingdom for us?” We aren’t told all they hoped for, but they were asking what Jesus would do for Israel.
      14. Jesus responds with an emphasis of offence… a mission for them to accomplish through His Spirit.
      15. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” - Matthew 6:33
      16. The Power Of The Holy Spirit
          1. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you…” - Acts 1:8a
          2. The power of the Spirit + obedience to His authority = Church Growth
      17. We boast not in our own efforts, nor do we celebrate the results as our own, all credit and glory goes to God!
      18. Methods are meaningless, excellence is useless, and hard work is futile if we are not keeping the Spirit at the front of everything we do!

      19. Illust: Receiving the check from Zoe Church

          1. “Don’t strategize beyond the Holy Spirit” - Claude King
             3. God’s Timing & Power
                1. If we are going to be effective witnesses, if we are going to be an effective church, then we must wait on God’s timing and power!
                2. Confession: Taking things in my own hands. In other words, taking control.
                3. I believe so much of the Christian life is learning how to surrender more and follow the guiding and promptings of the Holy Spirit.
                4. Question: Are you waiting on God or are you running ahead of His plan?

          2. The Mission Of The Witness

             1. “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8b
             2. Here’s how I’d apply that: the mission starts at home
                1. “The light that shines the farthest will shine the brightest at home.” - Dr. Oswald J. Smith
                2. Application: Let’s get practical…

          3. What is one thing I can do in my home to be a witness and seek the Kingdom?

             1. “As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.” - Joshua 24:15 2. What is one thing I can do in my workplace to be a witness and seek the Kingdom 3. What is one thing I can do in my city to be a witness and seek the Kingdom? 3. If we can’t do it at home, what makes us think that He would entrust the city to us? (Pause)
                3. God raises up leaders and empowers them with His Holy Spirit to point people to Jesus
                   1. Application: Leadership development in the church is not so that we can elevate our status and titles, it’s so that we can be better equipped and empower others to make disciples and plant more churches!

Closing: What’s the downside?