ACTS PT. 1

May 11, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Empty Grave to Locked Room

The disciples huddled behind closed doors, breathless from sprinting. Peter’s hands still smelled of burial spices. Thomas paced, replaying Mary’s claim: “I’ve seen the Lord!” Then Jesus stood among them—scars visible, broiled fish in hand. His first words? “Peace be with you.” For forty days, He ate with them, walked with them, let them touch His wounds. The resurrection wasn’t a rumor—it was breakfast with a friend. [07:18]

Jesus didn’t vanish after the cross. He stayed—teaching, proving, preparing. His scars answered their doubts. His presence turned cowards into carriers of hope. The kingdom He described wasn’t political power but a revolution of restored hearts.

When fear locks your doors, Jesus still enters. His peace isn’t absence of trouble but presence in the storm. What locked room have you retreated to, and what would it look like to let His scars disarm your fear?

“After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
(Acts 1:3, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal His presence in your current struggle as tangibly as broiled fish and nail-scarred hands.
Challenge: Read John 20:19-29 aloud. Underline every action Jesus takes toward His disciples.

Day 2: From Spectators to Sent Ones

The Eleven stood on the Galilee hillside, still smelling of fishnets and saltwater. Jesus’ final command cut through the breeze: “Go. Make disciples.” Not conquerors or critics—disciplers. Baptize. Teach. His authority backed the mission, His presence promised for the long haul. They’d fished for tuna; now they’d fish for souls. [13:49]

The Great Commission isn’t a suggestion—it’s the marching orders of everyone who’s touched the resurrected Christ. Baptism marks the start. Teaching shapes the journey. Your Jerusalem isn’t a map point but the people in your orbit who need hope.

You’ve witnessed Christ’s power. Who in your life needs to hear your “I was there” story? Write down three names. What’s one step you’ll take this week to show them Jesus’ relentless love?

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
(Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)

Prayer: Confess any hesitation to share your faith. Ask for boldness to speak about Jesus as naturally as you discuss your favorite team.
Challenge: Text one person on your list: “I’ve been praying for you this week. Can we grab coffee?”

Day 3: Power Beyond the Playbook

The disciples stared at the cloud where Jesus vanished. “Jerusalem first,” He’d said. “Then Judea. Samaria. Ends of the earth.” Their toolbox? Prayer. Their fuel? The Spirit’s power. No marketing plan, no budget—just eleven ordinary men trusting the extraordinary God who raises the dead. [23:40]

The Holy Spirit turns spectators into witnesses. Jerusalem meant starting with their neighbors. Samaria meant loving those they’d avoided. The ends of the earth meant trusting God beyond their sightline. Your mission field isn’t about geography but obedience.

Where has God planted you—your home, workplace, gym? What “Samaria” have you avoided because it feels uncomfortable? How might the Spirit empower you to cross that boundary today?

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for the Holy Spirit’s power in you. Ask Him to highlight one “Samaria” relationship this week.
Challenge: Memorize Acts 1:8. Write it on your mirror or phone lock screen.

Day 4: Clouds, Men in White, and Second Chances

The disciples squinted at the sky, necks craned. Two men in white broke the trance: “Why stare upward? He’s coming back—same way He left.” The promise hung like summer thunder: Jesus would return. Their job wasn’t sky-gazing but soul-tending until then. [28:28]

Christ’s ascension wasn’t abandonment but assurance. The cloud didn’t hide Him—it highlighted His return. Every meal shared, prayer uttered, and story told matters until He comes back. Your ordinary acts of love are cosmic signposts pointing to His reign.

Are you more focused on Christ’s return than your current mission? What practical step can you take today to join God’s kingdom-building work in your corner of the world?

“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky?’”
(Acts 1:10-11, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to shift your focus from “someday” to “today” in living out His mission.
Challenge: Take a 10-minute walk outside. Note three ways you can participate in God’s work right where you are.

Day 5: Know, Show, Tell

Mary Magdalene ran from the tomb, her grief upended by joy. The disciples hid until fish breakfasts and scarred hands turned them into street preachers. The pattern holds: know Christ deeply, show Him boldly, tell Him urgently. Witnesses don’t need degrees—they need a story. [29:51]

Your testimony isn’t about eloquence but authenticity. The barista who knows your order, the coworker who hears your laugh—they’re your Jerusalem. Let them taste God’s kindness through you before they hear about it from you.

Who needs to experience Jesus’ love through your actions this week? What’s one way you can “show” before you “tell” with that person?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for making you new. Ask Him to highlight one person needing to see His renewal in you.
Challenge: Initiate a conversation with someone you’ve been praying for. Listen first—then share one sentence about how Jesus changed your life.

Sermon Summary

We remember powerful moments that change what we believe and how we live. We all carry vivid memories, whether a game-winning play, a family milestone, or a sudden encounter with truth. Those memories shape our boldness. The book of Acts records a similar turning point: the disciples moved from fear to mission after they saw the risen Christ and then watched him ascend. Luke ties his narrative to the gospels and emphasizes that Jesus remained with his followers for forty days, offering convincing proofs that he lived and teaching about the coming kingdom. That post-resurrection time prepared the disciples for a different work.

Jesus did not send them immediately. He told them to wait in Jerusalem for a promised gift from the Father, a baptism by the Holy Spirit. That gift would not be a mere credential but the very power to witness effectively. The central promise and charge appears in a single verse that frames Acts: receive the Spirit, and then testify in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Luke shows how imperfect people, empowered by the Spirit, launched a movement that crossed cultural and geographic barriers.

The ascension confirms both departure and return. Christ left, but the angels assured the disciples that he will return in the same way. The interim calls believers to live as witnesses. Witnessing combines knowing Jesus, showing Jesus by transformed living, and telling Jesus through clear words when opportunities arise. Practical formation matters: steady Scripture reading, community groups, and dependence on the Spirit grow our understanding and character so our witness becomes believable.

We must stop waiting for perfect words and start obeying nudges. The Spirit often guides us through prayer as we listen, turning simple conversations into gospel opportunities. The early church did not rely on human strategy alone; it relied on the Spirit to take ordinary people and send them into a world that needs the kingdom. We share because we have seen, and we wait for and work by the power that Jesus promised so what we show and say points others to the coming kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. Resurrection transforms fearful witnesses Seeing the risen Christ redirected fear into mission. The resurrection gave the disciples tangible proof that reshaped their memory of Jesus and activated courage for public testimony. When our past encounters with Jesus become the center of our story, they reframe fear and enable faithful risk. We should intentionally remember and rehearse those encounters so our witness flows from conviction, not performance. [07:18]
2. Holy Spirit empowers our witness The Spirit supplies ability we lack. Power for witness does not originate in technique or charisma but in the presence and gifting of God poured into our lives. That power equips us to cross theological, cultural, and personal barriers with the gospel. We must ask for and depend on Spirit-empowerment before we undertake mission. [23:40]
3. Start local, reach the world Mission moves outward in concentric circles. The mandate begins where we live, then expands to nearby places and finally to distant peoples, showing that evangelism integrates neighborhood faithfulness with global vision. Practically, faithful presence at home forms the foundation for credible outreach abroad. Commitments to local ministry prepare us for wider obedience. [23:53]
4. Know more, show more, tell Spiritual growth fuels credibility in witness. We increase knowledge through Scripture and community, embody that learning by loving actions, and then speak when the Spirit opens a door. Authentic testimony requires ongoing formation so words match visible life. Practice small acts of love and then let the Spirit lead conversations toward the gospel. [29:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:50] - Peyton Manning anecdote
[03:09] - Witnessing the moment in person
[05:55] - Transition to the book of Acts
[11:12] - Luke writes to Theophilus
[14:14] - Resurrection proofs and forty days
[16:34] - Teaching about the kingdom of God
[18:06] - Wait in Jerusalem for the gift
[23:40] - The Spirit empowers witnesses
[27:07] - Ascension and promise of return
[29:38] - Know, show, and tell applied
[35:03] - Closing prayer and send-off

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Acts 1:1-11 (ESV)
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Observation questions

What specific instructions did Jesus give the disciples about waiting in Jerusalem, and what was the purpose of this waiting period? (Acts 1:4-5) [18:06]
How does Acts 1:8 describe the progression of where the disciples were to be witnesses, and what might this imply about the scope of their mission?
In the sermon, what three actions are tied to being a witness for Jesus? (Know, show, tell) [29:38]
What reassurance did the angels give the disciples after Jesus’ ascension, and how does this connect to future hope? (Acts 1:11)

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Jesus emphasized waiting for the Holy Spirit’s power before starting their mission, even though the disciples were already eager to act? [19:45]
The disciples asked Jesus about restoring Israel’s kingdom (Acts 1:6). How might their question reveal misunderstandings about God’s plan, and how does Jesus redirect their focus?
The sermon mentions that witnessing involves “knowing Jesus, showing Jesus, and telling Jesus.” How do these three elements work together to create credible testimony? [29:51]
Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:19-20 both emphasize reaching “all nations” or “the ends of the earth.” Why is this global vision central to the mission of the church?

Application questions

What is one vivid memory or experience where you felt God’s presence or work in your life? How could sharing that story become part of your witness to others? [07:18]
In what areas of your life (e.g., relationships, work, community) do you find it hardest to “wait” for God’s timing or empowerment? What practical step could you take to depend on the Holy Spirit in those areas? [23:40]
The sermon challenges believers to start witnessing locally (“Jerusalem”) before expanding outward. Who is one person in your immediate circle (neighbor, coworker, family) you could intentionally show Christ’s love to this week? [23:53]
How does your daily routine (e.g., Bible reading, prayer, community involvement) help you “know more” about Jesus? What is one habit you could strengthen to grow in this area? [30:16]
When have you felt the Holy Spirit “nudge” you to speak about Jesus but hesitated? What fears or obstacles held you back, and how can you prepare to respond next time? [34:34]
The angels promised Jesus would return just as He ascended (Acts 1:11). How does this hope shape your urgency—or lack thereof—to share the gospel with others?

Sermon Clips

28s

#KnowShowTellJesus

“A witness is someone who knows Jesus, shows Jesus, and tells others about Jesus. Someone who knows Jesus, shows Jesus, and tells others about Jesus. You think, well, I know about him. Some of you say, well, I don't know that I know enough but I know about him and what I would encourage all of us to do is we must continue to learn more about who Jesus is.”

27s

#ShareWhatYouveSeen

“He said, this is what you're to do. Like, I'm not telling you when I'm coming back, but what I'm telling you, this is the gift I'm going to give you and this is what you are to do with it. That wasn't just to them. That's also to us. We, if we put our trust in Jesus, have this responsibility to be a witness to what we've seen. We are to go share it just as the disciples and those who started the early church did.”

26s

#ReadyButWait

“Now, remember, they were scared of what they had witnessed and they went into hiding but then because of the resurrection and they saw and they're sitting with the the ascended Jesus, all of a sudden, they are excited. They are ready to go. They're ready to go be a witness and share what it is that they have experienced. But in that moment, Jesus is like, pump the brakes, boys. You can't go yet. But they're like, no, we are ready and they're gonna charge hell with a water gun.”

24s

#HolySpiritGuides

“They need something, and I think there's something I'm supposed to share, but I don't really have the words. And then trust, and then listen to the Holy Spirit's cue. And when they stop talking, then trust the Holy Spirit, Not literally to be verbal, but to take your words and make your words make sense to what they need to hear. And I believe that the power of the holy spirit works that way because I've seen it in my own life.”

22s

#ListenThenShare

“And people have said thank you and I'm like, I'm not sure that I really helped you, but I just listened and I just said whatever the Holy Spirit led me to say. This morning, we have an opportunity, no show and tell. And let's be witnesses of what it is that Jesus did for us to those who are seeking him.”

24s

#StartFromHome

“He says, it's when you have that power that the holy spirit comes on you. Once you have that, you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. What that means for us? Jerusalem, that's where he told them to all come back to and wait. That was their home. For us, where's our home? Where's god called us?”

37s

#YourStoryMatters

“What he's gonna give them right here in verse eight is the key verse that's gonna weave itself through all of the book of Acts. I gave it away, alluded on the front end on purpose. Right? Because also, it's also the challenge that those of us who've put our trust in Jesus have. You could say a challenge, you could call it a responsibility. I like even thinking of it as an opportunity because each of us that have put our trust in him, we have we have a story to tell about who Jesus is and this kingdom of heaven that he is creating.”

34s

#ResurrectionChangedEverything

“There was something that made them come out of hiding just as I felt like I could come out of hiding after a big football win. Right? And the thing for them that went from being this witness of Jesus' life to now being willing to go out and witness it to share it with others was the fact that they witnessed the resurrection. That changed their life. See, when Jesus died, nobody expected nobody to be in the grave. Right? Because if if if somebody would have expected that, they would have been lined up.”

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