Church as Unfinished Story: Expectancy in Acts 1:1-11

The church is an unfinished story, a continuous narrative in which God’s work through His people remains active and ongoing. Believers are called to carry forward the mission initiated by the apostles, recognizing that the story of the church did not conclude with the early disciples but continues to unfold through each generation.

Acts 1:1-11 reveals the apostles’ expectation and longing for Jesus’ return, highlighting the dynamic and ongoing nature of the church’s mission. After His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days with the apostles, teaching and preparing them for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which marked the birth of the church ([35:52]). This period of waiting and preparation demonstrates that the church’s story is rooted in anticipation of God’s continued work in the world.

The apostles’ expectation extended beyond the immediate future to the ultimate return of Jesus Christ. The angels’ declaration in Acts 1:11—“This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven”—calls believers to live with a hopeful expectancy, longing for Christ’s presence and return ([49:53]). This anticipation fuels the ongoing mission of the church, reminding believers that they are participants in a story that remains open until Christ’s return.

The early church’s attitude of expectancy was expressed through unity, prayer, and love. Acts 1:14 describes how the apostles and other believers gathered “with one accord” in prayer, united in purpose and expectation ([50:40]). This unity and prayerfulness serve as a model for believers today, who are called to live in active anticipation by seeking God’s guidance and trusting in His plan.

Believers today continue the mission begun by the apostles, just as they were called to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). This mission is carried out with expectancy, trusting that God is at work and that Christ’s return is imminent ([44:46]). Living with expectancy involves not only longing for Christ’s physical return but also recognizing the present activity of God’s Spirit, which guides and empowers the church in its ongoing work.

Acts 1:1-11 serves as a foundational moment that sets the tone for the church’s continuing story. The church remains an unfinished narrative, with each believer playing a vital role in advancing God’s mission. This passage inspires hope, unity, prayer, and active participation in God’s work, affirming that the story of the church is still being written and that living with expectancy is essential to fulfilling God’s purpose.

This article was written by an AI tool for churches, based on a sermon from Landmark Church, one of 25 churches in Diamond Bar, CA