Empowered Witnesses: Nurturing Faith Through Discipleship

Today, we gathered as a church family to celebrate the next generation, especially our first graders receiving their very own Bibles. This is more than a milestone; it’s a call for families to open God’s Word together at home, nurturing a love for Scripture from the earliest years. We prayed over these children, asking God to protect, guide, and reveal Himself to them as they begin their journey of faith. This moment is a reminder that discipleship starts in our homes and is carried into our community.

We also reflected on the essential elements that define the church, as seen in Acts 2: teaching God’s Word, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. These are not just traditions but the very heartbeat of a vibrant, Spirit-filled community. We celebrated stories of God’s faithfulness, like another local church paying off a significant debt through prayer and obedience, underscoring that God moves powerfully when His people seek Him first.

Turning to the book of Acts, we began a journey through its pages, recognizing it as the bridge between the Gospels and the letters of Paul. Acts shows us how the Gospel moved from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, empowered by the Holy Spirit. We learned that the Gospel is for everyone—not just for a select group—and that the Holy Spirit now dwells within every believer, not just among us. This indwelling is not a passive presence; it is the very power that enables us to be witnesses of Jesus in our neighborhoods and beyond.

Acts 1:8 is the blueprint: we receive power from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses—locally, regionally, and globally. This is not optional; it is the natural outflow of a Spirit-filled life. The world doesn’t need more religious activity or even spectacular miracles as much as it needs authentic, loving witnesses who bring the truth of Jesus into real conversations and relationships. If we find ourselves lacking in this, it’s a call to repentance and renewed surrender, asking the Holy Spirit to fill us afresh and open our mouths to share the hope we have.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Discipleship Begins at Home The act of giving Bibles to our first graders is a powerful reminder that spiritual formation starts in the family. Parents and grandparents are called to open God’s Word with their children, modeling a life that seeks after Christ. This daily practice plants seeds of faith that will bear fruit for generations. [14:43]
• 2. The Church Thrives on Four Pillars Acts 2 outlines the essentials: teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. These are not mere rituals but the foundation of a healthy church. When we commit to these, we create space for God’s presence to transform lives and for authentic community to flourish. [35:28]
• 3. The Holy Spirit’s Power is for Every Believer The coming of the Holy Spirit marked a new era where God’s presence is not just around us but within us. This indwelling empowers us to live boldly, love deeply, and witness faithfully. We must continually surrender to the Spirit’s leading, recognizing that without Him, there is no true transformation. [50:18]
• 4. Witnessing is a Non-Negotiable Calling Acts 1:8 makes it clear: being a witness is not an optional extra for the super-spiritual, but the expected outcome of receiving the Holy Spirit. Our lives should testify to the reality of Jesus, not just in words but in love, truth, and action. If we are not witnessing, we must ask whether we are truly surrendered to the Spirit’s power. [64:50]
• 5. Repentance and Surrender Open the Door to Fruitfulness If we find ourselves silent or powerless, it may be because we have sidelined the Holy Spirit in our lives. The call is to repent—turning from self-reliance or apathy—and to surrender afresh to God’s purposes. Only then will we experience the fullness of what it means to be Christ’s witnesses in the world. [75:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Celebrating First Graders and Family Discipleship
• [03:30] - Opening Prayer and Worship
• [14:43] - Praying Over Our Children
• [35:28] - The Four Pillars of the Church
• [38:34] - Faithful Giving and God’s Provision
• [41:17] - Testimony: Debt-Free Through Prayer
• [43:16] - Life Groups and Church Unity
• [44:52] - Introduction to the Book of Acts
• [47:20] - Why Acts Matters: Bridging the Gospels and the Church
• [48:23] - The Gospel for All: Jews and Gentiles
• [50:18] - The Holy Spirit Dwelling Within
• [51:14] - Three Purposes: Discipleship, Church Building, Evangelism
• [52:04] - Reading Acts 1:1-11
• [54:32] - Authorship and Historical Context of Acts
• [58:36] - The Purpose of Luke and Acts
• [59:26] - The Spread of the Gospel by the Spirit’s Power
• [61:28] - Waiting for the Spirit’s Power
• [64:50] - The Call to Be Witnesses
• [70:28] - What the World Needs from Us
• [75:12] - Repentance and Surrender
• [76:52] - Closing Prayer and Response
• [79:11] - Worship and Invitation
• [91:17] - Final Blessing and Dismissal
• [92:17] - Announcements and Next Steps

Bible Reading

Acts 1:1-11 (ESV) —
> In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 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. 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; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
>
> So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.” 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. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 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.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Acts 1:8, what does Jesus say will happen when the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples? What is the purpose of this power?
2. In the sermon, what four things from Acts 2 are described as the “pillars” of the early church? ([35:28])
3. What is the significance of the church giving Bibles to first graders, as described in the sermon? ([14:43])
4. How does the book of Acts serve as a “bridge” between the Gospels and the letters of Paul, according to the sermon? ([47:20])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that the Holy Spirit now lives “within us, not just among us.” What difference does this make in the way believers live out their faith? ([50:18])
2. The pastor said that being a witness is not optional for Christians, but the “natural outflow of a Spirit-filled life.” Why do you think witnessing is described this way? ([01:04:50])
3. The sermon highlights that discipleship begins at home, especially through families reading the Bible together. Why is this so important for the next generation? ([14:43])
4. The story of another church paying off its debt through prayer and obedience was shared. What does this story teach about the role of prayer and surrender in the life of a church? ([41:17])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged parents and grandparents to open God’s Word with their children at home. If you are a parent, grandparent, or have influence over kids, what is one practical way you can start or improve this practice this week? ([14:43])
2. Acts 2 lists teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer as the essentials of church life. Which of these four pillars do you find most natural, and which is most challenging for you? What is one step you could take to grow in the area that’s hardest? ([35:28])
3. The pastor said that the Holy Spirit’s power is not just for “super-spiritual” people, but for every believer. Do you ever feel unqualified or hesitant to be a witness for Jesus? What holds you back, and how could you surrender that to God? ([01:04:50])
4. The sermon said, “If we find ourselves silent or powerless, it may be because we have sidelined the Holy Spirit in our lives.” Is there an area where you have been relying on your own strength instead of the Spirit? What would it look like to repent and surrender that area to God? ([01:15:12])
5. The world doesn’t need more religious activity, but “authentic, loving witnesses.” Think of someone in your life who needs hope. What is one way you can be a loving witness to them this week—through a conversation, an act of kindness, or sharing your story? ([01:12:24])
6. The sermon described the book of Acts as a call to take the Gospel from our neighborhoods to the ends of the earth. What is one step you can take to be more intentional about sharing your faith—locally, regionally, or even globally? ([01:04:50])
7. The pastor invited everyone to ask the Holy Spirit to “fill us afresh and open our mouths to share the hope we have.” Would you be willing to pray this prayer this week? What might change if you did? ([01:17:46])