Sermon notes to come.

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.”—Acts 1:1–11

Sermon Discussion Questions

Main Point: The risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ continues working to establish his kingdom.

Summary Sentence of Acts
The book of Acts records the continuing work of Jesus through the Holy Spirit in the witness of the apostles to proclaim, establish, and advance the kingdom of God.

Outline

• The Continuity of the Kingdom (Acts 1:1–3)
• The Power of the Kingdom (Acts 1:4–5)
• The Witnesses of the Kingdom (Acts 1:6–8)
• The Assurance of the Kingdom (Acts 1:9–11)

Intro

Take a moment to read the entirety of Luke 24 to refresh your memory and to see the continuity between Acts 1 and the end of Luke. 

Discussion Questions

• What do we know about the author of Luke-Acts? Who is he, why does he write, and who does he write to?
• What parallels do you see between Acts 1:1–11 and the end of Luke 24? Where is there continuity? Is there some discontinuity; if so, what?
• Why does Jesus command his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit? What would have happened if the disciples neglected Jesus’ command?
• Why is it significant that Jesus tells his disciples they will be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth?
• What would the disciples have felt watching Jesus ascend as two angels provided commentary? Why is this significant?

Application Questions

• As disciples of Jesus, are we regularly serving as witnesses of Jesus? When was the last time we shared the gospel, invited someone to study the Bible with us, or proclaimed Christ?
• Are we living as though Jesus is King and Lord, and living as though we are part of an eternal, heavenly kingdom, not an earthly national kingdom?
• Take a moment to ponder Christ being seated at the throne of the Father, continually working in and through the Holy Spirit and his disciples. How does that change how we go about our lives?
• Reflect a moment on the fact that we are “the ends of the earth” and how the gospel has taken root with power across the world, in every continent, in various cultures, and among many peoples. Praise God that this work is being fulfilled. 

Prayer Focus
Take a moment to pray through Acts 1:1–11 by discerning the truth of each section, and praying through the passage by turning those truths into thanksgivings, confessions, and requests. For example, “Thank you God that we have Luke-Acts to know what Jesus did and taught, and can be witnesses of what Jesus continues to do and teach through the Spirit in his disciples. We confess that too often we labor in our own strength, rather than recognizing that Jesus rules and reigns over all. We ask that we would be witnesses of Jesus through the power of the Spirit to proclaim Jesus boldly to those without Christ.”