Jesus' Plan for the Church | Acts 1:1-11
Luke shows us four essential components of Jesus' plan for the church: (1) Belief in the risen Christ, (2) baptism with the Holy Spirit, (3) focus on global witness, and (4) anticipation of Jesus' return. This sermon is part 1 in "Building the Church," Bryan Craddock's series of verse-by-verse sermons on Acts 1-7.
One time on a trip, my family and I stayed in a little old church building that had been turned into a vacation home. A cross still stood on the peak of the roof, and the walls were lined with arched windows. But inside kitchen appliances and a dining room table filled the raised platform where a pulpit once stood. Instead of pews, there was living room furniture, a TV, and a bed.
There weren’t many other places to stay in the area, so we were grateful to have it. But I couldn't help but feel saddened by the thought that a space that was once devoted to worship and ministry had come to that. At some point a group of believers sacrificially gave funds to build it. Now someone uses it to make a few bucks.
Of course, the church is not a building. A church is followers of Jesus united in fellowship. So, the real question is what happened to the people who once met in that building. Perhaps they simply moved on to a better building, which would be great. But all too often, petty squabbles over personal feelings, preferences, and personalities divide congregations so that they end up dwindling and dissolving.
According to Matthew 16:18, Jesus said that he would build his church so that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. So, the perseverance of the universal church is guaranteed. But the existence and growth of a local congregation depends upon how faithfully they adhere to his plan and purpose. In fact, most of the New Testament epistles were written to keep churches on track, and I think that is also why the Book of Acts was written.
Without Acts, the Epistles don’t make sense. The Gospels end with Jesus leaving behind a small group of Jews from Galilee who believe that he is the Messiah though somewhat tentatively. Jesus only used the word “church” on two occasions recorded in Matthew’s Gospel. Mark, Luke, and John do not even mention it. So, what is a church, who is Paul, and how does belief in Jesus spread throughout the Roman Empire? Acts tells us.
We’ll see that Luke wrote the book as a sequel to his Gospel. In fact, he himself is part of the story. He explains how the church is built in Jerusalem, how the gospel reaches the nations, and how it triumphs through opposition. So, I have titled our study of the book’s first seven chapters, “Building the Church,” and I think that it will help us become what Jesus wants us to be.
We start with the first eleven verses of chapter 1, where Luke shows us four essential components of Jesus’ Plan for the Church. None of these are optional. They must be an integral part of our lives individually and corporately. So, I challenge you to consider how these components shape your life and the life of our church.
Belief in the Risen Christ
The construction of some buildings starts with a groundbreaking ceremony. VIPs who rarely do any physical labor are given shovels sprayed with gold paint to scoop up a few handfuls of dirt for a photo op. But then the real work begins, and it may be weeks, months, even years before a structure takes shape. A firm foundation must be prepared.
The foundational component in building the church is belief in the risen Christ. Jesus labored to this end throughout his ministry, and Luke mirrors that focus in his writing. In Acts 1:1-2, he says,
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
Belief in Christ is not a matter of accepting spiritual myths and legends. It is anchored in eyewitness accounts of his words and deeds. Luke worked hard to gather these for Theophilus. He talks about that at the beginning of his Gospel. In Luke 1:1-4, he says,
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
We do not know who Theophilus was. The name means friend of God, so some think that it is a generic title rather than an actual individual. But it was a common Greek name. Perhaps he was an individual who provided financial support so that Luke could devote himself to compiling these accounts. Either way, Luke’s goal was to provide a foundation that would give believers certainty and spiritual stability.
Jesus worked toward that same goal as he appeared to the apostles after his resurrection from the dead. In Acts 1:3, Luke says,
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.
Jesus appeared on at least eleven different occasions to different groups and individuals during that forty-day period after his resurrection. One of his purposes was to confirm that he had physically risen from the dead. John 20:27 tells us that he invited Thomas to feel the wounds on his hands and side. Luke 24:42-43 records that he ate a piece of broiled fish before them. Of course, he also spent time teaching and exhorting them. Luke mentions that he focused on the kingdom of God, and I’ll say more about that in a moment.
Before we move on, we should consider whether we are firmly grounded in this foundation. How well do you know what Jesus said and did? Do you wholeheartedly accept the accounts of his death and resurrection? Do you follow his teaching? Matthew 7:24-27 tells us that Jesus said,
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
I fear that many Christians barely break ground in digging into his word. They rely upon others to do all the work. They may not even realize how much shifting sand lies between them and the solid rock--cultural traditions, worldly ideas, and theological fads. For the church to stand strong, we must each keep digging so that we are anchored in a solid personal belief in the risen Christ and his word.
Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Throughout history, people have built astounding structures with nothing but hard manual labor--soaring temples, massive pyramids, ornate cathedrals. Of course, the sad reality is that many of those workers were slaves with no other choice but to spend their life toiling away. Construction is different in the modern world with our power tools and heavy equipment. It still requires great effort, but the burden is not so crushing.
Jesus announced a similar shift in spiritual life, and it is vital to the existence of the New Testament church. The second component of his plan is baptism with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:4-5, Luke tells us,
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; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
I suspect that the apostles would have preferred to leave Jerusalem. It wasn’t their home. They were from the area around the Sea of Galilee. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were probably more at ease on their fishing boats than in a busy city. Plus, Jerusalem was dangerous. It had only been a few weeks since the religious leaders there had orchestrated the execution of Jesus. Nevertheless, Jesus still wanted them to wait there for the promised baptism with the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist mentioned this event as something that the Messiah would bring, but what is it? Jesus says that he himself had spoken about it previously, but there is no record of him using that expression. He is probably harkening back to the night before his crucifixion. John 14:15-17 tells us that he said,
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
Other translations say Comforter or Advocate rather than Helper. We could also say Encourager or even Coach. Old Testament believers were privileged to have God’s commands to guide them through life. But they kept stumbling into sin and forfeiting his blessings. They needed power to overcome the crushing burden of slavery to sin. The indwelling Spirit of truth would guide them, teach them, convict them, and comfort them. In John 16:7, Jesus even said that it was to their advantage for him to go away so that he could send this Helper to them.
There is much more to say about the coming of the Holy Spirit, and we will learn more as we continue our study of Acts. We will find that there are some differences in the book as to how and when people receive him, and we will see why that happens. Ultimately, his indwelling becomes linked to saving faith. In Romans 8:9, Paul is able to say that anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. So, every believer in Christ is indwelt by the Spirit, but are we relying upon his power?
To overcome sin in their lives, some resort to a Pharisaic legalism driven by guilt. Others give up the fight against temptation as a lost cause. Instead, we must walk by the Spirit to bear genuine spiritual fruit as Paul talks about in Galatians 5:22-23--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The New Testament Church must rely upon the work of the Spirit.
Focus on Global Witness
There is a spectacular palace in Germany called Herrenchiemsee that sits in the middle of a forest on an island in a remote lake. Construction began in 1878 at the command of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, and it is estimated that he spent the equivalent of 250 million dollars. The project brought the royal finances to the verge of bankruptcy. Today people from all over the world come to see it, but the king originally built it entirely for himself.
A lot of Christians over the ages have wanted to withdraw from the world too. In fact, before Ludwig built his palace that lonely island had been the location of a monastery. We may not go to that extreme, but we all feel the same impulse. We assume that separating ourselves from sinners will make it easier for us to worship and to live a holy life. But doing so would place us in direct opposition to Jesus’ plan for the church. He commands us to focus on reaching the world through global witness.
Jesus had spoken of this goal during his resurrection appearances. According to Luke 24:47, he said that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all the nations. In his Great Commission, recorded in Matthew 28:18-20, he told his followers to make disciples of all nations. But the apostles are slow to grasp this focus. Acts 1:6-7 tells us,
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
The apostles were not entirely off base with their question. The kingdom is the ultimate focus of God’s plan. He chose to bless Abraham and make him into a great nation that would bless all the families of the earth. God revealed his Law to Abraham’s descendants, the nation of Israel, and led them to the promised land. If they obeyed, they would be blessed and exalted. He also gave them David to lead them as their king, promising that one of his descendants would reign forever. The apostles correctly understood that Jesus is the king who will one day rule the world from Jerusalem.
But there is another side to their question. Jesus had explained to them that his reign would begin with judgment. In Matthew 25:31-46, for instance, he says that the Son of Man will gather the nations and separate them like sheep and goats, granting some eternal life in the kingdom and banishing others to eternal punishment. Since Israel had suffered at the hands of sinful, oppressive nations for centuries, most Jews wanted the Messiah to come settle the score, and the apostles were certainly not immune to that selfish, vengeful mindset.
Jesus does not tell them that they have got it all wrong. He does not say that the church is now replacing Israel or that the kingdom is only a spiritual reign in their hearts. He simply tells them that it is not for them to know the times or seasons. That’s God’s business. They must have a different focus for their day and age. In verse 8, he says,
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."
In the strict sense, a witness is someone who personally observed Christ’s miracles, heard his teaching, and saw him after he rose from the dead. We will see in the second half of Acts 1 that the apostles discuss this as they choose a replacement for Judas Iscariot. But the scope of this mission, reaching to the end of the earth, extends beyond what the apostles alone could accomplish. So, in a broader sense, everyone who accepts their testimony, believes in Jesus, and receives the Spirit must also serve as a witness.
They were supposed to start in Jerusalem and then expand to Jews throughout Judea. Going to Samaria would be a challenge for them. Though Jesus did some ministry there, Jews looked down on Samaritans as half-breeds with a corrupt version of Judaism. Reaching other nations who worshiped false gods would be even harder. This plan cut against all their personal biases, and it has not gotten any easier today. We need the powerful work of the Holy Spirit to motivate us and guide us.
So, where is your focus? Are you ignoring the world, running away from it, or condemning it? Our mission is to keep reaching across social, cultural, and economic barriers as ambassadors who bear witness to the grace of God and the saving power of Christ through what we say and how we live. One more component is essential to Jesus’ plan.
Anticipation of Jesus’ Return
Most building projects set a target for when they plan to finish, but very few seem to stay on track. One delay after another pushes the date farther and farther back. If there is too much flexibility, some workers might take advantage of it, showing up late, taking long breaks, and going home early. Weeks may go by with very little evidence of progress.
The building of the church, however, is not something that can be delayed. Though we cannot know the times or the seasons, we must still live in anticipation of Jesus’ return. We hear this component of his plan in Acts 1:9-11. Luke tells us,
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. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 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."
Clouds are significant in the Bible. They are often related to the glory of God. Psalm 104:3 even says that the Lord makes them his chariot. But the sight of Jesus being taken away in a cloud may relate to a vision that the Prophet Daniel had. In Daniel 7:13-14, he says that he saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He was presented before the Ancient of Days, and was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.
But there is no indication that the apostles are thinking of Daniel’s vision at that moment. They are probably just grieved that Jesus was leaving. That may explain why these two men in white appear. Angelic messengers are often described this way, and the message they bring is that Jesus will return in a similar way. This should have been familiar to the apostles. Jesus had spoken of it in his Olivet Discourse. According to Matthew 24:30, he said that the Son of Man would be seen coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
The thought of Jesus’ return is a source of great comfort and hope for believers. He explained this to the apostles on the night before his crucifixion. John 14:1-3 tells us that he said,
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
This assurance is granted to all who place their faith in Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. He has not abandoned us. He watches over us, intercedes for us, and will one day return for us. But that does not mean that we can sit idly by as we wait for him. His return should motivate us to devote ourselves to his mission. Matthew 24:14 says,
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Some people claim that Jesus will return sooner if we hurry up and finish the work. But this verse does not express that idea of contingency. Furthermore, down in verse 36, Jesus says that the Father knows the day and hour. He has determined it according to his sovereign plan. Nevertheless, part of his plan is for the church to proclaim the gospel. People need to hear that the king is coming and that he will judge the world. Because he died and rose again, they can have the hope of eternal life through faith in him. Live in anticipation of his return.
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These four components are essential to Jesus’ plan for the church. Belief in the risen Christ is our foundation. Baptism with the Holy Spirit provides the power for spiritual growth and ministry. So, we must focus on global witness as we live with the anticipation of Jesus’ return.
Do you believe in him? If not, I encourage you to start today. You can be forgiven of your sin and can begin to leave that life behind through the work of the Holy Spirit. You can have the hope of living with Jesus in his kingdom forever. Believe that he died for our sins and rose again. If you would like to learn more about some of these ideas, John 14 would be a good chapter to read.
If you are already a believer, do these components of Jesus’ plan for the church shape how you live? Do you need to get back on track? Do you need to focus on growing in one of those areas? I encourage you to apply these ideas to your life. Perhaps the simplest way to do so is to pray and look for an opportunity to be a witness this week. Seek to share your own testimony of the saving power of Christ.
May we faithfully follow Jesus’ plan!
Reflect
How might you need to change your understanding of the church? Have you neglected any of these components?
How are these components shaping your life? What needs to change? What steps could you take to grow?
How might this passage correct misunderstandings that people outside the church have about it?