1) Priority: The Kingdom of God!Acts 1:3 “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.”a) What is the Kingdom of God?-political? territorial? national?b) The Kingdom of God is...-”God’s rule set up in the lives of His people by the Holy Spirit” Stott c) The Kingdom of God is...-Spiritual, International, Gradual2) Priority: The Promise of the Father!Luke 24:49 “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.” Acts 1: 4b “...but wait for the gift my Father promised...”Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you...”a) See the thread throughout the O.T.-Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joelb) Ordinary People (Pitiful and Pathetic)-Dynamite Powerc) A Gift-Thirsty? Ask and Receive

1) Good News to share... Jesus!Luke 24:46 -47 “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations”a) Jesus Sent... Lived, Suffered, Died, Risen, Ascended, Returning-Jesus of Nazareth & the risen Christ are one & the same personb) Jesus Restores... Relationship with God our Father-Forgiven and Friendship (Knowing God!)c) Jesus Sends... you and me, individually & corporately-Witnesses, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to all nations2) Good News... TMP & 2011Acts 1:8 “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.”-Preparation: From “Patent Pending” to Replication -Practical... CPP, Dineen/Head Hall (Feb. 6th), By-Laws & Policies-Training: “Good News” Feb. 11-13 & Church W/E May 27th-29th-Pastoral: Apryl Jewett, 1 day/wk, care/equip women -Purposeful: Leadership Development Team-Response... pray, serve, give, grow

IntroductionLuke and Acts... almost 25% of the NTBy trade a “doctor”... still learned for the dayCompanion of PaulArticulate and precise in detailThrough interviews, etc... Written 62ADLuke does not view The Gospel as the story of Jesus and Acts as the story of the churchActs and Luke reveal two Jesus 2 stages of ministry. His earthly work and his ministry from heavenActs of ?“The Continuing Words and Deeds of Jesus by His Spirit Through His Apostles” - StottHe is both the historical Jesus who lived and the contemporary Jesus who lives... He is here...1. Chooses the apostles...“... To the apostles whom he had chosen.” (Acts 1: 2b)Same word used for the choosing of the disciples...Jesus was very intentional in choosing those who would lay the initial foundations of the church... Was not done by human committee, vote, self appointment.In the same way... Jesus still chooses. He chooses you and me to go forward with His plans...2. Jesus showed himself to them...“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45 ESV)“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. (Acts 1:3 )Those that laid foundations had to be those that had Jesus revealed himself to.Jesus does the same with us... Through the Holy Spirit.He has been poured out to us... We ask and He lls us3. Jesus commanded them or commissioned them“... until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.” (Acts 1:2 ESV)Denition time... Commission, AuthorizeThe apostles were envoys, ambassadors, delegates, sent out with a message and carrying the authority of the sender.We, likewise have the same commission... the same command with enablement!4. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit...“... for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:5 ESV)The Disciples/Apostles would not be alone... Jesus by His Spirit was with them.His ministry was now fullled with the outpouring of the SpiritWithout the HS the commissioning would present the command as a millstone... we have to do itWith the HS the commission is a joy... we get to do it.Conclusion...Alpha, Walk Across the Room, Witness Weekend... all opportunities to experience the divine help of the same Jesus who breathed life into the early church.