The Journey Continues

My family had such a great experience journeying through the gospels (click here) that we have decided to continue our journey through the rest of the New Testament.  We are going to read one chapter each weekday.  The reading plan we will use puts the New Testament in chronological order. 

As before, I'll post some questions for you to consider about each day's readings.  Use the search box on the right to find the chapter you are currently reading.

Acts Chapter 1

1) How do you know that Jesus really rose from the dead?  What evidence is there?

2) What is so special about the Holy Spirit?  Why did Jesus insist His followers stay put until the Holy Spirit arrived (1:4, 8)?

3) Jesus is coming back (1:11)!  How does that impact the way you live day-to-day?

The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is the cornerstone of our faith.  Without the resurrection, we are a sorry group of people with a faith that is useless (see Acts 15:12-19).  But Jesus did indeed rise from the dead, and we can prove it (1:3)!  For further evidence see Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20-21.

Jesus told His followers about the Holy Spirit before He died (John 14:15-16; 14:26; 16:7).  Now He reminded them to wait until the Spirit arrived to begin the work they had been commissioned to do.  If we are in Christ, we have already received the Holy Spirit.  We are now able to go in His power and with His presence.

From the day Jesus went back to heaven, His followers anticipated His return.  They knew the promise (1:11) and lived with a real sense of expectation.  We would live differently day-to-day if we really believed that Jesus could return today.

Acts Chapter 2

1) What do you do when you are waiting for God?  How do you know when God shows up?  How do you keep going during the delay?

2) What are some ways people respond to the evidence of God around them?  Consider the contrasts seen in 2:13 and 2:37.

3) Could Jesus’ death be viewed as a defeat?  Could the resurrection be seen as God’s attempt to straighten things out?

This is it!  After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the most significant event of biblical history is the coming of the Holy Spirit.  The believers had waited for ten days, and then God showed up.  Through Abraham, God was for us.  Through Jesus, God was with us.  Now, through the Holy Spirit, God is in us.  The Spirit is our Guide, our Teacher, our Partner and our Comforter.  Don’t miss out on the source of power available to us as follower of Christ.

Responding to God is a spiritual activity.  The Bible speaks of people being drawn by the Father (John 6:44) and our ability to have faith as coming from God (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Since we do not know where God is at in the process of a person coming to trust Him, we must be faithful to share the truth.  Some will respond; others will not.

God is sovereign!  This is a fancy word meaning He is totally, completely, and absolutely in control of everything.  There is no one He answers to.  He is in charge!  2:22-24 makes this clear: God established Jesus through miracles, signs and wonders; God gave Jesus over to evil men to be killed; and God raised Him from the dead.  God never had to turn to Plan B.  He never had to think about His response to Jesus’ death.  God is totally, completely, and absolutely in control!  God is sovereign!

Acts Chapter 3

1) What does God expect you to give when serving others?  What do you have available?

2) When people look at you, who do they see?  Is God’s place in your life apparent to those around you?

3) Why didn’t the people understand that Jesus was the Promised Messiah?  How might you miss God’s plan as we look to the future?  How can you be more aware of what He is doing around you?

Peter and John didn’t pass by the beggar because they didn’t have any money.  Instead, they gave him what they had (3:6).  And in fact, this is what he really needed.  What we have to offer is even greater than what people are asking for.  We have the opportunity to extend them the invitation to meet Jesus.

The people were amazed at the miracle that Peter and John performed.  But Peter and John were quick to point out that they had not done anything (3:12).  Instead, they pointed the people to Jesus.  As we serve among the people, make sure your life is pointing people to Jesus.

While we have the distinct privilege and advantage of looking back on Jesus’ coming into the world, we might miss what He is doing today.  It seems like the people of His day should have recognized Jesus as the Promised One.  God’s messengers through the ages spoke of the coming Messiah (3:24), but the people didn’t understand all God was doing.  Perhaps the lesson for us is to be aware of what God will be doing in the future so we don’t miss it.

Acts Chapter 4

1) Peter and John had just been involved in healing a man (3:1-10) and now Peter has boldly proclaimed the truth to the religious leaders (4:8-12).  How did these very ordinary men do these very extraordinary things? 

2) In Acts 2 we read the account of the Holy Spirit filling the waiting believers (Acts 2:1-4).  So what is happening in 4:31?

3) What should real community look like among those following Jesus?  What did the early church experience (see 4:32-36)?  How does this compare to our experiences today?

Peter and John were ordinary men, but they had been with Jesus (4:13).  They heard what Jesus said and saw what Jesus did.  Now that they had been filled with the Holy Spirit, God was able to do extraordinary things through them.  This could be you and me today!

Filled and filled again.  That’s the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives.  The disciples experienced this (2:4, 4:8, 4:31) and Paul commanded it (see Ephesians 5:18).  There is a real sense that we need to come back to God over and over again to be filled with His Spirit.

In this passage we read about the community experienced by the early church.  We often consider the incredible way they freely gave to one another (4:34-35).  But don’t miss the other aspects of their community.  They were one in heart and mind (4:32), they testified with great power (4:33), and they experienced much grace (4:33).

Acts Chapter 5

1) How important is telling the truth?  Even if you fool men, can you fool God?  How did lying work out for Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11)?

2) How well do you obey those in authority over you?  Do you do what you are told?  What if what you are told to do is challenging?

3) How are Theudas, Judas and Jesus alike (5:35-37)?  How are they different?

We ended Acts 4 with a glimpse into the selfless nature of the early church.  People willingly sold what they have and gave to those in need.  Ananias and Sapphira joined in on being generous, but did so in a deceptive manner.  God’s swift judgment indicates the need for honesty and integrity among His people.

Arrested, then freed, then arrested again.  The apostles found themselves in a variety of situations, but their bottom line was this: they would do what they were told.  They had just been freed from jail (5:17-21).  Why be put at risk again?  For the apostles it was simple: they were committed to following God no matter what.  Simple, but not easy.

While there have been many religious leaders throughout history, no one has had the impact or staying power of Jesus.  Our lives today reflect over 2,000 years of faith that can not be stopped (5:39).

Acts Chapter 6

1) What is more important – meeting needs or spreading the Word of God?  Which do you focus on more?

2) We get great insight into Stephen from Acts 6.  How is his life further evidence of God dwelling in the lives of His followers through the Holy Spirit?

3) What did the opposition see when they looked at Stephen (6:15)?  What did this mean?

The challenges of ministry threatened the fundamental work of the church: spreading the Word of God.  However, the needs of the people could not just be ignored.  It was a both/and situation.  And when both were happening, the number of disciples increased rapidly (6:7).

We read that Stephen was full of faith; full of God’s grace and power; and full of wisdom (see 6:5, 8, 10).  He is further described of being full of the Holy Spirit.  Once again, we see that God was changing the hearts of His people through living in and through them.  He wants to do the same today.

When the opposition looked at Stephen they saw the face of an angel.  Was there a halo over his head?  Did he appear brightly as the angels did after the resurrection?  While we are not sure, we know they saw Stephen as one who was a messenger from God.

Acts Chapter 7

1) What is the point of history?  How can knowing the past be helpful to us in the future?

2) How do you respond to the truth?  What is your reaction when the truth reveals a shortcoming in your life?

3) What does it mean to be a Christ-follower?  What would this look like in your life?

Acts 7 is mainly Stephen’s recounting the history of the Nation of Israel.  In doing so, he shows how God’s chosen people have consistently rejected Him (7:51).  Knowing history gives us the opportunity to learn from others; both their successes and their failures.

Upon hearing Stephen’s charges against them (7:51-53), the religious leaders respond with great anger (7:57-58).  Our defensiveness to the truth will keep us from growing and learning.  We must be able to openly hear from God and allow Him to bring about the changes He desires in our lives.

Stephen lived like Jesus and died like Jesus.  He truly was a Christ-follower.  It should be the goal of our lives to be just like Jesus; this is God’s goal for us (see Romans 8:29).  And this is not His goal only for our forever; it’s for today, as well.

Acts Chapter 8

1) “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”  How does this saying apply to the early church in 8:1-4?  In this case, was “going” a defeat or a victory initially?  How did things turn out?  How do you respond to tough situations?

2) As a result of the persecution, the gospel message went to Samaria (8-14).  Why is this something to take notice of?  What are the implications for us?

3) How closely do you listen to God?  How clearly does He speak to you?  How ready are you to respond?

Difficulty.  Trials.  Persecution.  We don’t wish for these, but God seems to always use them in incredible ways.  For the early church, the persecution of chapter 8 leads strongly to the advancement of the gospel message.  Rather than the comfort of Jerusalem, Christ-followers are forced to take their lives and their message elsewhere.

The good news of Jesus traveled to Samaria of all places.  This would have seemed unlikely because the Samaritans were seen as second-rate people of faith.  That God included them is a clear sign that He desires all to know the truth.

In a scene that sounds too scripted, Philip is given a very specific task from an angel.  He obeys and finds a man totally searching to understand God.  In what is a totally God-arranged setting, Philip shares the truth of Jesus, the man believes and is baptized.  God is working out the details of His story one life at a time.  The amazing thing is that if we pay attention, we can be part of it.

Acts Chapter 9

1) What words would you use to describe Saul’s conversion (9:3-6)?  How does this compare to your experience?

2) “We don’t have to understand all God does to obey what He says.”  What do you think about that statement?  What are some things that challenge you in this regard?

3) What does it mean to be an encourager?  Is there someone that encourages you?  Is there someone that you encourage?

“Radical” is an understatement when it comes to the nature of Saul’s conversion.  The way he experienced Jesus and the result of this encounter show the significance of the event.  Most of us don’t have a story quite as extreme.  However, the significance of what God did is no less radical.

Ananias had a good point; Saul was a bad guy (9:13-14).  But God had a purpose for Saul.  In fact, God had chosen Saul for an incredible purpose.  Once again we realize that God’s ways are not our ways.  In the end, Ananias had to choose to defer to God and follow His command.  We don’t have to understand it all; we just have to obey.

We briefly met Barnabas in 4:36 where we saw his generosity in selling land and giving to those in need.  In that passage, we saw that Barnabas was the name given to him by the apostles; a name that means Son of Encouragement.  In 9:27 we find Barnabas standing for Saul before the apostles.  How great to have someone standing with you and for you as you journey through life.  How great to be that person for someone else.

 

 

Acts Chapter 10

1) How do people describe you?  What words speak of your character?  How does your character influence others?

2) How do you put together what you read in the Bible and what happens during the day?  Do they relate to each other or do they seem disconnected?

3) One message for all people.  How can we be part of sharing the good news with all who will hear?

Cornelius’ character is described (10:2) and commended (10:4).  His heart, motivation and actions were noticed by God resulting in God using him in a great way.  Know that what you do and who you are does not go unnoticed; here or in heaven.

God had spoken to Peter in a way that caused Peter to ponder what was said (10:17).  God’s words were challenging at the very foundation of Peter’s faith.  While he was considering everything, God brought the lesson into focus (10:19-20).  Be on the lookout for real life applications for the truth God is teaching.

Chapter 8 found the good news coming to the Samaritans.  Now, in Chapter 10, the message comes to the Gentiles (10:45).  This was astonishing.  The early church was challenged in its understanding of the scope of God’s message.  That the Gentiles could receive the good news shattered all their preconceived ideas.  God’s message truly was for everyone.