Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

I think you will agree with me that the question of authority is primary and fundamental.

When people think they have the right to announce, “This is what I think Christianity is, and this is what the church should do,” then we have the right to ask, “Can that be fitted into what we have here in the book of Acts?

How many like what’s familiar?

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Routine is the spice of life.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “Christianity—The Only Hope,” in Authentic Christianity, 1st U.S. ed., vol. 1, Studies in the Book of Acts (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000), 7–8.

The apostles

The only reply to that is the one that was given so perfectly by the late G. K. Chesterton when he reminded us, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”

That is the simple truth.

The world, speaking generally, has never tried Christianity.

It has talked a lot about it, but it has not really tried it.

So I argue that this is still the only hope for the world.

Therefore it is urgent that we should ask what Christianity is.

Or, to put the question another way, what is the Christian church?

What is her business, and what is her message?

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “Christianity—The Only Hope,” in Authentic Christianity, 1st U.S. ed., vol. 1, Studies in the Book of Acts (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000), 5–6.

The Church starts with Jesus.

(1-3)

Acts 1:1-3

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

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.

The author of the book of Acts is Luke, the same man who wrote the third Gospel that bears his name.

The book of Acts is basically a second volume to the Gospel of Luke

And Luke addresses his work here to the same person to whom he had addressed the Gospel of Luke, a man by the name of Theophilus.

Don’t know much about Theophilus - may be person - may be title for a group of people (Luke - “most excellent”)

Based on what Luke writes in , it would seem that Luke is writing to Theophilus to either help convince Theophilus

Luke refers to his first work as dealing with “all that Jesus began to do and teach”

Acts of the apostles

Acts of the Holy Spirit

Jesus’ Works and Words

Luke’s Gospel shows that Jesus is who he claims to be - the Son of God.

This is what sets Christianity apart from other religions.

We’re not talking about a religious set of rules - philosophy and ideas.

We’re talking about a man - and not just a man that gave us a good example to follow

While the world wouldn’t need a historical Buddha to have Buddhism, it must have a historical Christ to have genuine Christianity.

Merida, Tony.

Exalting Jesus in Acts (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) .

B&H Publishing Group.

Kindle Edition.

Jesus taught the truth about life and God.

He backed up his words with his life, his miracles, and ultimately his resurrection from the dead.

He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking

This is where the church began.

This is where Granger Missionary Church began.

The start of the Church is described here, but the Church starts with Jesus.

Jesus is the cornerstone of the Church and Christianity

There can be no Christianity apart from Christ.

The start of the Church is described here, but the Church starts with Jesus.

Acts 20:28

28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Jesus bought the Church with his blood

He empowers the Church with His Spirit

He commissions the Church with His message

He sends the Church in His name

We must be very careful in ever thinking the church is ‘our church.’

We are building His Kingdom, not our kingdom

The Church is the bride of Christ - DON’T MESS WITH MY WIFE!

Jesus is in every verse of Acts 1:1-11

Acts is a continuation of what Jesus is doing

Acts of the apostles

Acts of the Holy Spirit

ILLUSTR - better than the original?

- most movies have bad sequels - Not Acts!

It’s the start of something new. . .

How many like new things?

You’re the first to get the new iPhone, you love the new car smell, you love meeting new people, and trying new foods.

How many like what’s familiar?

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Routine is the spice of life.

(I’m indebted to Matt Chandler for his key points of - power, purpose, plan.

https://www.tvcresources.net/resource-library/sermons/the-beginning-of-the-church#video)

Acts 1:4-5

4 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; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

The Church starts with a new power.

(4-5)

Promised Power

, 26

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.

You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’

If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.

30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming.

He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.

Rise, let us go from here.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Spirit’s Power

Romans 8:11

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

Delayed Power

Why did they need to wait?

Perhaps it was to remind them that they needed God’s power to accomplish the mission.

I imagine they were excited and ready to go.

They had seen the risen Jesus, they had a story to tell.

They had just spent a 40-day intensive learning session with Jesus, yet Jesus told them to wait for the Spirit’s power.