Title: Acts: An Introduction

Text: Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-3

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Scripture Intro:

[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 1. Keep your finger there and also turn to Luke 1 as well.

Well, I am so glad to be back behind the pulpit. I’m so grateful for Elders who are capable and qualified to preach and teach the Word of God. I hope you were blessed by their study and exposition of the Word. What a joy to be challenged to be a watchmen who plans his way but knows that God guides his steps as the Sovereign Lord over all.

Today we begin our study of the book of Acts. This is a large book. That is the primary reason it will most likely end up being the longest series I have ever done. Acts is composed of 28 chapters tying Matthew for the most in the New Testament.

Acts has 1006 verses putting it firmly in third behind both the gospel of Luke and the gospel of Matthew in total verses.

What Acts lacks in verse count though, it makes up for in words. Although Matthew exceeds Acts by over 60 verses, Acts exceeds Matthew in word count by over 100 words.

So, although Matthew was a large book, taking us two and half years to get through covering 105 sermons – I expect Acts to be longer.

So why Acts?

Well to this question I have several answers.

1.) Why not Acts? Like Revelation is serves as the only work of its kind in the entire New Testament. This makes it a prime candidate for study.

2.) Epistle Fatigue. We’ve been in several general epistles and pastoral epistles for the last several years. It is time for us to take on a new challenge and practice interpreting a different kind of work in the New Testament.

3.) Foundational Truths. Acts serves as the only inspired source of early church history and the spread of the gospel through the known world. It is the necessary connection between Christ’s ministry on earth and His church fulfilling the great commission. That makes it a fairly important and foundational book to understand who we are and what we are supposed to be doing.

4.) The Tabletalks right now are studying through Luke which is part 1 of Acts. So it seems to be a good 1-2 combo.

5.) The Lord impressed upon me the need we have to see how the early church began and expanded in the midst of great persecution. A theme that becomes more and more applicable every single day.

As we typically do in an introductory sermon to a book – we will focus on some of the background information surrounding the book enabling us to interpret the text well. However, unlike the more recent introductory sermons we have done – we will not be reading the entire book of Acts this morning. At just shy of 18,500 words, and with the average reading speed of an adult at 238 words per minute, plus adding transition times between readers, we would be here about an hour and a half. And that would simply be the reading of the book. Let alone the introductory material.

So, I put that on you. I challenge you to read the book of Acts this week. And I challenge you to do it in one sitting. I’m sure you could break it up and read it throughout the week 5 minutes here and 10 minutes there. But you lose a lot when you do that. Trust me. I’ve read the book of Acts 7 times in the last couple weeks. I’ve done it all in one sitting and I’ve done it parceled out. The best way… is all in one sitting. Carve out for yourself an hour and half of your week. Read the book of Acts. Let me know what you find.