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10 minutesSTUDY THE BIBLEActs 1:6-8NotesSo when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoringthe kingdom to Israel at this time?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you toknow times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8 Butyou will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you willbe My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends ofthe earth.”6READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Acts 1:6-8.SUMMARIZE THE COMMENTARY (VERSES 6-7): When the disciples metwith Jesus, they had questions.»»The disciples asked if Jesus was restoring the kingdom of Israel. They wereexpecting Jesus to establish a political kingdom in which Israel would holdgreat power, as it once did under the reign of King David and Solomon.»»Jesus didn’t fully answer their question; instead, He explained that they’d beempowered by the Holy Spirit to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.SAY: ”In verse 8, Jesus laid out God’s agenda succinctly. This mandate laid thefoundation for the rest of the Book of Acts, which recounts how the early believerscarried out this mission.”ALTERNATEQUESTION:Whatcircumstancescan cause us todoubt we haveGod’s powerwithin us?DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 70 of the PSG: “What do these verses teachus about God’s mission?”DO: Instruct group members to complete the activity on page 72 of the PSG ontheir own. If time permits, encourage volunteers to share their responses.ONE PURPOSE:»» Describe the mission Jesus gave to the disciples and to us in your own words.»»88S e ss i o n 1What’s your initial reaction to this assignment? Check one.I’m in! Where do we start?I’m interested but unsure of where and how God could use me.I don’t know many people who aren’t believers.I’m still new to following Christ; Someone else could do a better job.Other:

THE POINTThe Holy Spirit empowers us to spread the gospel.Acts 1:6-8 CommentaryThe Spirit empowers us to be His witnesses locally and globally. Verse 6: When the disciplesmet with Jesus they once again asked about the kingdom they anticipated. Like most Jews, they lookedforward to a political kingdom where they would be free from the foreign rule they had known forcenturies. But the disciples especially anticipated a future where everyone would again know the powerand glory Israel had once experienced under David and Solomon. This was what they expected withJesus the Messiah on the throne. Now as the disciples met with Jesus after His resurrection, they hopedit was the right time for their dream to become reality.Verse 7: Jesus didn’t reply to the primary focus of their question—their hope for Israel’s worldwideprominence. Instead, He emphasized that “times” and “periods“ were none of their concern. That wasnot what was important for the disciples. Jesus noted that the dates God the Father has set are Hisalone to know. Previously Jesus noted that even He didn’t know the specific “day” or “hour” of the end(Mark 13:32).Verse 8: It was important, however, for the disciples to understand the kingdom that was coming andhow it impacted them and others. Unlike what the disciples imagined, God’s kingdom was differentfrom all earthly kingdoms where powerful human kings sit on thrones in specific places for a limitedtime. Instead, God’s kingdom is about the eternal, immortal, invisible God ruling in human lives. It isabout God’s Spirit living in those who trust Jesus as Savior and Lord.The kingdom of God is about the power of God enabling the people of God to fulfill the mission ofGod. This power is unlike anything Rome or any other nation has ever possessed. It is the supernaturalcapability and potential that was experienced in the miracles of Jesus, including His resurrection fromthe dead. Jesus promised this same power to His followers.Note the certainty of Jesus’ promise: “you will receive power” and “you will be My witnesses.” Jesus’promise was not a statement of wishful thinking but rather one of fact; it would happen. The Greekword for “power” is the same root from which we get our English words “dynamic” and “dynamite.”This power is a gift God would give to His people through His Spirit. His power was not given for theirbenefit—so they could be prominent or dominant—but so they could be His witnesses. This was also acertainty. Jesus promised to empower His followers to enable them to share a testimony with others oftheir experiences with Him. With these brief words Jesus didn’t explain everything the disciples wantedto know about the kingdom, but He did tell them all they needed to know about the kingdom and theirrole in it.BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE89

10 minutesSTUDY THE BIBLEActs 1:12-14NotesThen they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called the Mount ofOlives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 Whenthey arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter,John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James theson of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All thesewere continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary themother of Jesus, and His brothers.12READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Acts 1:12-14.SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 73): What do you do when you find yourselfwaiting on the next thing God has for you? So many of us just try to stay busy. Wefill the waiting with activity. Not these disciples. They went to a single upstairsroom and prayed. And they didn’t just pray for an hour or two. They “werecontinually united in prayer” (v. 14). They waited and prayed for 10 days, until theday of Pentecost when the promised gift of the Holy Spirit finally arrived.ALTERNATEQUESTION:How is prayingwith others for acommon missiondifferent fromyour personalprayers?DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 72 of the PSG: “What are some of thebenefits of praying together as a group?”SAY: ”When we pray and seek God’s will together, He will unify us and keep usfocused on our common center: Jesus.“DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 73 of the PSG: “What common mission canour group pray for together?” (Note: Encourage group members to identify amission that is specific to your church and your community. Explain how sharingthe gospel in your community ties into God’s overall mission of the gospelmessage being taken to “Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends ofthe earth” (v. 8).)TRANSITION: Praying together with a unified mind and purpose says, in effect,“Lord, we want Your power. We want Your plan. We want You to do Your workthrough us.”90S e ss i o n 1

THE POINTThe Holy Spirit empowers us to spread the gospel.Acts 1:12-14 CommentaryPrayer unites believers in our focus on Christ and His mission. Verses 12-13: The disciples’meeting with Jesus and His subsequent ascension to heaven had taken place on the Mount of Olives,which was just east of Jerusalem (Acts 1:9‑11). Luke noted it was a Sabbath day’s journey away, or aboutthree-fourths of a mile. This was simply a Jewish reference of distance and doesn’t imply the meetingwas on the Sabbath. Once in the city, the eleven disciples went to the upstairs room where they werestaying. It was likely a large room on the top floor of a large house. The fact that the disciples werestaying there suggests it was where they slept and met with other believers.Verse 14: One thing that became constant for the disciples following the ascension was prayer. They“continually” prayed together. The word “continually” suggests more than just occasional or briefprayers. It pictures them as being devoted to it—they were intense and persistent in their praying. Thiswas an example they had seen in Jesus’ life and was obviously important for them as well.Exactly what the disciples prayed is unknown, but whatever the content of their prayers, the discipleswere “united.” This means they had the same heart and commitment, which was to glorify God andfulfill His purpose. They may have prayed for unity (just as Jesus prayed for them on the night beforeHis death—John 17:20‑23). But certainly they experienced unity as a result of their ongoing prayingtogether.There were more than just the eleven disciples in that upper room, however. Luke mentioned thewomen, likely a reference to those who had followed Jesus, had been there at His crucifixion, andhad even prepared Jesus for His proper burial. The women could have also included any wives of thedisciples. Luke also noted that Mary the mother of Jesus and His brothers also joined the disciples duringthat time. Mark 6:3 notes that Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters. These were the naturalchildren of Mary and Joseph, so technically Jesus was their half-brother.Our priority is to be witnesses for Jesus—sharing the truth about God, sin, and salvation, and ourtestimony of what we have experienced (forgiveness of sins and eternal life) through faith in Christ. Thisis what we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to do. But we don’t do this alone—prayer keeps usconnected with God so we can receive and walk in His wisdom, strength, and guidance for the mission.And unity with other believers—in fellowship and in prayer—gives us the family we need for supportand the encouragement we need to keep moving forward as we work together to spread the gospel.BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE91

5 minutesLIVE IT OUTSAY: “Acts 1:8 is our mandate. It’s mine, andit’s yours. ”NotesGUIDE: Lead group members to consider theresponses to the Bible study listed on page 74of the PSG.»»Accept the mission. Recognize Jesushas commanded you to be His witnesswherever you go and wherever He sendsyou. It may sound simple, but this acknowledgement shifts how you view yourpurpose and your circumstances.»»Get equipped. The Holy Spirit is the source of your strength to be thewitness God has called you to be. Use a concordance or Bible dictionary tolearn more about what Scripture teaches us of the third Person of the Trinity.»»Be a friend who will pray. We’re not meant to live out Acts 1:8 on our own;we need friends who will be faithful to pray with and for us. Identify two orthree dependable friends and commit to be steadfast in praying for eachother.Wrap It UpSAY: “God’s mission is unstoppable—and so is the Spirit He’s placed within you. So,where do you begin? Prayer.”92S e ss i o n 1

SESSION 2UNSTOPPABLEMESSAGEThe PointJesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.The PassageActs 2:22-24,32-33,36-38The Bible Meets LifeThere are many good groups and organizations in our communities seeking to benefit society insome way. The church, however, is unique. Many organizations are short-lived or diminish as the needthey seek to meet is realized. Or they change when the leadership changes. The church is different.Christ gave His church one unchanging message to proclaim: the message of salvation in Christ.The SettingAfter Jesus’ ascension, the disciples followed His command to return to Jerusalem and await thecoming of the Holy Spirit. Gathered together on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended uponthem with the sound of a violent rushing wind and the appearance of flames like tongues of fire. Thedisciples began to speak in different languages. The Jews, who had gathered from various nations,miraculously understood what was being said in their own language (Acts 2:1-6). The crowd wasamazed, and Peter took the opportunity to tell them about Jesus and the good news of the gospel.BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE93

What does the Bible say?Acts 2:22-24,32-33,36-38Miracles, wonders, andsigns (v. 22)—Miracles showthe power of God. Wondersemphasize the response ofthe people who witness thosemiracles. Signs are intendedto point attention backto God.Repent (v. 38)—In the NewTestament, “repent” meansto change one’s mind in thesense of turning away fromsin and self, and turningtoward God (Jesus) in a waythat makes God (Jesus) thecenter of one’s life.“Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointedout to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among youthrough Him, just as you yourselves know.22Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan andforeknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him.23God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible forHim to be held by it.”2432“God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this.Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has receivedfrom the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see andhear.”33“Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made thisJesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”36When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter andthe rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?”37“Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of JesusChrist for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”3894S e ss i o n 2

THE POINTJesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.GET INTO THE STUDY10 minutesDISCUSS: Invite your group members toNotesdiscuss Question #1 on page 75 of thePSG (Personal Study Guide): “What oftengets you sidetracked during the day?”TIP: Always be onthe lookout for anapprentice in yourgroup who alwayscomes prepared, addsthoughtful discussion,and seems to help thestudy move along.Help them prepare,then allow them tolead a portion ofyour study.Allow time for each person to respond.SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE76): Do you know the original missionstatement of Harvard University? “Letevery student be plainly instructed, andearnestly pressed to consider well, themain end of his life and studies is, toknow God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3) and seeing the Lord onlygiveth wisdom, let every one seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seek it of him(Proverbs 2:3).”Surprised? When the school was founded in 1636, the administration hired only Christian professors. The formation of Christian character was a top priority for students, andministers were trained and equipped to share the gospel. Today, the university maintains a legacy of academic excellence but has lost its original mission. Harvard University has experienced “mission drift”; it lost sight of its original purpose. 1SAY: “Mission drift happens in the church as well, but it doesn’t have to. God has givenus a clear unstoppable message that drives our mission.”GUIDE: Call attention to The Point on page 76 of the PSG: “Jesus died for our sins,rose again, and reigns as Lord.”PRAY: Transition into the discussion with prayer. Thank God for sending His Son, Jesus,to die for our sins and for entrusting us to share this powerful message with others.PLAYLIST PICK:“Jesus, Only Jesus”by Matt RedmanBIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE95

10 minutesSTUDY THE BIBLEActs 2:22-24Notes“Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a manpointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God didamong you through Him, just as you yourselves know. 23 Though He wasdelivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, youused lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. 24 God raised Him up,ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be heldby it.”22ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, post newspaper or magazine articles withrecent significant world events, sports news, or pop culture headlines around yourmeeting space. Ask: “In your opinion, which is the largest news story?” Instructyour group to rate the stories from “most significant” to “least significant.” Discusshow when we use Twitter , Instagram , Periscope , and other media to share news,our messages quickly become old news as new posts replace older ones. Today’sstudy examines how the early Christ-followers took on the task of sharing themost important message in history: the gospel. Unlike messages that fill our socialmedia feeds, the gospel will never be outdated news. It is unstoppable.READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Acts 2:22-24.SUMMARIZE THE PSG (PAGE 77): In his message, Peter aimed for the heart ofthe crowd. He stated simply: Jesus was crucified, but God raised Him back to life.»»We can never grasp the meaning of the cross until we understand the depthof our sin and how it separates us from God.»»Jesus didn’t merely die; He rose again. Because of this, Jesus is unique in all ofhistory; He is the only person who ever lived, died, and returned to life neverto die again.»»ALTERNATEQUESTION:What are theessentials of thegospel message?Jesus’ death and resurrection are the heartbeat of the gospel message.DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 77 of the PSG: “What can we learn fromPeter’s approach to sharing the gospel?”TRANSITION: Peter’s message was clear: Jesus died and rose again to bringsalvation. The next verses reveal another important truth: Jesus is Lord.96S e ss i o n 2

THE POINTJesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.Acts 2:22-24Jesus died and rose again to bring salvation. Verse 22: On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spiritcame in power. The believers in Jerusalem who were empowered by the Spirit spoke in many otherlanguages and drew the attention of a crowd. Peter spoke to the crowd to help them correctly interpretthe events (Acts 2:1-21). Peter initially quoted words from the prophet Joel that explained and confirmedwhat they had seen and heard (Joel 2:28-32). He boldly directed the men to listen to him. Peter startedby calling attention to Jesus. Peter clarified who Jesus was by calling Him ”the Nazarene,” that is, He wasfrom the town of Nazareth. Jesus was sometimes identified as the Nazarene during His earthly ministry.Rather than immediately jumping to the reality that Jesus is the Messiah, Peter emphasized that Jesuswas a man. Thousands of people had encountered Him in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria during theprevious three years. Skeptics could’ve questioned Jesus’ deity; there was no question of His humanity.Peter noted Jesus was “pointed out by God.” God chose Him for a unique position—a role thatno one else could fill. God worked in and through Jesus’ humanity to prove who He really was. Peterreminded the people of the miracles, wonders, and signs done by Jesus. Miracles show the power ofGod. Wonders emphasize the response of people who witness miracles. Signs are intended to pointback to God.Verse 23: Peter emphasized that the Jews played a role in Jesus’ death. The Jewish religious leadersarrested Jesus and delivered up Jesus to those who could carry out their ultimate desire. The Jewsused “lawless people” (the Romans) to kill Jesus. While the Jewish leaders plotted to put Jesus to deathand the Romans carried out the sentence, the Jewish people also bore the responsibility for what hadhappened. They should have recognized who Jesus was: God’s Messiah.Though most people who knew Jesus did not anticipate His death, God was not caught off guard. Thesacrificial death of Jesus was part of God’s determined plan for His creation. God had not only decreedthat Jesus would die (1 Peter 1:20) but also set the appointed time for it to happen (Galatians 4:4-5).God planned for the death of His Son because there was no other way for sinful people to be in a rightrelationship with Him.Verse 24: Peter stressed that “God raised Him up.” God restored Jesus to life again. This was also partof God’s plan for the salvation of humanity. Why was it not possible for de

Come with me on a journey through the exciting early days of the church. We'll discover what made the early church so powerful—so unstoppable. As the Book of Acts opens, we'll see a room full of huddled, scared disciples who were completely powerless and uncertain of the future. But we'll also see these same followers become empowered and