Intro to Acts
Hope Chapel, 4-18-10
by Geno Hildebrandt
Notes by Kristy Brown
Lesson: One great purpose in our study of Acts is to shape our faith in the God of creation who has made Himself known to us through His Son, our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Christ.
Text: Acts 1: 1-5
Ice Breakers:
It was three years ago Sunday that Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske were martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ. Sunday was also the day we sent out our most recent team to Turkey. How did you respond to sending our friends to the nation in which our fellow believers were so recently martyred?
Archeologists are excavating a large temple complex on a hill in southeast Turkey called Göbekli Tepe. This temple is believed to be much older than the Great Pyramid in Egypt or the walls of Jericho. In fact, it seems to have been built at a time when most scientists believe humans to have been primitive hunter-gatherers, with little culture and fewer building skills. How does this compare to your understanding of what Genesis teaches us about the origins of man? Which came first: civilization (agriculture, trade and towns) or religion (temples, priests and rituals)?
Find this article at http://www.newsweek.com/id/233844
Young-Earth creation scientists (see icr.org) hypothesize that the massive amounts of water from Noah’s Flood would have ushered in the Ice Age. The Göbekli Tepe site is thought to have been built at the end of the most recent ice age. Hmmm.......
Background:
Luke’s introduction to the first volume of his work on the life and teachings of Jesus (Luke 1: 1-4) tells us he based his work on the writings of others and on reports from eyewitnesses. His purpose was to increase the faith of his reader Theophilus. (Anyone know enough Greek to be able to translate that name?)
We are studying it now to increase our own faith. In the same way, Geno wants our study of Acts to increase our faith today in at least three ways:
- Encouraging our hearts with the testimony of what a ‘small group of rebels’ was able to accomplish in the heart of a hostile empire.
- Stirring our souls with the triumph of God’s unstoppable purposes, and His love for all people.
- Increasing the intellectual content of our understanding of Jesus.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. –Matthew 22:37
Digging Deeper:
Geno wants to cover five themes in the book of Acts, all of which are alluded to in Acts 1: 1-5
- 1. Church Established
Is Hope Chapel a ‘proper’ New Testament church? In what ways should we strive to be more like the church in Acts? In what ways are our current customs superior to those presented in Acts?
- 2. Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Find two references to the Holy Spirit in Luke 1:1-5. Does the Holy Spirit still work in the same ways today?
How has your understanding of the Holy Spirit and how He moves today changed since you were a new believer? Has your understanding and faith in the Spirit matured or atrophied?
- 3. Meaning of the Gospel
Find a brief statement of the Gospel in Luke 1: 1-5.
What are the essentials of the faith? What must you believe to be saved? What are some topics believers could ‘agree to disagree’ on?
- 4. People Matter…to God
The book of Acts is all about people and how God loves them. Take a few minutes to look at all the places God sent Paul (someone is bound to have some maps in the back of their Bible). Does this indicate to you the God cares only for the Jewish people and the land of Israel? See if anyone can remember a story to go along with these towns. The book of Acts is about what God did in the lives of these people, most of them simple, hardworking, ‘unimportant’ folk.
Does God still love people the same way? Is there a story from your own life you could tell about how God loved someone enough to arrange a special set of circumstances just to prove it.
- 5. Empire Invasion
The Christians in Acts had to contend with the often hostile, always indifferent Roman Empire. What areas of ignorance, apathy and hostility do we face today? How have you seen God work to tear down these barriers?
Wrap-Up and Outreach:
Pray together about what ‘missionary journeys’ God might want to send you on. It could be a trip to the other side of the world, across town, or just across the street. Ask God to develop in us an easy willingness to go.
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