MIN 171 A Spirit-Empowered Acts 2 Ministry Model
Acts 2 Model:
a blueprint for a healthy church
A Spirit-
Empowered Church
by Alton Garrison
Amazon.com
ThriftBooks.com
ChristianBooks.com
AltonGarrison.com
ISBN: 978-1-68154-001-6
Holy Spirit
fff
Acts 2:4
Jesus kick-
started the
church with His
Holy Spirit
And they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other
tongues as the Spirit
gave them utterance.
Acts 2:14-41
Peter preaches
the message of
the church
37 Now when they heard this
they were cut to the heart, and
said to Peter and the rest of
the apostles, “Brothers, what
shall we do?” 38 And Peter said
to them, “Repent and be
baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins,
and you will receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:42-47
5 functions of
the church
42 And they devoted themselves to the
apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And
awe came upon every soul, and many
wonders and signs were being done through
the apostles. 44 And all who believed were
together and had all things in
common. 45 And they were selling their
possessions and belongings and distributing
the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And
day by day, attending the temple together
and breaking bread in their homes, they
received their food with glad and generous
hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with
all the people. And the Lord added to their
number day by day those who were being
saved.
Acts 2:42-47
functions of the
church
Fellowship (connect)
Discipleship (grow)
Ministry (serve)
Evangelism (go)
Worship
What’s your
mentality of
church?
Unbelievers –have yet to receive
Jesus as their Lord and Savior,
don’t follow the Great Commission
or Great Commandment
Believers –who have received
Jesus as their Lord but have not
yet become learners who obey
God’s Word (behavior) – focus on
Great Commission, but not Great
Commandment
Disciples –people who adhere to
the teachings and practices of
growing in Christ and demonstrate
a lifestyle corresponding to God’s
word, follows both the Great
Commission and Great
Commandment
What are you
in the Kingdom
of God?
What’s your
mentality of
church?
Servant Leaders –people who
have grown in the direction,
ways, and timing of the Lord
and share their knowledge of
Christ with others so they, too,
can learn His direction, ways,
and timing… involved in
different aspects of church life
(bus drivers, altar workers,
greeters, deacons, Sunday
school teachers, etc.)
Reproducers –people who
mentor others through
relationship to the point where
they become servant-leaders
What are you
in Kingdom of
God?
Why do you come
to church?
Place – “that’s my church
because I’ve experienced the
most significant
moments/events there!”
Personality – “that’s my
pastor!”
Programs – “love that kids’
ministry!”
People – “my friends are
there!”
Position – “I’m a leader at the
church!”
Why do you come
to church?
Purpose –a sense of
belonging because the
church has a purpose for
everyone to get involved
and be part of what God
is doing in the
church/community
Royal Priesthood But you are a chosen
race, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, a people for his
own possession, that you
may proclaim the
excellencies of him who
called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9
We all minister
to someone in
our lives
Culture of service
and ownership
Ephesians 4:11-12
And he gave
the apostles, the
prophets,
the evangelists,
the shepherds and
teachers,12 to equip
the saints for the work
of ministry,
for building up the
body of Christ…
Holy Spirit
He’s not spontaneous
He has always had a plan, even
before the foundation of the
world
He’s orderly
He grieves
He wants a relationship with
you
He has the power to transform
you
Jesus gave us two commands
with the help of the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 5:18
And do not get
drunk with wine,
for that
is debauchery,
but be filled with
the Spirit…
Most valuable
commodity of the
church
People
Are people viewed as ASSETS
or OBSTACLES?
We need to invest in
relationships in the church and
outside in order to have any
sense of ownership
Strategic Plan for
BDA
Know our mission
Know our vision
Know our core values
Develop a strategic plan to
reach the vision
Getting to where you are
(your values) to where you
want to go (your vision)
Holy Spirit
fff
A healthy church is
the one that…
Engages and maintains loving
relationships (connect)
Develops and mobilizes the
people (grow)
Acts with clear direction and
outward focus (serve)
Reproduces and multiplies His
mission in other peoples and
places (go)
Pursues and obeys God
passionately (worship)
Without the anointing of the
Holy Spirit, the above 5 are just
programs
This story tells of a woman who saw a
beautiful teacup on a shelf. She admired its
delicate outline, smooth finish, and lovely
design. As she held it, the teacup began to
speak:
“I was not always like this,” said the
teacup.
“There was a time when I was only a lump
of clay —without form, ordinary, and
unimpressive. Then my master took me into
his hands and began pressing, pounding,
and molding me. I cried out, ‘Stop! That
hurts!’ But he only answered, ‘Not yet.’”
Teacup story
“Then he placed me on a wheel and spun
me around and around until I thought I
could bear it no longer. I cried, ‘Please
stop! I am dizzy and weary!’ Again he said,
‘Not yet.’”
“Then he put me into a furnace. The
heat was unbearable. I was certain I would
be destroyed. I cried out, ‘Master, why are
you doing this to me?’ But through the fire,
I heard his voice repeat, ‘Not yet.’”
“At last, he took me out and set me
aside. I thought the suffering was finally
over. Then he started to paint me. The
fumes were strong, and the brushstrokes
felt strange. I did not understand what he
was doing. Still, he said, ‘Not yet.’”
Teacup story
“Then came the second furnace, even
hotter. I was sure I could not survive this
time. But once more, the master knew
exactly what he was doing.”
“When he finally brought me out, he
set me before a mirror. I could hardly
believe what I saw. “I was no longer that
rough, unfinished lump of clay. I had
become something beautiful, useful, and
prepared for his purpose.”
“Then my master said, ‘When I
pressed you, you did not understand.
When I spun you, you did not understand.
When I put you in the fire, you thought I
was destroying you. But I knew what I
was making the entire time.’”
Teacup story
Yet the humility God forms in His suffering
servants will endure forever. The faith He
strengthens in His agonizing saints will not
perish with the pain that produced it. The
holiness He cultivates in every believer’s
fiery trial will become part of the soul’s
everlasting beauty in the land of endless
day. The perseverance He develops in His
children will outlast the afflictions that
required it. And the love He deepens in
those who trust the Savior, even when life
is dark and providence is hard, will rise as
holy praise to the glory of God forever and
ever.
It starts with
humility…
Enabling
Each one of us as a member of
the body of Christ has the
opportunity and means to find
out and get to know people in a
very personal way: their heart,
their goals, their desires, their
talents, their gifts in His
Kingdom. When people can be
their true selves, even if they
may be the worst of sinners,
then they are "activated" to
serve in His Kingdom.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his
workmanship,
created in Christ
Jesus for good works,
which God prepared
beforehand, that we
should walk in them.
Empowering
Each one of us as a member
of the body of Christ has the
opportunity and means to
create and provide
opportunities for people to
play a role in ministry,
showcasing their talents and
gifts that He has given them.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to
make all grace
abound to you, so
that having all
sufficiency in all
things at all times,
you may abound in
every good work.
Exhorting
Each one of us as a member of
the body of Christ has the
opportunity and means to
encourage and help build on
people's roles in ministry
through resources, fellowship,
support (bearing one another's
burdens), and prayer. Much like
God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit
ministering to one another, we
also minister to one another.
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another's
burdens, and so
fulfill the law of
Christ.
One cannot exhort someone
without empowering them.
And one cannot empower
someone without enabling
them. And one cannot enable
someone without introducing
them to Jesus, His Kingdom,
and His Word.
