Empowered Witnesses: Living Out God's Mission Together

Today marks the beginning of a journey through the book of Acts, a story that picks up where the Gospel of Luke leaves off, showing how Jesus, having completed His work on the cross, launches His kingdom on earth through the power of the Holy Spirit. This power is not reserved for a select few, but is given to all believers, equipping us for the mission Jesus has entrusted to us. The early church was not a grand institution at its inception—just a small group of ordinary people, empowered by an extraordinary God, called to bear witness to the resurrection and lordship of Jesus Christ.

The Christian life is not about admiring Jesus from a distance, but about experiencing His life and power through the Holy Spirit. Jesus, though fully God, lived out His humanity by relying on the Spirit, showing us what it means to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us, inviting us to participate in God’s ongoing mission. This is not about self-improvement or personal achievement, but about being witnesses—those who testify, even at great cost, to the reality of Jesus’ victory over sin and death.

Mission is at the heart of God’s purpose for His people. It starts where we are—across the street, in our neighborhoods, and extends to the ends of the earth. The expansion of God’s kingdom happens through the church, the one organism Jesus established to carry His message to all nations. This mission requires not only our words, but our generosity, our perseverance, and our willingness to surrender our own will to God’s. Like Theophilus, whose investment made possible the writing of Luke and Acts, we are called to invest our lives, resources, and time in what truly matters: the advancement of the gospel.

Forgiveness is a crucial part of this witness. As we go out, we are challenged to forgive those who have wronged us, embodying the grace we have received. Wherever we go, we are sent by God, indwelt by Christ, and led by the Spirit. Our lives are meant to be living testimonies to the glory and grace of Jesus, carrying His love and power into every place He sends us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True revival is not manufactured by human effort or emotional excitement, but is the deep, lasting work of the Holy Spirit in hearts surrendered to God. When both leaders and congregations are filled with the Spirit and faithful to God’s Word, genuine transformation and renewal take place, impacting not just individuals but entire communities. [72:00]
• 2. The Christian life is not merely about admiring Jesus’ example, but about experiencing His life and power through the Holy Spirit. Jesus lived as fully human, relying on the Spirit for wisdom, strength, and obedience, showing us that the same Spirit is available to empower us for holy living and mission today. [86:05]
• 3. The mission of God is not about personal fulfillment or self-actualization, but about bearing witness to Jesus’ resurrection and lordship. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses—those willing to testify to Christ, even at great personal cost—so that others may come to know the life and freedom found in Him. [94:39]
• 4. The expansion of God’s kingdom happens through the church, the one organism Jesus established for His mission. Our calling is both local and global: to reach our neighbors and the nations, recognizing that God has placed us where we are for a purpose, and that the nations have come to our very doorstep. [100:11]
• 5. Generosity and perseverance are essential to the mission. Like Theophilus, whose support enabled the writing of much of the New Testament, we are called to invest our resources, time, and lives in the advancement of the gospel. This is a lifelong calling, requiring us to surrender our will to God and to forgive others, so that we might be living testimonies to His grace. [103:07]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [66:08] - Gratitude for Modular Project Team
• [67:49] - Reflections on National Testimonies and Revival
• [72:00] - The Nature of True Revival
• [73:34] - Acts: Studying as Soldiers, Not Scholars
• [74:39] - The Mission and Invitation of God
• [75:42] - The Works and Words of Jesus
• [78:53] - The Resurrection: Convincing Proofs
• [79:51] - Luke’s Background and the Historical Foundation
• [82:15] - Christianity: Centered on the Person of Jesus
• [84:13] - Experiencing Christ’s Power Through the Spirit
• [86:05] - Jesus’ Humanity and the Power of the Spirit
• [90:09] - The Spirit-Filled Life of Jesus
• [92:12] - Jesus, the Anointed One
• [94:39] - Mission: Empowered to Be Witnesses
• [96:16] - The Ascension and the Scope of Mission
• [98:18] - The Church: God’s Chosen Instrument
• [100:11] - Local and Global Mission Opportunities
• [102:17] - Theophilus: Generosity and Kingdom Investment
• [103:59] - Perseverance and the Call to Witness
• [106:15] - Forgiveness and Living Testimonies
• [107:30] - Benediction and Sending Forth

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.”

Luke 4:18-19 (ESV) — 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Romans 8:11 (ESV) — 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Observation Questions

1. According to Acts 1, what did Jesus command his followers to do before beginning their mission? ([01:24:13])
2. What role does the Holy Spirit play in the lives of believers, as described in Acts 1:8? ([01:34:39])
3. In the sermon, what was said about the early church’s beginnings—was it a large institution or something else? ([01:15:42])
4. Who was Theophilus, and what was his significance in the writing of Luke and Acts? ([01:42:17])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says the Christian life is not about admiring Jesus from a distance, but experiencing his life and power through the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to “experience” Jesus’ life and power, rather than just admire him? ([01:24:13])
2. The pastor mentioned that Jesus lived out his humanity by relying on the Spirit, not by “cheating” with his divinity. Why is this important for how we view our own ability to live a Spirit-filled life? ([01:26:05])
3. The mission Jesus gives is to be his witnesses “in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” What does this say about the scope and direction of our mission as a church and as individuals? ([01:36:16])
4. The sermon highlights that generosity and perseverance are essential to the mission, using Theophilus as an example. Why do you think these qualities are so important for the advancement of the gospel? ([01:43:07])

Application Questions

1. The sermon said true revival is not about emotional excitement, but about the deep work of the Holy Spirit in surrendered hearts. What would it look like for you personally to surrender more fully to the Holy Spirit’s work in your life? ([01:12:00])
2. Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit for wisdom, strength, and obedience. Is there an area of your life where you tend to rely on your own strength instead of the Spirit? What would it look like to invite the Spirit’s help in that area this week? ([01:26:05])
3. The mission starts “across the street” and extends to the ends of the earth. Who is someone in your neighborhood, workplace, or daily life that you sense God might be calling you to reach out to? What is one step you could take this week? ([01:40:11])
4. Theophilus invested his resources so that the gospel could go forward. What is one way you could invest your time, resources, or abilities in the mission of God this month? ([01:42:17])
5. The sermon challenged us to forgive those who have wronged us as part of our witness. Is there someone you need to forgive? What would it look like to take a step toward forgiveness this week? ([01:46:15])
6. The pastor said, “Wherever you go, God is sending you there.” How does this change the way you view your daily routines and interactions? Can you think of a recent situation where you realized God had a purpose for you being there? ([01:47:30])
7. The early church was a small group of ordinary people empowered by God. Do you ever feel too ordinary or unqualified to be used by God? How does the story of Acts encourage you to step out in faith? ([01:15:42])