The Book Of Acts - Free sermon outlines and Bible studies!

[Pages:203]The Book Of Acts

Sermon Outlines

This material is from , a web site containing sermon outlines and Bible studies by Mark A. Copeland. Visit the web site to browse or download additional material for church or personal use. The outlines were developed in the course of my ministry as a preacher of the gospel. Feel free to use them as they are, or adapt them to suit your own personal style.

To God Be The Glory! Executable Outlines, Copyright ? Mark A. Copeland, 2014

The Book Of Acts

Table Of Contents

Letters To Theophilus (1:1) Many Infallible Proofs (1:3) The Promise Of The Father (1:4-5) The Restored Kingdom (1:6-7) Witnesses For Christ (1:8) The Ascension Of Christ (1:9) The Return Of Christ (1:10-11) Waiting For The Promise (1:12-26) The Outpouring Of The Spirit (2:1-21) The First Gospel Sermon (2:22-41) Baptism For The Remission Of Sins (2:38) The Gift Of The Holy Spirit (2:38) The First Church Of Christ (2:42-47) The Second Gospel Sermon (3:1-26) The Times Of Refreshing (3:19) The Times Of Restoration (3:21) The Persecution Begins (4:1-31) Communal Christianity (4:32-37) Ananias And Sapphira (5:1-11) The Miracles Of The Apostles (5:12-16) The Persecution Intensifies (5:17-42) The Selection Of The Seven (6:1-7) The First Martyr (6:8-7:60) Saul The Persecutor (8:1-3) The Conversion Of The Samaritans (8:4-13) The Follow-Up Of The Samaritans (8:14-25) The Conversion Of The Ethiopian (8:26-40) "What Hinders Me From Being Baptized?" (8:36) The Conversion Of Saul (9:1-19) The Way (9:2) Paul's Early Years As A Christian (9:19-30) Walking In The Fear Of The Lord (9:31) Walking In The Comfort Of The Spirit (9:31) Peter's Ministry In Western Judea (9:32-43) The Conversion Of Cornelius (10:1-48) Peter's Defense Of His Actions (11:1-18) The Church In Antioch Of Syria (11:19-30) Examples From Antioch (11:19-30) Herod's Harassment Of The Church (12:1-25) The Call Of Barnabas And Saul (13:1-3) Barnabas And Saul On Cyprus (13:4-12) Paul And Barnabas At Antioch Of Pisidia (13:14-52) Tribulations For The Kingdom Of God (14:1-22)

Sermons From The Books Of Acts

Mark A. Copeland

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Paul's Missionary Policies (14:21-28) Conflict Over Circumcision (15:1-35) Controversy Over John Mark (15:36-41) A True Son In The Faith (16:1-5) The Macedonian Call (16:6-10) The Conversion Of Lydia (16:11-15) Persecuted For Righteousness' Sake (16:16-25) The Conversion Of The Jailer (16:25-40) Tumult In Thessalonica (17:1-10) Two Mindsets In Berea (17:10-15) Paul's Sermon In Athens (17:16-34) Paul's Ministry At Corinth (18:1-18) Paul Returns To Antioch (18:18-23) The Conversion Of Apollos (18:24-28) The Twelve Disciples Of John (19:1-7) Paul's Ministry At Ephesus (19:1-41) Journeys In Macedonia And Greece (20:1-6) The First Day Of The Week (20:7) An Eventful Sunday At Troas (20:7-12) Paul's Discourse To The Ephesian Elders (20:13-38) The End Of Paul's Third Journey (21:1-17) Paul's Perplexing Purification (21:17-26) Paul's Arrest In Jerusalem (21:27-40) Paul's Defense Before The Mob (22:1-21) Paul's Roman Citizenship (22:22-30) Paul's Defense Before The Council (23:1-10) Paul's Transfer To Caesarea (23:11-35) Paul's Defense Before Felix (Ac 24:1-27) The Way Which They Call A Sect (Ac 24:14) Righteousness, Self-Control, And The Judgment (Ac 24:25) Paul Before Festus And Agrippa (25:1-27) Paul's Defense Before Agrippa (26:1-32) To See And Be Free! (Ac 26:18) A Tempestuous Voyage (Ac 27:1-44) From Malta To Rome (28:1-16) Paul In Rome (28:17-31)

Mark A. Copeland

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Note: For more sermon outlines based on Acts, check out these sermon collections:

? Conversions In The Book Of Acts

? Gospel Preaching In The First Century

? A Harmony Of The Life Of Paul

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Letters To Theophilus

Acts 1:1

Mark A. Copeland

INTRODUCTION

1. The New Testament is a collection of 27 books... a. Containing gospels, history, epistles, and prophecy b. Some written to people at large, others to individual Christians and churches

2. It may surprise some that over one fourth of the NT was written to one individual... a. Luke and Acts contains more than 27% of the total words in the NT b. Both were addressed to a man named Theophilus - Lk 1:1-4; Ac 1:1-3

[With much of the New Testament written to just one man, it may be of interest to further examine the relationship between the author and his recipient, and the two letters between them...]

I. THE AUTHOR OF THE LETTERS

A. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE... 1. Though unnamed, church tradition supporting Luke as the author is both early and unanimous - ESV Study Bible 2. Luke was a physician, thought to have been a Gentile, possibly from Antioch - Co 4:14; cf. Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, 3.4.7

B. THE BOOK OF ACTS... 1. Also unnamed, but obviously the same author as Luke's gospel - cf. Ac 1:1 with Lk 2:1-4 2. The "we" sections require a companion of Paul, and Luke is mentioned in Paul's epistles - Col 4:14; 2Ti 4:11; Phm 24

[The "beloved physician" who often accompanied Paul in his travels had ample opportunity to collect the information shared in the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. As for...]

II. THE RECIPIENT OF THE LETTERS

A. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE... 1. Was written to "most excellent Theophilus" - Lk 1:3 2. Theophilus means "loved of God" 3. The appellation "most excellent" suggests a government official - cf. Ac 23:26; 24:3; 26:25

B. THE BOOK OF ACTS... 1. Was written to "O Theophilus" - Ac 1:1 2. Note that the honorific title "most excellent" was dropped, about which we will comment later

[Not much more is known about the identity of Theophilus, but what is said about him has led to some interesting possibilities about...]

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III. THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTERS

Mark A. Copeland

A. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE... 1. "that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed" - Lk 1:4 2. Theophilus had undoubted heard many things about Jesus and his followers - Lk 1:1; cf. Ac 17:6-7; 28:22 3. There is evidence that Luke composed his work partially to prove that neither Jesus nor his followers were politically dangerous to the Roman government - ISBE, "Theophilus"

B. THE BOOK OF ACTS... 1. To continue the story begun in the gospel of Luke - Ac 1:4 2. Some have concluded that Theophilus was the magistrate who heard Paul's case in Rome and that Acts (and Luke) was a legal brief in Paul's defense - ISBE, "Theophilus" 3. The abrupt ending of Acts prior to Paul's trial before Caesar lends support to the idea that it may have initially served as a "legal brief" in Paul's behalf - cf. Ac 28:30-31

[Luke's purpose in writing these two letters to Theophilus was to inform him about the life of Christ and the growth of the early church. How were these letters received by Theophilus...?]

IV. THE EFFECT OF THE LETTERS

A. THEOPHILUS' CONVERSION... 1. We noted that Luke dropped the honorific title "most excellent" in his second letter - Ac 1:1 2. This has led many to conclude that Luke's relation to Theophilus had changed, that receiving Luke's gospel resulted in Theophilus' conversion 3. For Christians did not use honorific titles to address one another - cf. Mt 23:8-12

B. PAUL'S RELEASE... 1. There is evidence that Paul's first appearance before Caesar led to his release 2. After which he had time to travel, according to his plans written in his prison epistles - Php 2:24; Phm 22 3. During which he wrote his first epistle to Timothy, and the one to Titus

[Even if the letters were originally intended for Theophilus, may have even served as a "legal brief", their inspiration by the Spirit of God has long been acknowledged. Leading one to inquire about...]

V. THE VALUE OF THE LETTERS

A. FOR CREATING FAITH IN CHRIST... 1. Many have used Luke's gospel to introduce people to Jesus Christ 2. It is the most extensive of the four gospels, written in chronological order - Lk 1:3 3. Penned by a professional man (physician), with a view toward historical accuracy - Lk 1:4; 2:1-2; 3:1-2

B. FOR OBEYING THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST... 1. Luke records many examples of conversion in the book of Acts - e.g., Ac 2:36-41; 8:30-38 2. We read of the evangelistic methods and message of the early apostles and preachers 3. For assurance of our own salvation, we can compare our own conversion experience with those in Acts; were we told the same gospel, did we respond in the same way?

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Mark A. Copeland

C. FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST... 1. Acts contains the only record of the first thirty years of the early church 2. It describes establishment, growth, organization, and worship of the church - e.g., Ac 2:42; 14:23 3. Comparing Luke's record in Acts with the religious world today, we can see how far people have drifted from following Jesus as the Way

CONCLUSION

1. Two letters, written to one man, sometime in the early 60s A.D.... a. Who would have thought a simple correspondence would have the impact it did b. Of course it is due to their inspiration and preservation by the Spirit of God!

2. Have you given yourself the opportunity to read these two letters? Do so, and you... a. Already have read one fourth of the New Testament! b. Will have the opportunity to learn much about Jesus, His salvation, and His church!

Along with the rest of the New Testament, you can "know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed"...

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Many Infallible Proofs

Acts 1:3

Mark A. Copeland

INTRODUCTION

1. Luke begins the sequel to his gospel with a reminder... a. That his gospel described things Jesus both did and taught - Ac 1:1 b. That it covered events leading up to His ascension - Ac 1:2 c. That Jesus presented "many infallible proofs" of His resurrection - Ac 1:3

2. The importance the resurrection of Christ cannot be overemphasized... a. It was the keystone of apostolic preaching - 1Co 15:14 b. It is the foundation of our faith - ibid. c. If it did not occur, our faith is empty!

[We can be thankful that our faith in the resurrection of Christ is not "empty". It is based upon "many infallible proofs"! What were these infallible proofs? They involved...]

I. THE APPEARANCES OF CHRIST

A. TO MARY MAGDALENE... 1. Described in Mark's gospel - Mk 16:9-11 2. Expanded upon by John in his gospel - Jn 20:11-18 -- She saw Jesus and talked with Him

B. TO THE OTHER WOMEN... 1. As revealed in Matthew's gospel - Mt 28:9-10 2. Where Jesus reiterated what the angel had said - ibid. -- They touched Jesus and worshiped Him

C. TO TWO DISCIPLES WALKING IN THE COUNTRY... 1. Described in Mark's gospel - Mk 16:12-13 2. Elaborated by Luke in his gospel - Lk 24:13-32 -- They walked with Him, talked with Him, and ate with Him

D. TO PETER ALONE... 1. Reported after the testimony of the two disciples - Lk 24:33-35 2. Mentioned by Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians - 1Co 15:5 -- He saw Jesus

E. TO THE APOSTLES WITH THOMAS ABSENT... 1. Described in detail by Luke - Lk 24:36-43 2. Also by John - Jn 20:19-25 -- They saw Jesus, He ate food in their presence

F. TO THE APOSTLES WITH THOMAS PRESENT... 1. A week later, as described by John - Jn 20:26-31

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Mark A. Copeland

2. Mentioned by Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians - 1Co 15:5 -- Convincing Thomas, who would not believe unless he could see and touch Jesus

G. TO SEVEN DISCIPLES BY THE SEA OF GALILEE... 1. Including Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John - Jn 21:1-2 2. While they were fishing, and then eating together - Jn 21:3-25 -- They saw Him, ate breakfast with Him, talked with Him

H. TO FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN AT ONCE... 1. Recorded by Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians - 1Co 15:6 2. Possibly in Galilee as directed by the angel and Jesus - Mk 16:7; Mt 28:10,16-17 3. Possibly when the Great Commission was first given - Mt 28:18-20 -- A large number, ruling out any vision or hallucination

I. TO JAMES THE LORD'S BROTHER... 1. Recorded by Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians - 1Co 15:7 2. Who previously did not believe, but then became a disciple - Jn 7:5; Ac 1:14 -- Convincing a brother in the flesh who had his doubts

J. TO THE DISCIPLES WITH ANOTHER COMMISSION... 1. Recorded by Luke in his gospel - Lk 24:44-49 2. This time in Jerusalem, shortly before His ascension - Ac 1:3-8 -- They studied with Him for days, as He taught them from the Scriptures

K. TO THOSE PRESENT AT HIS ASCENSION... 1. Recorded in Mark's gospel - Mk 16:19-20 2. Also by Luke in both of his books - Lk 24:50-53; Ac 1:9-12 -- They looked steadfastly as they saw Him ascend

[The number of appearances certainly qualifies as "many". But in what way can we say these appearances qualify as "infallible proofs"? Consider the strength of...]

II. THE DISCIPLES' TESTIMONY

A. THE NATURE OF THEIR TESTIMONY... 1. Their testimony appealed to empirical evidence a. I.e., evidence derived from experiment and observation rather than theory b. They refused to accept second hand evidence - Mk 16:11,13; Jn 20:25 c. They saw, heard, and touched Him - 1Jn 1:1-2 d. They ate and drank with Him - Ac 10:40-41 2. There is no way they could have been deceived or deluded a. If all they had were individual dreams, visions, or hallucinations...perhaps b. But they testified that Jesus appeared to them in groups as well as to individuals -- Such eyewitness testimony is the same sort of proof used in court today

B. THEIR TRANSFORMED LIVES... 1. Prior to the resurrection, Jesus' disciples were afraid and without hope a. They fled at his arrest - Mk 14:50 b. Peter cowardly denied Him three times - Mk 14:66-72

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