Introduction:

Today we come to the end of this part of our journey. Notice, it is not the end of this journey together, just this portion of our journey. Today, we close out our study of the book of Acts with the final chapter, Acts 28.

Our journey remains an intentional one with a destination in mind. That destination is to be able to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called” (Ephesians 4:1).

While we have not yet reached our destination we have completed two important legs of the journey. We studied and hopefully applied to our walk the teachings and examples of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew. Now we are completing the second leg through study and application of the earliest disciples of Christ from the book of Acts.

This journey through Acts has hopefully given us better understanding of just how these early disciples fulfilled the mission given them by Jesus to “be his witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

While we might have a better understanding of just how that happened through this book, the ending is going to be so abrupt that many historians have pondered the possibility of a missing portion to Luke’s inspired writings.

Acts 28:30-31: ³⁰ He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, ³¹ proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

That’s it! No explanation for what happened to Peter, Paul, James, John, the churches Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. That’s it!

How could there be no formal ending to the story?

Never-Ending Story

I believe this is purposeful through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Think about it, the story is without ending. This is a never-ending story.

Just as our journey of understanding how to walk the walk is not ending, but a part of that journey is complete, so it is with the story here at the end of Acts.

Ultimately Paul, Peter, John, Timothy, Titus, Aristarchus, Lydia, all the rest are just a chapter in a much larger story. The story itself was never about them and it’s not about us. All of us are role players in the story that is Jesus Christ.

Think back through all these lessons we have had through the book of Acts. Today is the 28^th lesson, going all the way back to the beginning week of April.

Throughout them all we have seen some patterns set forth by these early disciples. Some important patterns that hold true in the never-ending story.

Patterns of Acts:

1. There is a pattern of blessing for the church that walks in the Spirit of God.
   1. Time and time again, chapter after chapter, we have seen churches built upon love and unity receive God’s blessings.
   2. It should not surprise us then that the same holds true today.
2. There is a pattern of growth for the church that shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
   1. Sure, we see missionary journeys and evangelism through the book of Acts, but the pattern is of churches who support the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
   2. It should not surprise us then that evangelism remains a cornerstone to the growth of the Church.
3. There has been a pattern of pride & tradition leading to sin ruling instead of God in the lives of those who He has chosen.
   1. Many Jews, especially the scribes and Pharisees have be shown to be very religious, even ultra-religious. Yet, their pride & traditions was more important than their willingness to learn, to accept, and to obey.
   2. Should it surprise us that pride & tradition still remain at the top of any list of hinderances to the Christian and the Church.
4. There has been a pattern of belief and unbelief whenever the Gospel is shared.
   1. Not everyone believes but just as important not everyone rejects the message of the Gospel. Even through great trial and tribulation the Church was growing.
   2. Today is no different. We must not let the fear of the possibility of rejection keep us from sharing the Gospel, because there will be those who accept it if we will.

Through all this whether we think back to Peter at Pentecost, Stephen before and as he is being stoned to death, Philip with the Eunuch, or Paul, Barnabas, and the so many others, there has been a distinctive pattern in the how, the when, the whom, and the what of sharing the Gospel through Acts.

That pattern is highlighted here in Acts chapter 28 as Paul is finally in Rome. I can think of no better way to close out this portion of our journey than to learn how to walk the walk of sharing the Gospel from the likes of these great early disciples.

How, When, Whom, and What?

1. How Did They Teach?
   1. Always in Love – Acts 28:17, 19

¹⁷ After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. ¹⁸ When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. ¹⁹ But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. ²⁰ For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.”

1. Always Biblically – Acts 28:23

²³ When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

2. When Did They Teach?
   1. ASAP – Acts 28:17

¹⁷ After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

1. Ongoing – Acts 28:23

²³ When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

1. Constantly – Acts 28:31

3. To Whom Did They Teach?
   1. The Religious – Acts 28:17

¹⁷ After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

1. The Non-Religious – Acts 28:28

²⁸ Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

1. Everyone – because we have no idea who will accept the message because the message is for everyone.

4. What Did They Preach?
   1. The Full Council of God – Acts 28:23, 31

²³ When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

³¹ proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

The patterns are very clear, and they also clearly worked. The Church has grown through these 28 chapters from 120 people in an upper room in Jerusalem to thousands across not only Jerusalem, but also Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Yet, we know from writings that date not long after these things recorded in Acts happened, books like Ephesians, Colossians, the letters of Peter and John, that there were those who abandoned this clear pattern of teaching.

That struggle, that temptation, still exists today. However, if we choose to use it there is a great check & balance within scripture to tell us a part of the body exactly where we stand and how we are doing.

Sure, we could read 100’s of book written by man on building and growing the local church and some of these may have helpful things within them and some may have dangerous things within them.

However, with scripture the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ Himself offers an evaluation on seven different local but prominent New Testament churches. Within those evaluations he is personal in both His commendation and condemnation.

Closing:

To me, before we could ever consider this journey, we have been on this year complete. This journey to learn the proper way to “walk a walk worthy of our calling”, it would be beneficial to us to also evaluate ourselves in a personal and honest fashion.

I shared with you a few weeks ago that this final leg of journey this year will in many ways be the most difficult. I even asked you to prepare by studying these evaluations Jesus offers these seven churches found in Revelation chapters 2 & 3 ahead of time.

It is one thing for us to generically study and contemplate the principles and precepts put forth in scripture. It is quit a different thing to evaluate ourselves against Jesus’s evaluations of these seven churches.

While I commit to you to do my very best to remain aware that we could have visitors with us whether in person or online, I also want to remain just as vigilant in making sure this is truly a personal and honest study for our church.

We will do so with the express intent not to focus on issues or problems. Not to pick and poke at wounds, but instead to inform us of where things are working and where action needs to be taken.

While not every issue of every one of the seven churches will have direct correlation to each of us, as a church, many will have application both good and bad.

Why would we do this? Isn’t it risky in some ways?

While there may be risk to consider, the positives clearly outweigh the negatives. The story at Cumberland is not your story, or my story. It is the story of Christ Jesus and His Body. There are future chapters to be written, and those chapters will be written in large part with whatever building blocks we lay within our chapters.

Prayer / Invitation