An Acts 1:8 Vision

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.

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.”

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.” ⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:1-11, ESV)

Acts 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.” ESV)

(ESV Study Bible, p. 2075)

Acts 1:8 means that God expects us to . . .

1. Be empowered by the .
   
2. with the –  here, there, and everywhere.
   
3. Make –  who hear, repent, believe, are baptized, and learn to follow, obey, and share the good news of Jesus.
   
4. Plant –  who gather in Jesus’ name, preach the gospel, make disciples, celebrate the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, practice church discipline, and reproduce.
   

13 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. …

²¹ When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. ²³ And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

²⁴ Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, ²⁶ and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. ²⁷ And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they remained no little time with the disciples. (Acts 13:1-3, 14:21-28, ESV)

Ingleside and Church Planting

1. Our church was planted years ago this month.

• October 4, 1951 – Sixteen people gathered on a Thursday evening at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Newton, Sr., at 3360 Ridge Avenue
• October 11, 1951 – Twenty-nine people met the next Thursday night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Rader at 3557 Vineville Avenue
• November 11, 1951 – The first Sunday service was held at theIngleside Community Clubhouse with 136  people in attendance.

2. Through our giving, our church partners with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to plant churches across North America.

• In 2020 alone, new churches were planted
• Since 2010, more than new churches have been planted

3. Our church currently supports church plants personally and directly with financial support, short-term mission trips, prayer, training, and encouragement.

• Portland, Oregon – Patrick and Jennifer Grant, Woodstock Community Church

• Denver, Colorado – Josh and Sara Cook, Dwell Church

4. Today we are announcing our third church planting partnership with Dustin and Danielle Lee and   Church in , .