Filled: The Continuation of the Spirit

Sunday, May 25, 2025

 Acts 28:30–31

 Introduction:

 Acts 29 – The Church Continues with You and Me

 The mission of God continues through us. We are Acts 29—the living, breathing continuation of the Spirit-empowered Church.

 Acts Ends, But the Mission Doesn’t

The Book of Acts begins with Jesus ascending into heaven and promising the Holy Spirit to His disciples. He gives them a clear mission: “You will be my witnesses…”

 But the end is unexpected. Paul is under house arrest, preaching without hindrance, and then… nothing. Why? Because Acts isn’t a closed book. Luke, the author of Acts, didn’t write a conclusion because the story isn’t over.

1. What Does It Mean to Be Acts 29?
2. Spirit-Empowered

Acts 1:8 promises the power of the Holy Spirit. The early Church didn’t move forward on personality, strategy, or programs. They moved forward by the power of the Spirit. And so must we.

We are Acts 29 when we:

Depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength. Walk in step with the Spirit daily. Pray with expectation. Refuse to rely on human strength to accomplish spiritual things. We are not meant to simply admire Pentecost—we are meant to live in the reality of Pentecost.

 Gospel-Centered

At every turn, the apostles preached Jesus crucified, risen, and reigning. They weren’t spreading self-help. They weren’t marketing a religion. They were declaring, “Jesus is Lord!”

We are Acts 29 when we:

Preach the same Gospel without compromise. Refuse to water down the truth to fit culture. Lift high the name of Jesus in everything we do. The Gospel is not just the starting line of the Christian life—it’s the whole race. It must be central in our preaching, discipleship, worship, and service.

3. Bold and Faithful

In Acts 4:29, the Church prayed for boldness—not safety. They were beaten, jailed, and even killed, yet they pressed on. Why? Because they knew that the mission mattered more than their comfort.

We are Acts 29 when we:

Speak boldly for Christ even when it’s unpopular. Live faithfully even when it’s hard.

Refuse to be silent in the face of darkness. Acts 29 is not for the faint of heart. It takes Spirit-born boldness to live for Jesus today.

 United and Generous

The early Church shared everything. They were “one in heart and mind” (Acts 4:32). No one claimed their possessions as their own. The world was watching—and they saw something different.

We are Acts 29 when we:

Live in deep community with other believers. Put others’ needs before our own.

Give sacrificially and joyfully. Our unity is a testimony to the world that Jesus is real (John 17:21). Generosity flows from Gospel-transformed hearts.

 Mission-Minded

From Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria to the ends of the earth—the Church was on the move. They didn’t stay comfortable. They sent missionaries. They planted churches. They reached out to the Gentiles, the poor, the broken, and the lost.

We are Acts 29 when we:

Refuse to stay inward-focused. Reach out to our neighbors, cities, and the nations. View every believer as a missionary in their own context. God’s Church is not a fortress to protect, but a force to advance.

 III. Writing Your Part of Acts 29

You are not here by accident. You are part of the continuation of God’s great redemptive plan. So, here’s the question:

If someone wrote your chapter of Acts 29, what would it say?

Would it tell of someone who lived with courage? Someone who opened their home?
Someone who mentored younger believers? Someone who prayed and believed God for more? Or would your page be blank?

 Conclusion: The Church Continues with You and Me!

Let us not be content to study the early Church. Let us be the Church. God is still writing. This is Acts 29—and we are in it.