Luke's major purpose in the book of Acts is to show the victory of Christianity as it expands and breaks to barriers of religion, racial, and national.
Christianity broke through the narrow limitations which men sought
to impose upon it, and emerged in the liberty which Jesus had given it.

In Acts Luke shows that it was the risen Lord Himself who,
through the Holy Spirit, was guiding His followers through painful steps
to the recognition that the kingdom was spiritual and for all mankind.

Luke's aim was to write a history of the formation and early growth
of the church.
It was a special history of the planting and extension of the church throughout the world.
There is one great theme throughout the book, and that is
"the church witnessing for Christ."

Acts shows how the church came into being, and how it gradually developed from a local sect into a universal brotherhood.
In Acts we see how Christianity was emancipated from Judaism
and became a world religion.

Acts is not so much concerned with the development of Christian life
or the application of Christian truth as it is with the preaching
of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This witnessing was to be done by the power of the Holy Spirit.  (Acts 1:8)

In the first verse Luke has referred to his Gospel as written "concerning
all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day
in which he was received up."

And the book of Acts would show what Jesus continued to do.
Luke has shown how the work of God was commenced
and how foundations were laid at certain important centers.
He has described the origins of societies and activities,
and has been passed on to other incidents and scenes.
Acts is a narrative of how the church began its witnessing
to the world for Christ.

The Acts - 1:1-3 -- The Book of Acts speaks with authority and urgency
                                   to the church today.
                                   There never was an age when the church, which Christ purchased
                                   with His precious blood, needed more desperately
                                   to understand and to heed this message as does our age.
The Power Of The Lord - 1:4-5 -- We ought to be knowledgeable about
                                                               the coming again of our Lord,  
                                                               but our major responsibility, as Christians, is to tell                                                                others about the One whose coming we expect.
It Is not Easy To Wait - 1:6-7 -- It is sinful for a Christian to drag his feet
                                                            when God says, " Go!"
                                                            It is also equally sinful for us to rush ahead of God.
                                                            To act prematurely is to invite failure
Ye Shall Be Witnesses - Part 1 - 1:8
                                --. Christians are not to be like salesmen going out to peddle a product.
                                    Nor are we to be recruiters knocking down doors
                                    trying to get people to join a religious club.
Ye Shall Be Witness - Part 2 - 1:8
                                -- Our mission as witnesses hinges on the personal element.
                                   Who and what we are as persons is fundamental.
                                   We must recognize our characteristics that may inhibit our witnessing.
Ye Shall Be Witnesses - Part 3 - Acts 1:8 -
                         -- Since a witness to the grace of God is really a spiritual exercise,
                                    one must recognize the possibility of spiritual hindrances
                                    blocking its fulfillment.
The Ascension - 1:9 -- When we know what His ascension really means,
                                            we will be inspired with new hope and confidence.
                                           Our attention will be focused upon Christ occupying His place
                                           of supreme power.
                                           We will know that He is able to guide, control,
                                           and protect us as we witness of Him.
This Same Jesus - 1:10-11 -- This same Jesus still has the same work to do
                                                          that He started to do that, which He commanded
                                                         His disciples to do that He wants us to do.
                                                         This work is to rescue souls out of sin into salvation
                                                         out of darkness into light.
Jesus Is Coming Again! - 1:10-11 -- -- The promise of His return (verse 11)
                                                 is beyond any words we could ever say to describe
                                                 that great event.
                                                 The angelic visitors are saying that at a point in time
                                                 and place, Jesus will again break from that other world
                                                 into this world of time and history.
The Day Of Pentecost - 2:1 -- The Book Of Acts literally explodes with power.
                                                          Before Jesus ascended, He promised,
                                                         " Ye shall receive power..." (Acts 1:8)
                                                         With every turn of the page in Acts
                                                         there is an explosion of power.
Sight And Sound 2:2-3 -- Now this sudden, violent, heaven-sent noise, as a wind
                                                in the fury of a tempest marked the outpouring
                                                of the Spirit of God.
Preaching Jesus. 2:14-23 -- Every preacher should imitate Peter in these two ways.
                                                      He preached Christ.
                                                      He expounded the Scriptures.
Jesus Is Lord - 2:33-36 -- There is no authority or power that exists that does not take
                                                  its direction and its limitation from Him.
                                                  Jesus Christ is Lord!
Repent - Baptism - Remission - 2:37-38
                                             -- In the moment of true repentance, we are liberated                                                                 from the estrangement and the fear of the past,
                                                                and we are equipped by the Holy Spirit
                                                                to face the battles of the future.
What Are The Signs - 2:41-42 -- If we are to search for signs of the presence
                                                               of the Holy Spirit in a church, then we should look
                                                               at the early church in the aftermath of the greatest
                                                               outpouring of the Holy Spirit ever experienced.

Joy Of Fellowship - 2:42 -- It is important to distinguish the fellowship
                                                    of these Jerusalem Christians from mere cooperation.
                                                    Almost daily, cooperation is eulogized as an ideal
                                                    In truth, cooperation, in itself, is not good, and it is not bad.
                                                    It is neutral.
More Than Money! - 3:1-10 -- It was money for which the man was begging,
                                                          but it was a miracle of healing which he received.
                                                          He was only asking for some money for the day,
                                                          but he received his legs for life.
Arrested - 4:1-4 -- When will the world ever learn that persecutors may imprison
                                   the apostles of truth, but cannot imprison truth.
God Did It - 4:5-12 --"By what power"... could be said of what we do for God.
                                        And we would probably say that it was because we planned
                                        and we programmed and we worked hard.
                                        Or it was because we love so... or our great courage...
                                        our dedication.
                                        It was because we are so well-trained and educated.
Sin Of Living A Lie - 5:1-5 --The devil despises harmony.
                                                      He is the arch- promoter of discord.
                                                      When you discover discord in the church,
                                                      just look around -- the devil is behind it.
"Go...Stand... Speak!" - 5:19-20
           -- But bars and doors and chains cannot shut out those
              whom God would have to enter, and would never shut in those
              God would have escape.
              The hour had come for His intervening hand and all the power of man
              cannot prevent God from His purposes.
Bad Advice! - 5:33-42
        --Gamaliel's principle can't be used to evaluate what's happening now.
             Many things God hates are successful in the world's viewpoint.
             For example, the Sanhedrin was still an active religious force in Israel
             although it was instrumental in Christ's death.
             Today there are tremendously successful movements
              that God has nothing to do with.
 

Sermon Storehouse -- Over 200 sermons from Genesis to Revelation
Special Sermons -- Revival, New Year, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day
More Special Sermons -- July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Funerals, Lord's Supper
Sermon Humor -- Over 200 jokes suitable for the pulpit
Pastor's Pipeline -- Resources for pastors and church leaders
Sermon Illustrations -- Over 200 illustrations that will impact your sermons
Family Sermons -- On family, marriage, parenting, children, and teens