Bill Acton :: Acts 1 - The Apostle's Ministry Before Pentecost

Sermon Outline for Acts 1

The Apostle's Ministry Before Pentecost

1. The Author’s Introduction – Act 1:1-5
2. The Great Commission – Act 1:6-8
3. The Glorious Ascension – Act 1:9
   1. The literal event
      1. Bodily
      2. Publicly
   2. The meaning
      1. Sin has been atoned
      2. Death has been defeated
      3. Satan has been destroyed – Heb 2:14
      4. The Law has been fulfilled
      5. The Son is glorified – Jhn 17:1-5
      6. The Son is the ruling power – Eph 1:20; Col 1:18; Rev 6:16-17
      7. The Holy Spirit will come to indwell believers – Jhn 7:37-39
4. The Promise of His Return – Act 1:10-11
   1. The angelic messengers
   2. The message
      1. “This same Jesus”
      2. “Shall so come”
      3. “In like manner”
      4. “As you have seen Him go”
5. The Great Historical Events that Determine Our Destiny and Govern Our Life
   1. The Birth of Christ - the gracious provision of our Saviour. We have no right to question God’s goodness
   2. The Death of Christ - we have no right to continue in sin or in guilt
   3. The Resurrection of Christ - we have no right to live as though He is dead
   4. The Ascension of Christ - we have no right to be in control or power
   5. The Return of Christ - we have every right to live with hope and optimism and joy
6. The Ten Days of Waiting – Act 1:12-26
   1. They were together
   2. The upper room
   3. The unity
   4. The prayer
7. They were obedient
8. They completed the Apostolate
   1. The vacancy left by Judas
   2. The Scriptural direction
   3. The purpose
      1. For the foundation of the Church
      2. For witnessing of the resurrection

• The Applications

1. The importance of obedience
2. The importance of togetherness
   1. In one accord
   2. In united prayer