Unhindered The Beginnings of The Book of Acts

City Presbyterian Church

citypresokc.com

© 2012. A product of the ministry of City Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City by Doug Serven and Bobby Griffith. Not much of this material is original or unique since we are striving to present historic Christianity to the 21st Century world. Therefore, we are building on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. Please feel free to use this material in discussions with others and even in other Bible studies. Feel free to adapt and modify for your own purposes. All Scriptures come from the English Standard Version, Crossway. Used by permission. City Presbyterian Church is a missional community that seeks to worship Christ and serve Oklahoma City. Our goal is to Love God, Love People and Love the City. You can learn more about us at citypresokc.com. Sources for this study include: sermons by Rev. Tim Keller and Rev. Fred Harrell, among many others

The Gospel At City Pres, the gospel is our greatest treasure – it truly is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, and that continues all throughout our Christian lives. However, in our day and culture, there is confusion as to just what the gospel is. The following article, adapted from an article written by Pastor Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, clearly defines the gospel. The Third Way of the Gospel The Gospel means “good news.” It is the basic message that: “God made (Christ), who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). The gospe l says that we are so s in fu l , lo s t and he lp l e s s that on ly the l i f e and dea th o f the Son o f God can save us . But i t a l so says that those who t rus t in Chr i s t ’ s work ins t ead o f the i r own e f fo r t s are now “ho ly in h i s s i gh t , w i thout b l emish and f r e e f rom accusa t ion” (Colossians 1:22-23). The gospel tells us that our root sin is not just failing in our obedience to God but relying on our obedience to save us. Therefore, the gospel is a “third way,” neither religion nor irreligion. The religious person may say, “I am doing the right things that God commands”1 and the irreligious person may say, “I decide what is right and wrong for myself.” But both ways reject Jesus as Savior (though they may revere him as Example or Helper). Both ways are strategies of self-salvation – both actually keep control of their own lives. So the gospel keeps us from legalism and moralism on the one hand and from hedonism and relativism on the other. The Gospel’s Power for Change The gospel is not just the ABC but the A-Z of the Christian life. The gospel is not just the way to enter the kingdom but is the way to address every problem and is the way to grow at every step. If we believe we can find our own worth and meaning through performance, then we will become either proud or disdainful of others (if we reach our goals), or else discouraged and self-loathing (if we fail our goals). But the gospel creates an entirely new self-image. The Gospe l t e l l s us that we are more wi cked and s in fu l than we ever dared be l i ev e but more loved and ac c ep t ed in Chr i s t than we ever dared to hope – a t the same t ime .

In fact, if the gospel is true, the more you see you sin, the more certain you are that you were saved by sheer grace and the more precious and electrifying that grace is to you. So the gospel gives us enormous power to admit our flaws. Then secondly, the knowledge of our acceptance in Christ makes (for the first time) the law of God a beauty instead of a burden. We come to use it to delight the One who has enriched us so mightily, instead of using it to get his attention or win his favor. The first way makes the moral and sacrificial life a joy; the second way makes it a burden. There for e the gospe l changes ev ery th ing . It brings down racial barriers by melting away facial pride or inferiority. It brings down psychological problems by melting away self-inflation or self-hatred. It brings down personal facades, for we are free to admit who we are. It effects the way we do everything… how we motivate people, how we help them work through counseling problems, how we worship, how we take criticism.

1 “Our core problem, say St. Augustine, is that the human heart, ignoring God, turns in on itself, tries to lift itself, wants to please itself, and ends up debasing itself. The person who reaches toward God and wants to please God gets, so to speak, stretched by this move, and ennobled by the transcendence of its object. But the person who curves in on himself, who wants God’s gifts without God, who wants to satisfy the desires of a divided heart, ends up sagging and contracting like a little wad. He desires are provincial. ‘There is something in humility which, strangely enough, exalts the heart, and something in pride, which debases it.’” - Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be, p. 62, (at the end quoting Augustine, The City of God)

How to Do This Bible Study With those important preliminaries aside, we’re excited that you have decided to join us in exploring some of the foundational truths of the Christian faith. Whether you are investigating Christianity or have been a believer for as long as you can remember, we hope that this study will be fruitful for you. You may come with lots of questions or even with some apprehensiveness. Whatever the case, we earnestly desire this to be a time where you can honestly ask questions and explore the foundations of Christianity. You may have been in a Bible study before, or you may be joining us for the first time. I want to make a note on our method of study. In each of the texts before us, we will use the simple O-I-A method of study: Observation – Interpretation – Application. Observation We simply want to know what the text actually says. The answers are sometimes so obvious that you may feel like it’s a trick question, but its not. In observing the text, we want to ask, “What does the text say?” Interpretation This admittedly is the toughest part of studying the Scriptures. Usually, we’ll be comparing Scripture with Scripture. We are interested in how the Scripture speaks to us, not in what we may want it to mean. Here, we are asking, “What does the text mean?” Application This is where the rubber meets the road. Sometimes in observing the text and understanding its meaning, the application flows naturally. Sometimes, we will need to do some discussing to work it into our lives. Having understood and accurately interpreted the text, we now ask, “So what?” How does this affect my beliefs, my words, my actions, my community? Attendance If you are working through this study in a group, please commit to coming each week. Not only will you benefit by this commitment, but the other people in your group will by your presence. It can be really discouraging for each week’s study to be only optionally attended. While coming each week is by no means a badge of righteousness for you, it will mean something if you put this as a priority in your week’s schedule and make every effort to be there.

Acts 1:1-11

Unhindered

Read Acts 1 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about. Opening Questions What do you love most about the church? Can you think of a moment or story that captures that feeling? What do you hate most about the church? Can you think of a moment or story that captures that feeling? Acts 1:1-11 Who wrote the book of Acts? Consult a study Bible (like the ESV Study Bible) and write down some notes about that person. Jesus Work Not Ours When you think about or describe Christianity how quickly do you think about or talk about what Christians do? What have Christians done positively in the world? What have Christians done negatively in the world? How do you feel about those things? Is Christianity ultimately at its core about what Christians do? What is it about? Why? Look at Acts 1:1-3. What does Luke say Christianity is about? Why does this matter and how can this help? Why might this matter for you and your hurts from the church? Jesus Focus Not Ours When has there been a time when you have been out of focus? The disciples were off focus too. How were they off focus in what question they ask in 1:6? What did the disciples want? Where might we see this same sort of desire in our day, age, church and heart? We read of another wrong focus when Jesus speaks in 1:7. What is he correcting here?

Can you think of times and ways when you have recently heard of this same wrong focus in our day and age? There is a third wrong focus, a more literal one, found in 1:10-11. What is that one? How might that look for us today? Have you know people who tended to look into the sky awaiting Jesus’ return like that? What do you think Jesus’ focus was? Read through Acts 1:1-11 to see what he focused on and talked about and list those here. Jesus Power Not Ours What gives a movement real power? What gives a movement staying power? Can you think of any movements that have fizzled out lately? Acts 1:8 is really important. Write that out below. It would be a good one to memorize. There are four “places” stated in this verse. What are those four places? Can you discern any sort of pattern to those four places? How might those four places correspond to places with our time, lives and situations? (Where is your “Judea”?) The word for “power” there is the same Greek word for which we get our word “dynamite.” That’s power! What is that power and where does it come from? Why does it matter that the Holy Spirit would live in us and give us this power? Witnesses. Do you like to be a witness? What does that word mean to you positively and negatively? Where do you see yourself as a witness for things in your normal everyday life? (a movie? Etc) Where do you see yourself as an eyewitness to what God is doing in your life? Where do you see him real and active? When was the last time you really felt God’s power in your life? Tell that story. Jesus gave up his power. How did he do so? Consider John 13 as one example. Or you might note Mark 10:45. Why does this matter for you? What should the church’s work be about? What should the church’s focus be? In where should the church’s power be? What about you? How do you see yourself in those areas, and in the church?

Acts 2:1-21

Read Acts 2:1-21 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about. Opening Questions What have you seen overhyped lately? What has been something that has been underhyped but turned out really good? Do you think the church is overhyped or underhyped? Why? Acts 2:1-21 The Occasion and What Happened Remind yourself of the context of Acts 2 by reviewing what has happened in Acts 1. Use your study bible to look up what Pentecost means? What do you find? What happened at this Pentecost? The Holy Spirit showed himself in three specific ways here. What were they? Look several times at the word “language.” What do you think this word means? What has been your experience with the Holy Spirit and the church? How does this passage make you feel? What would you think if these things started happening at church next Sunday? How normal do you think Acts 2 should be? Why do you think so or not? The disciples were having a hard time believing that God would be the God of all nations and not just the Jewish nation. How do you think Acts 2 might help break up that belief? What do you learn about the Holy Spirit from this passage or as you look at a study Bible? Do you expect the Holy Spirit in your church? The Preacher and the Sermon Who preached this sermon? Why is this significant? What had happened to Peter just 50 days ago? So where did Peter’s boldness come from? What did Peter first start talking about? Why?

People sneered and mocked God. They assigned natural explanations to the supernatural. Where and how do you see that in Acts 2? Where and how do you see that today? Can you think of a great sermon you have heard? Why was it great? What happened to you while or after you heard it? When was the last time God spoke to you? What about? God and The Response What do you learn about God here? What connections can you make with how is God like: Wind Fire Words/Language Harvest What is God harvesting? Where do you find yourself in the 2:9-11 list of nations? How far has God come to find you? Are you amazed or perplexed by this passage or by what you see from God or his people? (2:12) What do you think it means, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”? What does that verse mean for you today? How do we see Jesus in this passage? How is he Lord of the church back in this day? How is he Lord of the church here and now? What is our response to him? What should our expectations be?

Acts 2:22-47

Read Acts 2:22-47 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about. Opening Questions What “interesting” things have you seen churches do who really want to grow? What do you think would be good things for a church to do in order to grow? Acts 2:22-47 We’re going to start with the end of this passage first. The Church What happened at the end of Acts 2? (2:41) What would happen to your church if that same thing transpired in your church this week? Read 2:42-47. List out the things that the church was doing, and what it was known for. Write a sentence about what each of these qualities might have meant or looked in Acts 2 (you may need to consult a study Bible). Does your life look like this? Does your church look like this? Why or why not? Does this sound appealing to you? Why or why not? The Christ People were responding to something. Something led to this response. When you look back to Acts 2, what provokes this response? How do you see Peter talking about Jesus’ incarnation? (what does the word incarnation mean?) How do you see Peter talking about Jesus’ crucifixion? How do you see Peter talking about Jesus’ resurrection? Look at the two psalms that Peter quotes in his sermon. You could do a ton of research on these passages, but in just a few minutes can you look at your study Bible and write a few observations about why Peter might be quoting and referencing these psalms?

Why does Jesus’ life, death and resurrection matter so much to Peter? Why does Jesus’ life, death and resurrection matter to you? Does it? The People Read 2:23. What does Peter mean by this verse? Who crucified Jesus in Peter’s mind? What does the verse of How Deep the Father’s Love For Us mean to you? Behold the Man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers It was my sin that left Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished In 2:27, we read this: “They were cut to the heart.” What do you think that means? What cuts you to the heart? What has cut you to the heart? Can you define the gospel of grace? Write out a definition of the gospel of grace below? Have you felt that or known that? Has that made a difference to you? Why or why not? Look back to your list about what you wrote about what the church was doing in 2:42-47. How did Jesus and his gospel of grace make that happen? In other words, how did Jesus embody grace so that those results could be seen? The hearers of Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 asked this question, “Brothers, what shall we do?” How did Peter answer that question? How would you answer that question?

Acts 3:1-16 Read Acts 3:1-16 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about. Opening Questions What are ways that you acknowledge power in your life? Driver’s license? Passport? What are things you have noticed about churches who seem to minister out of God’s power? Christ-centered Power What do you make of Peter and John walking together? What does it mean that two apostles were ministering together? When was a time you did something out of your own weakness? When was a time you tried to “go it alone?” Peter commands this man to get up “in the name of Jesus Christ…” Why is it significant that Peter called upon Christ? What had Peter experienced in chapter two that may have tempted him to operate out of his own power? Christ-centered Presence We see this man walking and leaping and praising God. Not only is he healed spiritually but also physically. How does that imitate Jesus’ pattern? (read Isaiah 35:6) Does it matter if we only minister to spiritual needs? Who in your life has physical needs? When was a time you needed physical help?

Does God only care about our spiritual needs? Does God only care about our physical needs? Why should we reach out like Peter and John? Who is your lame man at the Gate Beautiful? Christ-centered Proclamation When someone does something amazing, how do we react? Could Peter have sought praise and glory for this healing? When have you been tempted to seek your own glory? Who does Peter credit for this healing? What does it mean to make much of Jesus? In verses 13-16 Peter refers to Old Testament and places Christ at the center of the story. What does it mean to have Jesus at the center of your story? Why is this important?

Acts 4:1-31

Read Acts 4:1-31 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about. Opening Questions Can you think of a time you were persecuted for something you thought or did? Share that experience. Acts 4:1-31 Persecution Have you been bored at church? When was the last time? What bores you the most about church? What was not boring about Acts 3? What was not boring about Acts 4? Who were those in charge in Acts 4? Write a sentence about each of these authorities. Luke writes that they were “greatly annoyed.” What were they annoyed about? What question do they ask in 4:7? What do they mean by that question? In 4:11 Peter starts to talk about “the cornerstone.” If their cornerstone isn’t Jesus, then what does that imply? It seems like Peter is driving at something. They were greatly annoyed. They want to know “by what power”? They have other cornerstones. So their persecution in Peter and the church is based on what exactly? If they don’t believe in Jesus, what do they believe in? What about you? Where is your cornerstone? What do you believe in? What greatly annoys you? What do you do when those things listed above are threatened? One of the names of Jesus is the “Suffering Servant.” What does following the Suffering Servant imply? How do you feel about that? Bravery When is a time you were brave? When is a time you wilted under pressure? What observations from the text can you make about Peter and the church in the face of this persecution? What do you notice about them? What does Luke notice? What do those present in the story notice?

Why does Peter say he was bold? What do you think about that and people like that? Why do you think Peter was able to be bold like this? The church has often been persecuted. What was the result of the church’s persecution throughout history? Why? Dependance The episode in Acts 4 ends with a prayer by the church after Peter and John were released. What is the content of this prayer? What is surprisingly absent from this prayer? The church prayed for boldness because they were scared. What did they have to be scared about? What do you have to be scared about? Yet they didn’t pray about those things. Why not? What “little things” do you need prayer for? What big things, deeper things do you need prayer for? What would it mean if God were our bottom line? Our cornerstone? Our power? Our unshakeable thing? How does the gospel pertain to all of this? How was Jesus persecuted for us when we were the accusers and perpetrators? How was Jesus brave for us when we were cowards? How was Jesus dependant on the Father for us when we pursued radical independence?

Acts 4:32-5:42

Read Acts 4:32-5:42 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about. Opening Questions When is a time when you were “exposed” and came up really lacking? Who are your greatest heroes, both fictional and real? Can you think of a heroic story from real life that has been in the news recently? Acts 4:32-5:43 What we all want Look again at 4:32-37. How do you see the church’s unity? How do you see God’s grace at work in the church? How do you see the church’s power? How do you see the church’s care (spiritual and material)? What do you think about this church? Would you want to be in it? Why or why not? How might this community be realized in your own? What we all fear In chapter 4, we saw how Satan attacked the church from the outside by persecuting it. How does he now attack the church in chapter 5? What do you think about this story? What is your first reaction? Why do you think God did this to these people? What was the reaction of the people who were there? Do you share this feeling? How does this story reveal the sin of greed? How does this story reveal the sin of lying? How does this story reveal the sin of hypocrisy?

Do some study and look up the above words in an online Bible or in your concordance at the back of your bible. What verses can you find about greed, lying and hypocrisy? Note some of these below. Write them out fully on the page. What does this Acts 5 passage say about “the heart”? How do you see yourself in this story? Paul writes in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death.” How does this verse pertain to Acts 5 and your own life? What we all need How do you need church discipline? How do you need a vital, working heart conscience? Read 5:31. How do you need a Leader/Hero? How do you need a Savior? How do you need forgiveness of sins? How does Jesus supply these needs? Paul writes, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” How can you see this verse at work in this passage and in your own life today? On the back of this page, draw an illustration that tries to picture what you learned in this lesson. It doesn’t have to be a work of art or beautifully drawn. Try to come up with something that you could share with someone else over coffee on a napkin.

Acts 1:6-8 and 28:17-31

Read Acts 1:6-1 and 28:17-31 Underline, highlight, and/or circle anything that stands out to you or that you might have questions about. Opening Questions Can you think of a time you were persecuted for something you thought or did? Share that experience. Acts 1:6-8 and 28:17-31 Unhindered Despite our Idols What are ways we seek safety? Is safety necessarily a bad thing? When can it be an idol? In Acts 1:6-8, Jesus tells his disciples that their mission will take them from Jerusalem to the “end of the earth.” What is unsafe about that? What was unsafe about Jesus’ life and ministry? What are ways a church can be too safe? What are unsafe things a church can do to reach out? What are unsafe ways you can reach out to others? What scares you about this? What appeals to you about this?

Acts 10 and 13 tell us about cross-cultural/racial ministry. Why is that “revolutionary” today? Unhindered Despite External Opposition When you think about the movement from Jerusalem to Rome, what opposition did the Church face? Read Acts 28:17-22. What opposition did Paul face? Think about Acts 1:6-8 and the end of Acts. Did Jesus promise come true? How? How did that happen if so many opposed Christianity? Do you think there is opposition to Christianity today? In the U.S., we do not face death or jail time for religious commitment. What other opposition is there? What opposition have you faced? Did Jesus face opposition? How has the Church survived all these years with all the problems inside and outside?

Unhindered for God’s Glory A good definition of glory is “weightiness.” It is the idea of something pressing down upon you. What are ways you see God’s glory in the world around you? Is the beauty of nature and life enough of God’s glory for us to enjoy and dwell with him fully? What do we need? If the beauty around us reflects God’s glory, how should Christians reflect his glory? What are ways you have seen others reflect God’s glory? How can churches reflect God’s glory outside the time of worship? Why is God’s glory important? How did Jesus reflect God’s glory? Acts really does not have an ending, the last word is “unhindered.” How is the present Church part of that ending?