God's Story Is Our Story: From Acts to New CreationSample

After his resurrection, Jesus is asked by his disciples whether now was the time that his kingdom was coming in its fullness when all of the nations are united under the reign of Israel's king and all injustice and sin are put away. But, Jesus' answer is that the kingdom's full coming is yet in the future at a time fixed by God. So, what are they to do in the meantime? What are we as the church to do as we wait for his return and the end of the story? Jesus answers those questions by the call to be his witnesses in the world. There are lots of things the church is called to be and to do in the Bible. But, here Jesus emphasizes that the primary task of the church in the time between his ascension into heaven and his return yet in the future is to witness to what he has done.

God's plan is for more and more people to become his followers. Luke emphasizes that the disciples will be Jesus' witnesses in the city of Jerusalem, the surrounding region of Judea, the neighboring region of Samaria, and then to the ends of the world. This provides us an outline of what unfolds in the book of Acts with the disciples starting in Jerusalem and ending in Rome. 

• How much do we see our role in this world as being a witness to what Christ has done?
• How can we help the church continue its mission to make disciples in all nations?
• Who is someone that we can play a part in helping them understand what Jesus has done?