HOW TO MOVE FORWARD
Acts 29
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Sunday, October 5, 2025
(Acts 1:1-2, 4-5, 8, NLT) “In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. … Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” … But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
1. The most important person in the book of Acts is the Holy Spirit
2. This is the age of the Holy Spirit
a. The Holy Spirit gives us gifts and power to do extraordinary things
b. The Holy Spirit gives birth to a new Spirit filled community, the Church
(Acts 1:14) “They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, …”
(Acts 2:1) “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.”
(Acts 2:44) “All the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.”
(Acts 4:32) “All the believers were united in heart and mind.”
LAP – When God moves the people of God face life together
3. Spirit filled people celebrate God’s love in praise and worship
(Acts 2:46, NLT) “They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while enjoying the good will of all the people.”
(Revelation 7:9-12, NLT) “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
(Philippians 2:10-11, NLT) “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
LAP – Nothing compares with worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ and persuading others to become passionate followers of Christ
4. The Holy Spirit helps us to deal with conflict to build and strengthen the Church rather than destroy it
(Acts 6:1, Message) “During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers…toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against”
a. Prejudice challenges God’s wisdom
b. Prejudice is ignorance
c. Prejudice disobeys the Great Commission
d. Prejudice is sin
(Acts 6:2-4, Message) “…It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we’ll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we’ll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word.”
(Acts 6:5-7, Message) “The congregation thought this was a great idea. …Then they presented them to the apostles. Praying, the apostles laid on hands and commissioned them for their task. The Word of God prospered. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased dramatically. Not least, a great many priests submitted themselves to the faith.”
LAP – Learn to see people as God does.
GROWTHWORK
Ask the Holy Spirit to write Acts 29 in your life.
(1 Corinthians 14:1) “Let love be your highest goal!”
(NASB) “Pursue love…”
(AMP) “Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal]”
(Message) “Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does.”
1. Be passionate about celebrating God’s love.
2. Be passionate about prayer, conversation with God.
3. Be passionate about growing, maturing in Christ.
4. Be passionate about sharing your faith story.
5. Be passionate about loving God with all your being and loving your neighbor as yourself.