Church Planting in the Book of ActsSample

Acts 1 - Empowered by the Holy Spirit

One of the most intimidating moments recorded in Biblical history occurs in Acts chapter one. Consider what the eleven remaining disciples felt as they watched Jesus ascend into heaven. They had witnessed his life and ministry in an up close and personal way. They watched him die an agonizing death. They lived through the dark days when he lay buried in the tomb. They experienced the astonishing joy of his physical resurrection.

But now, he was gone again!

Standing on the Mount of Olives, staring at each other, I imagine the disciples recounted Jesus’ last words on earth to each other. “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)

Jesus had given the disciples a massive assignment, what we now call the Great Commission, to take the gospel to every person on the planet. Talk about a daunting challenge!

But Jesus’ parting words provided comfort and direction in this single statement.

First, Jesus promised the disciples personal empowerment and partnership through the Holy Spirit. They had come to rely on the physical presence of Jesus over the three years he was with them, but now, the Holy Spirit would be their key relationship.The Holy Spirit would empower them to accomplish this mission.

Second, Jesus gave the disciples a strategic plan. The concentric circles of each physical location Jesus named actually revealed a strategic process with steps for the disciples to follow.

●Step One- Jerusalem: Start with where you live and with who you know.

●Step Two- Judea: Broaden your circle of influence to the regions and relationships just outside what is easy for you.

●Step Three- Samaria: Get uncomfortable by moving past your natural tendencies and social limitations. Samaria required cross-cultural skills, some bridge-building effort, and most of all, some personal preference adjustments.

●Step Four- the ends of the earth: Don’t stop until you have shared Christ with every ethnicity, every nation, every language group, and every human being that Jesus died to save.

It’s important to realize that the Holy Spirit is not just our source of power; He is also our source for strategy. As you start your journey toward the planting of a new church, remember that God is a precision planner! He is ahead of you. He has already started working toward the success of this new endeavor. He is preparing you. He is preparing things for you. It’s critically important now that you lean into his presence and work to develop an active partnership with the all-powerful, incredibly strategic person of the Holy Spirit.