4. Prayer - vs. 42
For what purpose? Seeking wisdom, guidance, encouragement from God. Lifting up needs of members of the groups. Praying for healing – physical, emotional, spiritual. Worship God. Praying for family members/friends/neighbors/enemies. Draw closer to God.
5. Ministering to others/evangelism - vs. 45 - Sharing property and possessions with anyone in need.
a) Who falls under the category of “anyone”? Believer and non-believer
b) For what purpose? Following Christ’s example. He gave up the riches of
heaven in order to meet the needs of humanity – the greatest being salvation.
A fellow believer in need (food, clothing, shelter), the group met the need.
Neighbors who were non-believers in need (food, clothing, shelter), the group
met the need. Neighbor ask why – opportunity to witness
6. Praising God/Worship - vs. 47 a) How do you suppose they praised God?
See Ephesians 5: 19; Colossians 3: 16 - psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, making
melody, singing songs of thankfulness
b) For what purpose? Worship; giving God glory
3. What was the local community’s response to the early believers? Found favor with all people – includes non-believers.
4. What was God’s response to the early Church? - vs. 47 Blessings – added to their number daily new believers.
5. What role did Church play in the lives of early Christians?
Discipleship - nurtured spiritual growth (milk to meat), place of encouragement/support, promoted unity, avenue of service/outreach to church body and local community, and promoted worship.
6. What impact did the early Church have on the Local Community? vs. 45, 47
- Evangelism – meeting needs, offering hope
Acts 2:43 – Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe. Awe – submissive and admiring fear inspired by authority or power. When did they feel sense of awe? What inspired it? Not because of signs and wonders. Those came after awe. Awe resulted from church experience.
Definition of church - An assembly of believers who continually devote themselves to studying the Word, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer, ministry, and praising God. Purposes - Nurture spiritual growth, encouragement, service/outreach to church body and community, and worship.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Study of Acts of the Apostles pt. 2
What is a Church?
I. Introduction
If someone on the street came up to you and asked, “What is a church?” what would you tell them?
II. Origin of Small Group Ministry - Acts 2:42-47
1. The church that was established after Pentecost met where? (Hint: two places) The first Christians gathered at the temple (large group) and in homes (small groups.) They left the temple and gathered in smaller numbers in people’s homes.
2. When the first Christians met together, they continually devoted themselves to doing what? For what purposes?
Continually – on a regular basis; constantly
Devoting – to give attention to; to be faithful; to spend much time together
1. vs. 42 “the apostles’ teaching …”
a) How did that work? Listen to Peter or John teach in the temple about Jesus. Shared the teachings of Jesus (ex. Sermon on the Mount). Use the Old Testament to prove that Jesus was the Promised Messiah. People would gather in their homes to discuss what they heard. Ex. Love your enemy, forgiveness.
For what purpose? To become Christ-like; to have the mind of Christ; to be salt of the earth.
2. Fellowship - vs. 42
a) Define fellowship - Greek koinonia - the close association between persons, emphasizing what is common between them. What was common? Christ. Love, worship, serve, Christ. Their desire to be more like Him.
b) For what purpose? Hebrews 10:24-25 – Someone in group share how God blessed them – gave
encouragement to someone who needed to hear it. Someone had a rough day or week, share with
group, group expressed love/encouragement.
3. Breaking of bread - vs. 42
a) What does this mean? 1. Communion 2. Share a meal together.
b) How did it work? Vs. 46 – from house to house breaking bread; sharing meals together.
c) For what purpose? 1. Remember Christ’s sacrifice 2. Promote fellowship. A time of happiness, joy
Study of Acts of the Apostles pt. 1
Define “act” - anything done, being done, or to be done; deed
The Book of Acts focuses on the deeds/activities of the apostles.
What is an apostle and how is an apostle different from a disciple? A disciple is a student/learner/ pupil. An apostle (Greek word- Apostolos) is a messenger sent to spread a message. In the case of the Book of Acts the message is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Author – Luke, author of Gospel of Luke. He was a Greek which meant he was a Gentile (a non-Jew.) He played an active role in the growth of Christianity. Luke joined Paul on his missionary journeys. In Colossians 4:14, Paul referred to Luke as a physician which meant he was well educated. Luke’s educational background produced a well organized and detailed account of the birth and development of the Church.
When – Written about 70 A.D.
Where – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and eastern Roman Empire.
Purpose – The purpose of the book of Acts was to tell the story of the origins of the Church for future generations to remember and reflect on. Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, wrote in a letter to her friend during the dark days of the American Revolution: "Posterity, who are to reap the blessings, will scarcely be able to conceive the hardships and sufferings of their ancestors." In studying the roles played by the Founding Fathers and Mothers – sacrifices made (family, wealth, life itself) we gain a renewed appreciation/respect for what they did. We also answer the question, what have we, “the posterity,” done with the blessings that came from the hardships and sufferings of our ancestors? Consequently, through the study of history, we also learn about ourselves as Americans – the bad and good. Apply what we just talked about to the book of Acts. In studying the roles played by the Apostles and other individuals in the birth and development of the Church (Within 30 years, Christianity spread from 120 people in Jerusalem to thousands of people in the eastern Roman Empire.) – sacrifices made (family, wealth, life itself) we gain a renewed appreciation/respect for what they did. We also answer the question, what have we, “the posterity,” done with the blessings that came from the hardships and sufferings of our Christian ancestors? Consequently, through the study of history, we also learn about ourselves as Christians – the bad and good.
Outline -
I. Birth of the Church in Jerusalem (Acts 1-8:3)
II. The Church spreads to Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:4-12)
III. The Church spreads to rest of the world – the Journeys of Paul (Acts 13-28)
Key verse: but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Interesting facts – The followers of Jesus in the book of Acts were first referred to not as the Church or Christians but the Way. The term has its origins in John 14:6 - Jesus said … "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” That was message being spread by the first believers.
The Book of Acts focuses on the deeds/activities of the apostles.
What is an apostle and how is an apostle different from a disciple? A disciple is a student/learner/ pupil. An apostle (Greek word- Apostolos) is a messenger sent to spread a message. In the case of the Book of Acts the message is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Author – Luke, author of Gospel of Luke. He was a Greek which meant he was a Gentile (a non-Jew.) He played an active role in the growth of Christianity. Luke joined Paul on his missionary journeys. In Colossians 4:14, Paul referred to Luke as a physician which meant he was well educated. Luke’s educational background produced a well organized and detailed account of the birth and development of the Church.
When – Written about 70 A.D.
Where – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and eastern Roman Empire.
Purpose – The purpose of the book of Acts was to tell the story of the origins of the Church for future generations to remember and reflect on. Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, wrote in a letter to her friend during the dark days of the American Revolution: "Posterity, who are to reap the blessings, will scarcely be able to conceive the hardships and sufferings of their ancestors." In studying the roles played by the Founding Fathers and Mothers – sacrifices made (family, wealth, life itself) we gain a renewed appreciation/respect for what they did. We also answer the question, what have we, “the posterity,” done with the blessings that came from the hardships and sufferings of our ancestors? Consequently, through the study of history, we also learn about ourselves as Americans – the bad and good. Apply what we just talked about to the book of Acts. In studying the roles played by the Apostles and other individuals in the birth and development of the Church (Within 30 years, Christianity spread from 120 people in Jerusalem to thousands of people in the eastern Roman Empire.) – sacrifices made (family, wealth, life itself) we gain a renewed appreciation/respect for what they did. We also answer the question, what have we, “the posterity,” done with the blessings that came from the hardships and sufferings of our Christian ancestors? Consequently, through the study of history, we also learn about ourselves as Christians – the bad and good.
Outline -
I. Birth of the Church in Jerusalem (Acts 1-8:3)
II. The Church spreads to Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:4-12)
III. The Church spreads to rest of the world – the Journeys of Paul (Acts 13-28)
Key verse: but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Interesting facts – The followers of Jesus in the book of Acts were first referred to not as the Church or Christians but the Way. The term has its origins in John 14:6 - Jesus said … "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” That was message being spread by the first believers.
Holy Spirit pt. 6
Acts 2:1-13
15. When did the Holy Spirit arrive? Day of Pentecost. The word Pentecost in Greek means “fiftieth.” It refers to a Jewish spring festival (Feast of Weeks – Deuteronomy 16:9-12) celebrated fifty days after the beginning of the autumn grain harvest. Pentecost was the last day of grain harvest (late May, early June.) On Pentecost, all Jewish males were required to come to the temple in Jerusalem to give a freewill offering “in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you” followed by community celebrations. Pentecost is comparable to our Thanksgiving. Remember, all Jewish males from wherever they called home in the world were requires to attend.
16. How did the Holy Spirit make known His arrival? A) a noise like a violent rushing wind. Remember the Greek word for Spirit? Pneuma – associated with a movement of air like breath or the wind which can be felt but not seen. B) tongues as of fire that separated themselves and rested on the heads of the believers gathered in the upper room. What is the significance of the Holy Spirit appearing as tongues of fire? a) Tongue in the Greek is glossa – 1) a member of the body used for speech; 2) a language or dialect. b) Fire represents cleansing. Burning away of impurities. The hearts of the believers were being refined/purified by fire to be an abode/house for the “Holy” Spirit of God.
17. After they were filled with the Holy Spirit, what did the followers of Jesus begin to do? Speaking other languages.
18. Who were in Jerusalem at the time? Devout Jews from every nation – Jews and Gentiles who converted to Judaism (see verses 9-11) Why were they there? To celebrate Pentecost ( see question 15) What was their reaction to the followers of Jesus speaking in other languages? Most were amazed. Others mocked. Accused the followers of Jesus of being drunk.
19. Who refuted the accusations of the mockers (vs. 14)? Peter. Read Acts 2:14-41 this week. Verses 16-21 – Peter declares that what was happening was a fulfillment of a prophecy made by Joel. Verses 17-36 – Preached the death and resurrection of Jesus. Pointed finger at Jews for putting Jesus to death but also offered them repentance and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Result – In one day, 3000 souls became followers of Jesus.
15. When did the Holy Spirit arrive? Day of Pentecost. The word Pentecost in Greek means “fiftieth.” It refers to a Jewish spring festival (Feast of Weeks – Deuteronomy 16:9-12) celebrated fifty days after the beginning of the autumn grain harvest. Pentecost was the last day of grain harvest (late May, early June.) On Pentecost, all Jewish males were required to come to the temple in Jerusalem to give a freewill offering “in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you” followed by community celebrations. Pentecost is comparable to our Thanksgiving. Remember, all Jewish males from wherever they called home in the world were requires to attend.
16. How did the Holy Spirit make known His arrival? A) a noise like a violent rushing wind. Remember the Greek word for Spirit? Pneuma – associated with a movement of air like breath or the wind which can be felt but not seen. B) tongues as of fire that separated themselves and rested on the heads of the believers gathered in the upper room. What is the significance of the Holy Spirit appearing as tongues of fire? a) Tongue in the Greek is glossa – 1) a member of the body used for speech; 2) a language or dialect. b) Fire represents cleansing. Burning away of impurities. The hearts of the believers were being refined/purified by fire to be an abode/house for the “Holy” Spirit of God.
17. After they were filled with the Holy Spirit, what did the followers of Jesus begin to do? Speaking other languages.
18. Who were in Jerusalem at the time? Devout Jews from every nation – Jews and Gentiles who converted to Judaism (see verses 9-11) Why were they there? To celebrate Pentecost ( see question 15) What was their reaction to the followers of Jesus speaking in other languages? Most were amazed. Others mocked. Accused the followers of Jesus of being drunk.
19. Who refuted the accusations of the mockers (vs. 14)? Peter. Read Acts 2:14-41 this week. Verses 16-21 – Peter declares that what was happening was a fulfillment of a prophecy made by Joel. Verses 17-36 – Preached the death and resurrection of Jesus. Pointed finger at Jews for putting Jesus to death but also offered them repentance and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Result – In one day, 3000 souls became followers of Jesus.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)