You will be my Witness (May 24, 2026)

Devotional

Day 1: The Empty Chair and the Name Chiseled in Your Mind

A physical chair sits empty, representing someone you know living without Christ. This devotional calls you to hold that image daily – not as guilt, but as a Spirit-prompt to intercede. Praying three times a day aligns your heart with God’s desire to reconcile the lost. The mission starts not with grand plans, but with specific names written on cards and etched in prayer. [27:36]

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people... This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
(1 Timothy 2:1-4, ESV)

Reflection: Whose face fills your mind when you picture the empty chair? Write their name where you’ll see it daily – what practical step will you take to keep this commitment tangible?

Day 2: Power Beyond Your Sweat and Striving

The disciples had training and zeal, but Jesus told them to wait. This devotional confronts our addiction to self-reliance in evangelism. The Holy Spirit isn’t a boost for our strategies – He’s the wildfire that makes dry bones breathe. Witness becomes possible when we trade “I should” for “He can.” [40:32]

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
(Zechariah 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you been trying to manufacture courage or eloquence on your own? What would it look like to pause and ask the Spirit to speak through your ordinary words today?

Day 3: Witness Is Who You Are, Not What You Do

Jesus didn’t say “do witnessing” – He said “you will be my witnesses.” This devotional reframes evangelism as identity, not activity. Like a healed leper who can’t stop pointing to the Healer, your testimony flows from being claimed by Christ. The mission isn’t a side hustle – it’s your bloodstream. [42:40]

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
(1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: When someone asks “What do you do,” how might answering as Christ’s witness reshape daily conversations? Where does this truth feel most liberating or challenging?

Day 4: The Urgency of an Unseen Car Door

Jesus’ return will be sudden, like a parent’s car door interrupting careless kids. This devotional confronts spiritual procrastination. The disciples stared at the sky until angels snapped them to action. Urgency isn’t fear – it’s the pulse of those who know the King is coming. [55:31]

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
(Matthew 24:44, ESV)

Reflection: What “dishwashing charade” have you been performing spiritually? What one intentional step could you take this week to live as if Christ’s return is imminent?

Day 5: From Jerusalem to the Ends of Your Influence

The mission radiates from your kitchen table to hostile territories. This devotional challenges the lie that “global” matters more than “next door.” Your coworker’s soul is as eternal as an unreached people group. Samaria isn’t geography – it’s the neighbor you avoid. The ends of the earth start where your comfort ends. [48:30]

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
(Colossians 4:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Who is your “Samaria” – the person you’ve labeled “too far gone”? How can you move beyond prayer to intentional, awkward love this week?

Sermon Summary

Acts opens by saying what Jesus began to do and teach, then shows how the risen and ascended Lord keeps doing it through his church. The ascension does not end the work; it launches it. The mission Jesus started is not a spectator sport but a call to participate. The empty chair image presses the question, “who’s your one,” because the gospel moves through ordinary believers praying for, loving, and intentionally engaging real people who could sit in that seat.

The resurrection gives the message its fire. The disciples did not peddle advice or self improvement. They announced a historic reality: Jesus died, rose, appeared by many proofs, and now speaks about the kingdom of God. If Christ is alive and reigning, then silence is not an option. Evangelism is not marketing for a church; it is witness to a King.

Jesus does not send anyone out in their own strength. The Spirit supplies the power. Knowledge, training, and zeal are not enough; Jesus commands his people to wait until clothed with power from on high. The Holy Spirit enables courage, opens doors, and makes the words land.

Witness is identity, not an occasional task. Jesus does not say, “try to witness sometimes,” but, “you will be my witnesses.” A witness tells what has been personally seen and heard. A Christian therefore speaks from encounter with grace, not from borrowed talking points.

Jesus sets the scope and shape of the mission. Jerusalem names those nearest at hand: family, daily relationships, especially children in the home. Judea names those who are close culturally and spiritually. Samaria names the people normally avoided, the difficult and the different. The ends of the earth names everyone. The picture does not stop at home; it crosses lines and keeps going.

The ascension creates urgency. Angels ask, “Why do you stand looking into heaven?” The same Jesus will return, and his church will give an account. Passive Christianity produces silent churches. The King is coming, so the church moves, speaks, and participates.

The gospel call remains the same. People do not need behavior modification; they need reconciliation with God. Salvation is found in Christ alone, who lived the righteous life, bore wrath on the cross, rose in victory, and now commands all people everywhere to repent and believe. The church’s rhythms fit the mission: gather, grow, serve, and go. One name on a card, three prayers a day, one honest conversation, and one invitation can become the way Jesus keeps doing what he began.

Key Takeaways

1. The ascension launches urgent mission The ascension is not a curtain call but a commissioning. Heaven’s affirmation turns the disciples from staring into serving. The returning King sets the timeline, so delay is not neutral. Urgency belongs to love. [53:19]
2. The resurrection makes witness concrete Resurrection turns belief into testimony: “we saw him alive.” Evangelism therefore carries history, not hype, into ordinary conversations. A living Christ draws a line between advice and announcement. The empty tomb is the engine. [36:06]
3. The Spirit empowers ordinary courage Jesus commands waiting because the mission cannot run on talent or tactics. The Spirit supplies power, timing, words, and boldness that self-preservation will never provide. Dependence is not passivity; it is readiness for divine initiative. [41:13]
4. Witness is identity, not an add-on Jesus names his people “my witnesses” before they speak a word. Identity produces action, not the other way around. Testimony flows from encounter with grace more than from memorized scripts. Calling clarifies courage. [42:40]
5. Jerusalem to Samaria reframes proximity Proximity is relational and cross-cultural, not just geographic. Jerusalem starts at the dinner table; Samaria confronts the person naturally avoided. The mission refuses safe circles and walks across lines for the sake of the King. [47:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:32] - Gathering to worship and mission
[25:09] - Summer series in Acts
[27:08] - The empty chair: who’s your one
[29:40] - Reading Acts 1:1-11
[32:09] - Jesus’s mission becomes the church’s
[36:06] - Resurrection fuels evangelism
[39:23] - Wait for the Spirit’s power
[42:25] - Witness is identity
[44:50] - Rethinking Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria
[50:54] - Ascension creates urgency
[57:38] - From passive to active witness
[59:27] - Gather, Grow, Serve, Go
[61:18] - Call to repentance and faith
[64:10] - Pray for one and engage

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.”

Observation questions

What specific instruction did Jesus give the disciples before they began their mission, and why was this important?
How does the resurrection of Jesus shape the content of the disciples’ message, according to the sermon? [36:06]
What does Jesus’ command to be witnesses “in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth” reveal about the scope of the mission?
What question did the angels ask the disciples after Jesus ascended, and what does this imply about their posture? [53:19]

Interpretation questions

Why might Jesus have emphasized waiting for the Holy Spirit’s power (Acts 1:4-5) instead of letting the disciples rely on their prior training and experiences?
The sermon states, “Evangelism is not marketing for a church; it is witness to a King.” How does the resurrection of Jesus shift evangelism from offering advice to making an announcement? [38:08]
What does it mean for “witness” to be an identity rather than a task? How does this distinction change how believers approach sharing their faith? [42:40]
The phrase “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth” includes both familiar and difficult people. Why might Jesus intentionally include groups that are culturally or relationally challenging? [47:32]

Application questions

Who is the one person in your life (family, coworker, neighbor) that God might be calling you to pray for intentionally, love practically, and engage with the gospel? What specific step could you take this week to start or deepen that conversation? [27:36]
The sermon emphasizes that “silence is not an option” if Christ is alive. Where have you hesitated to speak about Jesus out of fear or self-preservation? What would it look like to depend on the Holy Spirit’s power in that area? [39:23]
The mission includes people we naturally avoid (Samaria). Is there someone in your life you’ve been reluctant to engage because they’re “difficult” or different? How could you intentionally show Christ’s love to them this month? [48:06]
The angels’ question, “Why do you stand looking into heaven?” challenges passive faith. What habits or routines in your life might need to change to prioritize active participation in God’s mission? [53:19]
The sermon mentions writing a name on a card and praying three times a day. Will you commit to doing this? What practical reminder (alarm, sticky note, etc.) will you use to stay consistent? [50:12]

Sermon Clips

``It's not self improvement. We've talked about that. The gospel is not self improvement. The gospel is the announcement that Jesus Christ is alive. And the reason that's important is because people don't need behavior modification. People need to be reconciled with the king of kings. And the truth is that if Jesus is alive, like if that's true, which historically, it's it's verified, okay? And if that's true, then the mission that he left is urgent. Like, it's important. It's a big deal and it should be happening because if Christ reigns, then silence is not an option. [00:38:34] (41 seconds) #GospelNotSelfHelp

The greatest need that you have in your life is not morality. It's not religion. The greatest need that you have is reconciliation with god. You see, the Bible says that we are sinners by nature and by action. We have broken god's law. We have loved ourselves more than we have loved him. We have put ourselves above him and we stand guilty before a holy god but god had another path. He showed mercy by sending his son. And Jesus lived the righteous life that you could not live. Jesus died on the cross carrying the wrath that you deserve as a sinner. [01:02:03] (48 seconds) #ReconciledThroughChrist

The reality is that the church doesn't need better gimmicks. Right? Like like, we don't need gimmicks to get people to come to church. What we need as a church to get other people to come to church, what we need is a greater dependence on the Holy Spirit. Because it's not about ourselves. And as Christians, we have been given a task to do. Actually, it's better than that. It's not a task to do. It's not a job that we have to do. We've been given an opportunity that we get to do. Like, that's a big difference. [00:41:29] (38 seconds) #DependOnHolySpirit

And three days later, Jesus rose up out of the out of the grave, giving victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave. And now, Christ commands all people everywhere. Not a few select people. All people everywhere to repent of their sins and believe the gospel. And listen, salvation is not found in church attendance. Salvation is not found in tithe giving. Salvation is not found in some religious effort or in baptism or in or in morality. Salvation is found in Christ Jesus. And so today, if you have never truly received Jesus Christ, I'm asking you today. I'm begging you today to make that choice to say, I need Jesus, turn from your sin, and trust in Jesus to save your soul right now. [01:02:52] (68 seconds) #SalvationInChristOnly

Ask a question about this sermon

You will be my Witness (May 24, 2026)

Devotional

Day 1: The Empty Chair and the Name Chiseled in Your Mind

Day 2: Power Beyond Your Sweat and Striving

Day 3: Witness Is Who You Are, Not What You Do

Day 4: The Urgency of an Unseen Car Door

Day 5: From Jerusalem to the Ends of Your Influence

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

You will be my Witness (May 24, 2026)

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