Introduction: If you’ve ever watched the first episode of a long series, you know it sets the stage - it introduces key characters, outlines the plot, and shows you the stakes. The book of Acts is like that, not just for a season, but for the entire history of the Church. Acts tells the true story of how the gospel of Jesus Christ exploded out of Jerusalem and began to reach the world. But it’s not a story that’s over - it’s a story we’re still living in. Let’s take a bird’s-eye view of Acts today - not to fly past it - but to see the path so we can walk it more intentionally in the months ahead.

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Look for the Kingdom Initiatives:

Strengthen

Develop

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Big Idea: The book of Acts shows how the risen Christ

His people by the power of the

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to be His

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from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth - and we are

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to be part of the story.

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1. The Mission Begins: (Acts 1–7) The power of the Risen King

• a. Author and Context – Luke, a Gentile physician, writes Acts as a sequel to his Gospel (Acts 1:1–2).
• b. Genre of Acts: A historical narrative with theological purpose: to show the continuation of Jesus’ work through the church.
• c. Key Verse: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…” Acts 1:8
• d. Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus (Acts 1) The book opens where the Gospels leave off: Jesus is alive. He spends 40 days with His disciples, teaching them about the kingdom of God. Then He gives them their mission: be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
• e. Acts 2: The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost. The Church is born.
  
  1. Church Community Life: A Spirit-filled church; teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer.
• f. Acts 3–5: Peter boldly preaches Christ, interpreting the OT in light of Jesus’ resurrection. The gospel spreads through powerful preaching and miraculous signs.
• g. Acts 6–7: Challenges arise—persecution, conflict, growing pains. Stephen becomes the first martyr, but the gospel keeps advancing.

The Church is not a

movement. It’s a

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mission built on the

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.

2. The Mission Expands (Acts 8–12): From Jerusalem to the Gentiles

• a. Key Verses:
  
  1. ”Those who were scattered went about preaching the word. “Acts 8:4
  2. “God shows no partiality”. Acts 10:34-35
• b. Stephen’s death sparks a wave of persecution. But instead of stopping the Church, it scatters the Church—and spreads the message.
• c. Acts 8: Philip brings the gospel cross culturally to Samaria and an Ethiopian eunuch.
• d. Acts 9: The enemy of the Church, Saul, meets Jesus and becomes its greatest missionary.
• e. Acts 10–11: Peter is called to preach to Gentiles—Cornelius and his household believe and receive the Spirit.
• f. Acts 12: Herod tries to silence the Church, but God delivers Peter and defeats Herod.

The gospel is for

! God’s grace crosses every barrier of

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,

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, and

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.

3. The Mission Advances (Acts 13–28): To the Ends of the Earth

• a. Key Verses:
  
  1. ”The word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.” Acts 13:49
  2. “Proclaiming the kingdom of God…with all boldness and without hindrance.” Acts 28:31
• b. Paul and Barnabas are sent out from the church at Antioch, and a new chapter begins. The gospel moves out to the wider Gentile world.
• c. Paul targets key cities, reasons in synagogues, trains leaders, and establishes local churches.
• d. Acts 13–14: First missionary journey. Churches are planted in Galatia.
• e. Acts 15: The Jerusalem Council confirms: Gentiles are saved by grace through faith, not the law.
• f. Acts 16–18: Paul’s second and third missionary journeys. Churches are planted in Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, and Ephesus.
• g. Acts 19–20: Revival, resistance, and more disciples made.

The gospel multiplies through

and

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.

• h. Acts 21–26: Paul is arrested and testifies before rulers and kings.
  
  1. The final chapters focus on Paul’s trials and his long, dangerous journey to Rome.
• i. Acts 27–28: A shipwreck can’t stop him. He reaches Rome and boldly preaches the gospel from house arrest.
  
  1. The book ends…open-ended. Paul is preaching “with all boldness and without hindrance” - and that’s the point. The story isn’t over.
  2. The gospel is unstoppable. Governments, prisons, and storms cannot stop King Jesus.
  3. The Acts of the Risen King Continue
  4. Acts is not just the story of Peter, or Paul. It’s the continuing story of what Jesus began to do and teach (Acts 1:1). The risen Jesus is still building His Church - by His Spirit, through His people.
• j. So where do we fit in?
  
  1. We have the same mission: to be His witnesses.
  2. We have the same Spirit: to empower and guide us.
  3. We serve the same King: Jesus, ruling from heaven, coming again.
  4. So let’s get ready, not just to study Acts, but to live it.

Look for the Kingdom Initiatives:

Strengthen

Develop

Expand

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Small Group Questions

1. What did God teach you through this passage and message? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.

2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?

3. Where do you sense God calling you to be a witness in your “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, or ends of the earth”?

4. What would it look like for our small group to live out the Acts Church in our community?

5. What roles do you feel God calling you to play in missions: Goer, sender, supporter, or prayer warrior?