It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God s mouth. ~ Matthew 4:4, The Message Why Study the Bible? The Bible is no ordinary book. It s been described as God s love letter to you a personal message from Almighty God himself addressed to you! Its words are like food and medicine to nourish and heal your soul. The words in this book are alive and powerful truths that will change your life! As you study the Bible, you ll increasingly see God, yourself and the world around you from his viewpoint. Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they re bursting with health. ~ Proverbs 4:20-22, The Message As the writer of Proverbs says, God s words are life. When we go through difficult times, his Word comforts, strengthens and encourages us. If we know the Scriptures and his promises, we can pray and/or speak these powerful words into the situations we encounter. For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. ~ Hebrews 4:12, New Living Translation Studying the Bible also builds our faith. As we understand more about the person and character of God from his Word, we re better able to trust him. We can only count on a God we know, and whom we re sure is worthy of our trust. Acts of the Sprit Study 1, Bible Study & Acts 1 and 2 ~ Copyright 2015 Victoria Munro/Honey for Your Soul 1
My Own Experience For almost fifty years, I ve regularly studied the Bible, and it has completely changed my life. I m very grateful to God for this, but it didn t happen right away and it wasn t automatic. I encourage you, if you want to know God more deeply and let Him change your life, learn to truly study the Bible. Knowing God s Word has proved valuable truly life saving to me in tough times. I m not sure I would have survived without it. If you take time to study the Bible with an open heart to God, it will change your life. And it doesn t have to take fifty years! We grow in our knowledge of God and understanding of his Word in direct proportion to the amount of time and energy we re willing to invest. Driving in Colorado s mountain canyons, I d often watch people panning for gold in the rivers. They were dedicated standing for hours in freezing water, hoping to find a nugget of gold. I often wondered what amazing things God would have done in and for them if they d spent that time studying his Word. It reminds me of the challenge made by the writer of Proverbs: My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. ~ Proverbs 2:1-6, New Living Translation Benefits of Studying the Bible This Way As we grow in Christ, it's important that we learn to study God s Word for ourselves and not depend only on others instruction. Consider this challenge from the writer of Hebrews: For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. ~ Hebrews 5:13-14, New Living Translation One of the best ways to get to this solid food is through Bible study with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is a supernatural book and can be understood only by supernatural aid. ~ A.W. Tozer Acts of the Sprit Study 1, Bible Study & Acts 1 and 2 ~ Copyright 2015 Victoria Munro/Honey for Your Soul 2
There are many ways to study the Bible, and I ve found the method we use in this study series to be helpful and effective. These studies are designed to guide you through a specific book or a topic in the Bible, and help you develop a deeper understanding of its spiritual truths. Our goal isn t simply to provide you with more information, valuable as that is, but to give you opportunity to respond personally to what you re learning in a way that will positively and permanently impact your everyday life. Study Guidelines Purposely set aside time to study. Find a time that works well for you and make an appointment with God. Have a place that you enjoy. Find a room in your home where you can be alone ideally somewhere quiet and where you re comfortable. Keep your study materials close by. Keep your Bible, maybe several different translations if you have them, perhaps a Bible dictionary, concordance, a pen or computer/tablet and your study notes all together. Prepare your heart. Talk to God and ask him to reveal and remove anything that may block you from receiving revelation during your study. Forgive anyone you may need to forgive; deal with anything you might need to confess or repent for having said, done etc. Meditation is an important part of your study. To meditate means to think deeply and continuously, ponder, contemplate or reflect. It also means to murmur, to mutter and to converse with oneself. Preparing your study ahead of time allows you to meditate on it and gain further insights to share in your small group. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. He will give you understanding and reveal more of Jesus to you which He loves to do! He inspired the Word of God, so invite him to make it clear to you and show you what changes he d like to see in your life in light of what you re learning. (John 16:13-14) Look at the big picture first. Read through the entire passage, chapter or book you re studying in order to see it in context. Do this several times, if possible using different translations. Be a doer of the Word. We conclude each study with one or two application questions. These are really important, so make enough time to answer them prayerfully. But don t just listen to God s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. ~ James 1:22, New Living Translation Acts of the Sprit Study 1, Bible Study & Acts 1 and 2 ~ Copyright 2015 Victoria Munro/Honey for Your Soul 3
Share what you ve learned in your small group. In this way you ll learn from one another what the Holy Spirit has revealed to each of you. It also gives a venue to discuss questions you have and/or verses and concepts that weren t clear to you. You ll also have opportunity to pray for and minister to one another. As you study the Bible in this way, there is no limit to the wealth of truth, understanding and growth that will result! My Prayer for You I pray that, as you study God s Word, you ll grow more and more in love with him, and that Paul s words to the Colossian church will be your experience. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done. Don t let others spoil your faith and joy with their philosophies, their wrong and shallow answers built on men s thoughts and ideas, instead of on what Christ has said. ~ Colossians 2:7-8, The Living Bible The Bible's power rests upon the fact that it is the reliable, errorless, and infallible Word of God. ~ Chuck Colson Acts of the Sprit Study 1, Bible Study & Acts 1 and 2 ~ Copyright 2015 Victoria Munro/Honey for Your Soul 4
Acts of the Spirit Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8, NKJV This is a practical, application-oriented study on the book of Acts. We ll focus on how the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and also Paul on his missionary journeys. We ll explore how the Holy Spirit wants to empower and use us today. The Book of Acts is a narrative an exhilarating action story. In some of the studies we ll cover several chapters, so if you miss a meeting, try to catch up and at least keep up with the reading. To help you do this, we ve provided a list of study readings ahead of time. You can also download the study notes and the short intro talks (as mp3s) from the website: www.honeyforyoursoul.com/acts. But don t miss out on the opportunity to get together with your small group. It s invaluable to learn from and share with others, as well as to give and receive personal ministry. Introduction to Acts: As we studied John 13 through 17, Jesus focused on preparing His disciples for the coming transition when the Holy Spirit, rather than Jesus physical presence, would be their constant Companion. Acts continues where the Gospels leave off. It provides the context for many of the New Testament letters, especially Paul s. The book was written in 62 or possibly 63 A.D. and covers the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the birth and establishment of the Church and the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. The Author: It s generally agreed that Luke was the author of Acts, which he wrote as a companion to or continuation from his Gospel. Acts of the Sprit Study 1, Bible Study & Acts 1 and 2 ~ Copyright 2015 Victoria Munro/Honey for Your Soul 5
Luke was a Gentile the only Gentile writer of the New Testament. He was well educated and a doctor many medical words are included in his writing. It s not certain where he was from, but probably received his training in one of the three universities of the day in Alexandria, Tarsus or Athens. He was the Apostle Paul s loyal friend, companion on his journeys and one of his most valued helpers. He was with Paul during his imprisonment in Rome. Luke appears to have had no personal experience of the events before chapter 20. It seems he joined Paul in Macedonia (20:6), where we see his personal pronouns change from they to we. Since he spent many hours traveling and in prison with Paul he likely listened to and documented many of his stories. He wrote to Theophilus (the name means lover of God ) who may have been a man of high standing in the Roman government, though for his protection this may not have been his real name. The Setting: At that time, the area around the Mediterranean was ideal for the writing and spread of the Gospel. Rome had provided law, order and a unified peace in the region, and had built roads. All this made travel possible as never before. Plus, as a result of Alexander the Great s earlier conquest of this area, Greek was commonly spoken, and was the perfect language for the New Testament. The supernatural does not stop with Jesus. Luke makes it clear that these Christians he wrote about were no more spectators of Jesus than Jesus was a spectator of God they are in on the action of God, God acting in them, God living in them. Which also means, of course, in us. ~ Eugene H. Peterson, Introduction to Acts, The Message Bible I pray you ll enjoy Acts of the Spirit and that God will bless you and speak to your heart very clearly as to study His Word. May He use you to touch many lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Before answering the questions, read slowly through chapters one and two of Acts ideally in several different translations. A. Waiting in Jerusalem Acts 1:1-26 Verses 1-3: Introduction 1. What do Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1:1-2 tell us about Luke s motivation and research as he wrote his gospel and the Book of Acts? Acts of the Sprit Study 1, Bible Study & Acts 1 and 2 ~ Copyright 2015 Victoria Munro/Honey for Your Soul 6
Verses 4-8: The Holy Spirit Promised 2. What had Jesus commanded the disciples to do in verse 4? Why do you think this was important? So great was the disciples need for power to become witnesses that they were not to leave Jerusalem until they had it. That word power, dunamis, speaks of the miracle realm. It comes from dunamai, which means ability. Think about it we get to be clothed with God s ability! ~ Bill Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth 3. In John 14:16-17 and 16:13-15, what did Jesus promise the disciples? 4. According to verse 6, what do you think the disciples were expecting? 5. What is a witness in a courtroom required to do? 6. What is your Jerusalem where God has called you to be a witness? 7. In what ways do you need the Holy Spirit s help as you witness to others about Jesus? Verses 9-14: Jesus Ascension and Waiting for the Holy Spirit 8. How do you think these disciples were praying? If you d been there, how would you have prayed? Acts of the Sprit Study 1, Bible Study & Acts 1 and 2 ~ Copyright 2015 Victoria Munro/Honey for Your Soul 7
Verses 16-26: Selecting Matthias 9. After his denial of Jesus (John 18:15-27), how do the think the other disciples felt about Peter s leadership? How might Jesus words in John 21: 15-19 have helped him? 10. What steps did the disciples take to replace Judas? what criteria did they use in selecting his successor? Why do you think they did this? Verses 21-22 and Proverbs 16:22 B. Empowerment and Birth of the Church Acts 2:1-47 Verses1-4: Outpouring of the Holy Spirit The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people. ~ A.W. Tozer 11. Why do you think this might have been a perfect time to birth the Church? Verses 5-13: The Crowd s Reaction 12. How was the promise in Acts 1:8 already being fulfilled here? One of the special marks of the Holy Ghost in the Apostolic Church was the spirit of boldness. ~ A.B. Simpson Acts of the Sprit Study 1, Bible Study & Acts 1 and 2 ~ Copyright 2015 Victoria Munro/Honey for Your Soul 8
Verses 14-36: Peter s First Sermon 13. Why do you think Peter used so many Old Testament quotes? 14. What was the most important point Peter wanted them to understand? 15. If you were asked the question Peter was asked in verse 37, how would you answer? 16. What impressed you most about Peter? Verses 37-47: The Church Is Born! We need, men so possessed by the Spirit of God that God can think His thoughts through our minds, that He can plan His will through our actions, that He can direct His strategy of world evangelization through His Church. ~ Alan Redpath 17. What does it mean to repent? How would you explain that to someone who wanted to become a Christian? 18. What would it have been like to be part of the new church or fellowship of believers that formed at this time? Acts of the Sprit Study 1, Bible Study & Acts 1 and 2 ~ Copyright 2015 Victoria Munro/Honey for Your Soul 9
C. Think About It! 19. What do you think was God s part and what was the disciples part in all that happened in chapter two? 20. What do you think would happen if revival came to our area, and 3000 new people showed up at church next weekend? How would you be able to help? What would you do? 21. Take a few minutes to pray and ask God what specific action step or steps you feel He wants you to take as a result of what you learned from studying these chapters. Write them down below. The book (of Acts) shows us what men can do in the power of the risen Savior. It is the record of the continuation of those things which Jesus began to do while on earth and which He carries on as risen Head of the church (1:1). The book furnishes us the principles of revival and missionary work; it shows the divine pattern for church government; and it exhibits not only steadfastness but expansion under persecution. It is a book for the church in any century. ~ Charles Caldwell Ryrie Acts of the Sprit Study 1, Bible Study & Acts 1 and 2 ~ Copyright 2015 Victoria Munro/Honey for Your Soul 10