Action points in Acts will guide you as you step out to serve Christ in the same way that believers and churches did in the New Testament era. Read the key action points in the Book of Acts, write the corresponding plans, and then carry them out. If possible, do so in cooperation with your family or with a group of believers.
1.     Prepare to extend God’s Kingdom. Read Acts 1:8, 14.
Pray for the Holy Spirit’s empowering to witness for Jesus where He said:
- Locally (your “Jerusalemâ€),
- Nearby, with people of the same culture (your “Judeaâ€),
- Nearby, with people of similar cultures (your “Samariaâ€),
- Neglected people groups wherever they are (to the “ends of the earthâ€).
Write plans to pray with others for the Holy Spirit’s power to spread the Good News:
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Write plans to help folk tell what Jesus has done for them and to relate the gospel with power:
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2.     Relate the Gospel truths that Jesus said to proclaim. Acts 2:14, 22-24, 32-33.
The main point of the apostles’ witness was Jesus’ resurrection. They did not deal with the atonement from a doctrinal point of view; that came later.
Write plans to help your people relate the Good News to friends:
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3.     Call people to repent, not just “go to church†or make a “decision.†Acts 2:37-41.
Call those who want to follow Christ to repent, and confirm it with baptism.
Write plans to explain the transformed life and confirm repentance by baptism:
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4.     Establish the foundation of obedience for churches and cell groups. Acts 2:38-47.
Make disciples the way Jesus commanded in the Great Commission by teaching them from the beginning to obey all His commands. What things did the first church in Jerusalem do from the beginning, in obedience to Jesus’ foundational commands?
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[Repent, believe, receive the Holy Spirit, baptize. make disciples, have loving fellowship, meet people’s needs, break bread observing the Lord’s Supper, pray, give sacrificially.]
Write plans to disciple believers, teaching them loving obedience to Jesus’ specific commands:
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5.     Give compassionate care to the needy. Acts 3:1-16.
Pray in Jesus’ name for those who need healing.
Write plans for praying for healing and serving those who need help:
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6.     Deal boldly and respectfully with hostile authorities. Acts 4:23-31.
Pray for bold wisdom to deal with the authorities.
Write plans to deal with hostile authorities, if applicable:
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7.     Correct unruly believers with firmness. Acts 5:1-11.
Maintain the purity of the church body by correcting without condemning.
Write plans to correct and restore brothers in Christ who offend:
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8.     Name deacons to serve those in need. Acts 6:1-7.
Conserve the pastoral leaders’ time by naming deacons who are filled with the Holy Spirit, to care for those with material needs.
Write plans to serve the needy:
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9.     Face persecution boldly and avoid opposition when possible. Acts 7:55 ? 8:4.
Pray for the privileged ones who suffer persecution around the world.
- According to Rev. 20:4-6, martyrs who die for Christ are the most privileged among believers.
- Speak boldly to authorities when necessary (compare Acts 21:37 ? 23:11).
Leave people that reject Jesus, and proclaim Him to people that are more receptive.
Write plans to pray for persecuted believers, to stop trying to convert those who keep rejecting Christ, and to face opposition firmly:
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10. Multiply small nuclei of believers to which converts are easily added. Acts 8:4-8, 25.
Multiply churches through those who travel to new areas (compare the example of Aquila and Priscilla: Romans 16:3-5, 1 Corinthians 16:9).
Write plans to form new cells, or help others to form cells where needed:
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11. Spread the gospel within existing social networks and empower local leaders.
Acts 10:2-48.
Work through heads of households or other leaders to spread the gospel and respect both their culture and authority.
Write plans to communicate the Good News through family heads and other leaders:
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12. Form temporary task groups to start new churches in other cultures. Acts 13:1-3.
Send those with missionary gifting.
- These are apostles in the sense that Barnabas, Luke and other ‘sent ones’ were; they normally take the lead in church planting.Â
- Send workers who go afar, in the power of the Holy Spirit, (compare Acts 11:12).
Write plans to help form task groups:
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13. Penetrate both small towns and cities. Acts 13:4-5.
Go where the people are responsive; let the gospel flow from the towns to the cities and from the cities to the towns, either way. Go with the flow. Don’t assume that the Holy Spirit is direct current that flows only one way.
Write plans to help your church or organization reach neglected, receptive people:
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14. Train leaders in new churches. Acts 14:21-23.
Keep visiting or sending others to visit new churches until their new leaders are established.
Write plans to train new leaders on the job:
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15. Deal with crucial issues between churches. Acts 15:22-30.
Have meetings in which elders (leaders) from different churches deliberate, plan and decide issues.Â
- Â Do not treat new churches in pioneer fields as independent; let them go through a period of infancy when they receive help and counsel from other churches.
-  Groups small enough to practice the New Testament “one Another†commands are too small to have a good balance of the spiritual gifts promised in Scripture. For this, they practice interactive ‘body life’ between groups as well as within them.
Write plans for churches to serve each other with their different gift-based ministries:
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16. Mobilize bi-vocational workers. Acts 18:1-3.
Use small business as Aquila and his wife did, or any other vocation that allows you to mix with the common people, to facilitate church planting.Â
Write plans to help workers serve bi-vocationally:
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17. Coach new leaders and workers. Acts 18:24-28.
Coach leaders behind the scenes, as Aquila and Priscilla did for Apollos.
Write plans for coaching workers:
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