by Bob Burridge ©2016, 2026
Lesson #1, “Proclaiming God’s Kingdom” Acts 1:1-5 (ESV)
There are many different ideas about what a church ought to be like. There are different denominations, with different types of worship, church leadership, and ways of salvation. But God gave us clear instructions preserved for us in the inspired books of the Bible.
The Acts of the Apostles clearly spells out how God wants us to be as his church.
The book of Acts was written by Luke as a sequel to his Gospel. Luke’s Gospel was about the ministry of Jesus while he lived here on earth. We could call it Volume I, of “The Founding of the Messianic Kingdom”. As Messiah, Jesus announced that God’s kingdom was about to take on a new form. He came to rule on the throne of David, and correct misunderstandings about God’s Kingdom laws. By grace, in his life and death, Jesus accomplished what was needed to transform the weak and wicked – into kingdom citizens.
In Volume II, the Book of Acts tells about the continuing growth of that kingdom after Jesus’ death.
Acts 1:1-2 “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.”
Luke was a Gentile. He was not an Apostle. He was a physician. He sometimes uses special medical terms, and shows his good education. He didn’t travel with Jesus during his earthly ministry, and may never have met him personally. But as a scholar he gathered direct reports from those who saw Jesus. He studied the available documents, and as he wrote he was kept accurate by the Holy Spirit’s oversight.
He traveled with Paul on his European missionary trips. He was with him during both his first and second times in prison. He was well acquainted with the news of the day, local customs, and the complex regional political structures. And Luke shows a very highly educated knowledge of the Greek language.
Luke begins by addressing a man named Theophilus. “Theophilus” was a common Greek name then. It means, “God’s friend”. Luke also wrote his Gospel to him to set in order the things he’d already heard about Jesus.
As Head of the Kingdom, Jesus gave orders to his Apostles.
The church was not going to be run by rules made up by people, or made to fit the politics and culture of the day. It’s standard would be the teachings of God’s word as clarified and expanded upon by Jesus. In the first verse of Luke’s Gospel he wrote, “… all that Jesus began to do and teach.” After his death, Jesus spoke to chosen men through the Holy Spirit. The church is to follow the teachings of Jesus and his example, instead of the theories and rules of men.
It’s to be run by God-Chose Leaders who submit to God’s word. The leaders must be called by, led by, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Luke 24:49 Jesus instructed his chosen leaders what to do in the days ahead, “I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
To further assure the Church, Jesus showed himself alive 40 days.
Acts 1:3. “He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”
After his crucifixion, Jesus was resurrected, and appeared alive for 40 days. Paul gives a partial list of his appearances in 1 Corinthians 15:5-8; “… he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. ”
His appearances proved more than his victory over sin and death. The church would never be without him. Even though he was crucified, Jesus continues to be the head of his church. He works by his word, through those appointed by him, and by the power of the Holy Spirit he was about to send.
But the heart of his teachings was the Kingdom of God.
During those 40 days, Jesus was “… speaking about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3)
God’s Kingdom was central to the message of Jesus during his earthly ministry. It was “good news”, the “gospel”. God’s in control. By grace he brings us into that Kingdom through the work of our Savior.
Matthew 9:35 summarized Jesus’s ministry, “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.”
Luke 8:1 says, “Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him,”
Mark 1:14-15 says that after John the baptist was arrested, “Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’ ”
The Gospel of the Kingdom continued to be Jesus’ message after his death. That’s what Jesus taught about during these 40 days. This extremely important idea dominated his teachings. In the New Testament there are about 129 references to this Kingdom. 107 of them are in the Gospels and Acts.
Many churches today have abandoned that “Kingdom Focus” of the gospel. It’s no wonder many of them are struggling, or compromising with the world. When the Kingdom focus is missing, people look for another foundation.
Kingdom thinking is the key Jesus gave us. Unless the Kingdom of God is central to our gospel, the key to understanding the Bible is missing.
The promise of the Kingdom of God, the rule of the King of all kings, links all the stages of biblical history. Before Moses God’s Kingship was represented by the heads of families and extended families. After the Exodus God’s Kingship was further represented by Israel’s Elders, Judges, and later the Kings. They were earthly symbols of God’s kingship over all things.
Jesus himself revealed himself as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He was born into the kingly family of David at Bethlehem. He commanded demons, the forces of nature, even showed power over death itself. He rode into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey as the prophet said. He said about 5 times, “the kingdom is at hand.”
The Book of Acts begins at the climax of those promises. Jesus had just satisfied God’s justice on the cross. Here on earth, he set up his Church. There were no more temple rituals and sacrifices. He ascended back into glory to sit at the right hand of the Father to rule forever. God’s kingship became more clearly and directly revealed than in any other era.
If God isn’t seen as Sovereign Lord, King and ruler of all that is, then there is no confident hope. Our salvation would depend on our own decisions and faithfulness, or upon circumstances.
When God isn’t recognized as the ultimate King, society itself deteriorates. Humanistic Liberalism, situation ethics, and lust driven perversions become the moral standards. Personal achievement, military power, and financial wealth become the hope of a society where God isn’t King. We see violence, political power, and attacking others as how we advance self-serving goals. Liberal social policies, or advances in medical science become the religion of society. Confusion, fear, depression, and uncertainty devour the soul when God isn’t recognized as King.
At its root, God’s Kingdom declares that the Creator is Sovereign over all his creation. This is taught so clearly in the Bible it cannot be denied: The Lord God is always king, whether we humans recognize it or not.
Exodus 15:18, “The LORD will reign forever and ever.”
Psalm 115:3 “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”
Psalm 135:6, “Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.”
Psalm 103:19, “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”
The daily news shows us our sin sick world. Abortions show a low respect for human life. Immorality is accepted and protected. Criminals are set free to commit more crimes.whil law enforcement officers are attacked. Children are not cared for and often mistreated and abused. Wars erupt between nations. In frustration many turn to drugs, violence, immorality, suicide, and distrust of proper authority. That’s what happens when society ignores or rejects the kingship of the King of kings.
Even many churches deny God’s Sovereign Kinship. They teach that God has to wait for fallen sinners to permit Him to make them His children. They neglect that it’s God’s redeeming grace that moves them to receive Jesus as their Savior. They look to church councils to define our forms or worship instead of following the forms given in God’s word.
When the Kingdom isn’t seen in God’s people, the King disappears from sight. That’s our modern tragedy! The church was called to make God’s kingship visible. It’s not able to create its own version of the Kingdom.
Jesus commanded his followers to wait for the Spirit’s enablement.
Acts 1:4-5. ” And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Waiting is hard for us fallen creatures. Jesus never expected His church to become a kingdom on its own power, or by it’s own definition. John poured water on those who came repenting. It illustrated the pouring out of the Holy Spirit that was to come. John the baptist said in Mark 1:8, “I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Book of Acts shows us that the Holy Spirit is our power too. He’s present today, not only in church worship on Sunday, but every day all through the week! He moves us to worship and to live daily as God instructs us,
After Jesus instructed them he was taken up away from them.
His earthly ministry was over, and he ascended back into glory. He had prepared a church ready to show God’s kingship to the world.
The study of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles helps us: – to understand what it means to be citizens of the Kingdom of God. – to evangelize biblically as we learn how to tell others about Christ’s promises.
– to support one another as a spiritual family. – and to personally learn to live victoriously in a hostile world, and to appreciate the power and peace God’s promised. In Acts there are living examples of real people being led to Christ.
At the root of what we are told to do and to be, we need to trust in God’s sovereign kingship over his spiritual kingdom. We need to tell others about the hope we have in the risen Christ.
Jesus is King of all kings, the Lord of all lords. He’s sovereign over all human leadiers. Recognizing and honoring the true King is the only hope we can confidently offer to our children, spouses, neighbors, and communities. We need to learn to live confidently as children of the King.
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