Part 04: Witnessing God's Power
Sermon Summary
This testimony Sunday served as a powerful reminder that God is actively moving through His people as witnesses sharing the Gospel in word and deed. Pastor Zach Daniel opened by anchoring the service in Acts 1:8, where Jesus promises that believers will receive power through the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The message emphasized that this calling requires the Holy Spirit's power to live out effectively in our local communities, our nation, and around the world.
God is using ordinary believers empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses wherever they are planted.
These testimonies served three purposes:
to encourage faith
to stir people toward love and good deeds
and ultimately to magnify the Lord Jesus Christ.
Key Scriptures
Acts 1:8 (NIV) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Revelation 12:11 (NIV) "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
Hebrews 10:24 (NIV) "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV) "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."
Matthew 24:14 (NIV) "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
Discussion Questions
Scripture Study & Deeper Understanding
In Acts 1:8, Jesus gives a specific geographic progression for witnessing: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. What does this pattern teach us about how God wants us to approach sharing the gospel, and how might this apply to your personal sphere of influence?
How does the principle from 1 Thessalonians 2:8 about sharing "not only the gospel of God but our lives as well" connect with the testimonies we heard about food distribution, prison ministry, and disaster relief? What does it mean practically to share our lives alongside the gospel?
Encouragement
Which testimony from today most encouraged your faith, and what specifically about God's character or faithfulness did it highlight for you?
The sermon mentioned that believers "overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). How do the stories shared today strengthen your confidence in God's power to work through ordinary people like yourself?
Challenge
Pastor Zach mentioned three goals for the church: 10 new church plants, 100 new long-term missionaries, and 1000 people on short-term mission trips. What aspects of this vision challenge your current thinking about personal involvement in God's mission?
The message emphasized that "sin is the problem and Jesus is the answer" in a world gone astray. How does this simple truth challenge the way you approach conversations with non-believers in your daily life?
Personal Testimony
Can you share about a time when God used you as a witness in your "Jerusalem" (your local community)? What did you learn about God's faithfulness through that experience?
Reflecting on the story of the woman in Colombia who received healing and forgiveness after witnessing her daughter's murder, can you share about a time when God brought healing or restoration to a seemingly impossible situation in your life or someone you know?
Putting it into Practice
After hearing these testimonies, what is one specific way the Holy Spirit is prompting you to be a more intentional witness in your current sphere of influence this week?
The sermon mentioned that unless people's hearts change, they will stay the same. How is God calling you to participate in heart transformation work, whether through local ministries like prison outreach, food distribution, or supporting missions? What practical step could you take this month?