8-21-22 Sermon Notes “Go!”

The Book of Acts opens by telling us something that we could not learn by reading the gospels alone – that Jesus remained on earth for 40 days after the resurrection teaching his followers many things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Wouldn’t you like to have been in that class?!

Jesus reminded his followers (because he had already previously promised) that the Holy Spirit would come, so they should wait in Jerusalem. Wait? Why wait? Simply put, without the power that the Holy Spirit would give, the followers of Jesus would never have been able to fulfill the mission Jesus gave them. The mission was worldwide! They were to “go global.”

6So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1: 6-11 NRSV)

Acts 1: 8 is really a preview of the entire Book of Acts. In Acts chapters 2-7, the church begins in Jerusalem. In Chapters 8 – 12, the church moves through Palestine and Syria, and then in the remainder of the Book of Acts, the church moves through Asia Minor to Greece and Rome. As I said before, the mission is to go global.

For the last two weeks, we have looked at “ready” and “set.” This Sunday we will get to “go!”

See you Sunday,

Pastor Sam