2008-09-21 Ronnie Stevens Acts 1:1-5

"God's Faithfulness in History, God's Faithfulness to History"

The book of Acts is Luke's pious, but historical account of the Holy Spirit's work in the lives of new believers.

FIVE LEADING THEMES

1. The Recording of History 1:1-2

The Christian faith rests not merely upon great teaching or philosophies,
Not merely upon the charisma of the leader,
not upon the success of raising moral values,
not upon the skill or eloquence or good work of its advocates...
Christianity rests upon historic truth.
-Charles Colson, Loving God, 1983

• St. Paul the Traveler and Roman Citizen
--Sir William M. Ramsey (1851-1939)

• The Acts of the Apostles is a work of scholarship as well as piety.

2. The Discipling of the Nations 1:1-5

• The Dynamics of Discipleship - Mark 3:14

• The Transition from Discipleship to Apostleship

• The Ministry of Luke to Theophilus

3. The Importance of Doctrine 1:1-5

• The Holy Spirit as Teacher

• The Emerging Trinitarian Witness 1:1-5

4. The Prominence of Apologetics 1:3

• The Speeches and Sermons in Acts are specimens of persuasion.
With the exception of Chapters 15 and 20 the audience is always composed of unbelievers.

5. The Necessity of Divine Enabling 1:4-5