ACTS FACT SHEET
Author: Luke

Cultural Context: The events described in Acts take place in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the surrounding occupied lands of the Greco-Roman empire as well as Asia minor during the 1st century between 30-60 CE. Acts was likely composed between 60 and 90 CE.

Book Structure:
Part 1 – Acts 1: Jesus’ commission
Part 2 – Acts 2-7: Pentecost and the birth of the Church
Part 3 – Acts 8-12: Life within the Jesus movement
Part 4 – Acts 13-20: Recount the mission of the ChurchPart 5 – Acts 31-28: Paul’s arrest
Part 5 – Acts 31-28: Paul’s arrest

Summary: The book of Acts is considered to be volume two of a two-part work known today as Luke-Acts. In the Bible, both the book of Luke and the book of Acts were written by Luke, an apostle of Jesus. Acts gives an account of Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the early church, and how the message of Jesus began to spread around the world.

Acts begins with Jesus’ last 40 days on earth after His resurrection. His focus was to teach the disciples about the Kingdom of God on earth. He commissioned them to spread His message to Jerusalem, neighboring regions Judea and Samaria, and then to the rest of the nations. While Jesus’ time on earth was about to come to an end, He reminded them that the Holy Spirit would be with them soon.

On the day of Pentecost, 10 days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples. Acts 2:2-4 says, “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” After receiving the Holy Spirit, they were empowered to preach the message of Jesus with boldness and many people were saved. This marks the birth of the early church – the gathering of believers. Even today, when we choose to acknowledge Jesus as our Savior, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s through the Holy Spirit that Jesus guides, empowers, and transforms us.

Through the rest of the book of Acts, Jesus’ disciples do exactly what Jesus instructed. They began preaching and teaching in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria, and then to the rest of the nations and the ends of the earth. The book of Acts recounts the disciples’ experiences and the persecution they faced, the characteristics and growth of the early church, and the fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies. While church today looks different than the early church, there are key themes from the book of Acts that hold true for us in modern culture.
Acts: The Way of Life
More than a building, the church is the group of believers who are committed to following the way of Jesus. We stand on the shoulders of the early church, walking the path they established long ago. This collection journeys through the Book of Acts, unpacking what it means to share the Good News, establish community, and follow the way of Jesus in modern culture.

Learn

Dive into weekly sermons and take time to reflect on what you're learning.

SERMON: MATURE CHURCH

When You Love Jesus, But Not The Church

The Church was not our idea, it is God’s plan.

The church is not a building — it’s the body of believers who are committed to following Jesus and sharing His message. Not only does God call us to maturity as individuals, but to maturity as the church. What does a mature church look like? Instead of walking in the dark, we can be sure of our next step, walking convinced, connected, and commissioned. Tune in as we kick off a new collection of talks called "Mature Church" with Pastor Dakota Duron's message, "When You Love Jesus but Not the Church."

SERMON: MATURE CHURCH

Today Could Be The Day

A mature church understands that both life and God move suddenly.

We often believe that God is slow, but when God is ready to move, He moves quickly. A mature church understands that waiting for God means we obey, prepare, and pursue Jesus. Tune in as Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. continues this collection with his message, "Today Could Be the Day."

SERMON: MATURE CHURCH

Sustaining the Spirit

If we're going to mature, we have to be devoted. The early church's devotion to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer is the same devotion we should hold today.

Lean in as we continue our collection of talks "Mature Church" with Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr.'s message, "Sustaining the Spirit."

SERMON: MATURE CHURCH

Out of The Upper Room

One of the boldest prayers we can pray is for God to lead us out of the upper room and into the world. As culture tells us to go against God’s word, we are charged to stand firm and speak boldly. If the world is loud about sin, hate, and revenge, the Church must be loud about salvation, love, and forgiveness. The world is in need of what we have – all we need to do is extend our hands and expect a miracle.

SERMON: MATURE US

Is This [Love?]

Maturing in relationships means asking ourselves if the way we live reflects love.

1 Corinthians 13 gives us a beautiful picture of who we should be and how we should love others as we are filled with the love that Jesus gives. The world often tries to define love as an emotion, but we know that love is only defined by the creator of love. Join us as we uncover what love is (and what it is not) according to the one who created it.

SERMON: MATURE US

Is This [Love?]

Maturing in relationships means asking ourselves if the way we live reflects love.

1 Corinthians 13 gives us a beautiful picture of who we should be and how we should love others as we are filled with the love that Jesus gives. The world often tries to define love as an emotion, but we know that love is only defined by the creator of love. Join us as we uncover what love is (and what it is not) according to the one who created it.

SERMON: MATURE US

Is This [Love?]

Maturing in relationships means asking ourselves if the way we live reflects love.

1 Corinthians 13 gives us a beautiful picture of who we should be and how we should love others as we are filled with the love that Jesus gives. The world often tries to define love as an emotion, but we know that love is only defined by the creator of love. Join us as we uncover what love is (and what it is not) according to the one who created it.

SERMON: MATURE US

Is This [Love?]

Maturing in relationships means asking ourselves if the way we live reflects love.

1 Corinthians 13 gives us a beautiful picture of who we should be and how we should love others as we are filled with the love that Jesus gives. The world often tries to define love as an emotion, but we know that love is only defined by the creator of love. Join us as we uncover what love is (and what it is not) according to the one who created it.

SERMON: MATURE US

Is This [Love?]

Maturing in relationships means asking ourselves if the way we live reflects love.

1 Corinthians 13 gives us a beautiful picture of who we should be and how we should love others as we are filled with the love that Jesus gives. The world often tries to define love as an emotion, but we know that love is only defined by the creator of love. Join us as we uncover what love is (and what it is not) according to the one who created it.

SERMON: MATURE US

Is This [Love?]

Maturing in relationships means asking ourselves if the way we live reflects love.

1 Corinthians 13 gives us a beautiful picture of who we should be and how we should love others as we are filled with the love that Jesus gives. The world often tries to define love as an emotion, but we know that love is only defined by the creator of love. Join us as we uncover what love is (and what it is not) according to the one who created it.

SERMON: MATURE US

Is This [Love?]

Maturing in relationships means asking ourselves if the way we live reflects love.

1 Corinthians 13 gives us a beautiful picture of who we should be and how we should love others as we are filled with the love that Jesus gives. The world often tries to define love as an emotion, but we know that love is only defined by the creator of love. Join us as we uncover what love is (and what it is not) according to the one who created it.

Study

READING

Breakdown of Acts

Acts 1

Jesus Commissions His Disciples and Ascends to Heaven

Jesus’ final 40 days

What was his promise to us?

What were the last words of Jesus to his followers? What are his words to us?

Acts 2-7

Pentecost in Jerusalem and the Birth of the Church

How to hear from the Holy Spirit

How to live by the Spirit

The new covenant

Acts 8-12

The Jesus Community Becomes an International Movement

Making disciples

How to evangelize/share our faith

What does it mean to be part of the capital C church?

Acts 13-20

Mission to Israel and Clashes with Roman Culture

Living in exile (we are part of a different kingdom)

On earth as it is in heaven. What does it look like to suffer well / represent the kingdom of heaven in this world?

Acts 21-28

Paul Arrested in Jerusalem and Imprisoned in Rome

Living for eternity

Standing firm

Finding peace in chaos through the Holy Spirit

How to pray for our world

How To Study The Bible

Schedule your reading

Set aside a time and a place to meditate on God’s word. Create a distraction free environment to dive deeper into the scripture.

Pray before you read

Ask God to reveal his truths as you read. Pray for discernment and understanding.

Read with a friend

Read with someone that will hold you accountable to your daily reading. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Read with a Bible concordance + commentary

A Bible concordance is a list of Biblical words sorted alphabetically, with any scriptures that include that word. Commentary Bibles allow us to gain a Bible scholar’s perspective on the scripture you are reading.

Excercise

SOAP Method

Scripture

Open your Bible to your reading for the day. Take time to read and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that stood out to you and write it in your journal.

Observation

What do you feel God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

Application

Personalize what you have read by asking how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it’s instruction, encouragement, a new promise, or correction for a particular area of your life.

Prayer

Ask God to help you understand this scripture and how to apply it to your life. Ask for greater insight into what God might be revealing to you. Remember that prayer is a two-way conversation with God, so take time to listen to what God wants to say to you. Write down what you hear and experience.

Scripture

Psalm 23:4

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Scripture

Psalm 34:18

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Scripture

Isaiah 1:18

“ ‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ ” says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool’ ”

Scripture

Romans 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”

Scripture

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Scripture

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Scripture

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Keep Maturing

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Growing In Maturity
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There's More to Life Than Desire
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The Promise Is The Plan
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Better Starts With [U]
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Is This Love?
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[SEX] IN CONTEXT
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Before You Call It Quits
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Prayers And Promises
Message
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Developing A Prayer Habit
guided prayer
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A Guided Prayer Journey