Over seven Sundays we are looking at how the early church communicated the good news that Jesus is alive. Acts is a highly detailed New Testament account of ‘what happened next’ after Jesus rose from the dead. It begins with Jesus’ final instructions as the disciples are wondering when the kingdom would be restored to Israel. Jesus reorientates them to be part of a new movement, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)

The movement is outwards, starting with where they were to cross lines of prejudice and difference and to impact the whole world. The direction of travel of Jesus’ disciples today is still outward. We are not to wait around expecting people will come to us, but rather to move out and go and be good news where people are. We need to go beyond being attractional to actually applying our faith by going to grow and make disciples. Throughout the book of Acts we see ordinary men and women transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to do this. In these seven weeks as we gather together, let us seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit and grow in the gifts He gives to us so that we can go in power to make disciples of Jesus.

Listen to the series so far…