Lesson 1 Welcome Introduction Pour out Your Spirit Lord, I want to be like Jesus I want to be Your servant - Evan Wickham Welcome to our study of the book of Acts. Written in the pages of this book is the testimony of Paul the apostle. Paul saw himself as a runner and he was determined to both finish his race and to do it with joy. His personal circumstances would have caused a lesser man to try and escape, but not Paul. He was committed to his calling and his devotion to Jesus Christ was immovable. As we pour over this book in the year ahead, we are going to learn many life principles that will help us to stand strong in our Christian walk and finish our race with joy. Let s begin our study with a prayer asking the Lord to prepare our hearts to receive all the instructions we can as we journey through the book of Acts. Memory Scripture But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24 (NKJV) Commentary The book of Acts was written by Luke. Little did he know at that time that this would be a book that would transcend the ages and forever influence the church. In his gospel, Luke had written about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Now, in the book of Acts, he continues the gospel story and we see the church growing and changing. The book of Acts is also an account of the work of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit in a woman is what enables her to run and finish the Christian race and to be a witness all along the way. Settle it in your heart that you are a runner and you are running to win a prize that not only will last for all eternity, but will also bring you much joy! Homework Questions 1. Group Member Introduction: a. What is your name? b. Share one thing you enjoy doing. c. What is one thing you look forward to as a result of joining this group? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
2. Share one thing from the teaching that spoke to your heart and why. 3. Reflect upon one thing that you have finished. How did it make you feel? 4. Our theme for this study is Finish My Race With Joy. How is the word my in this phrase significant to you? 5. Running takes hard work. A successful runner is committed to her sport and she works hard to be prepared for any race. Keeping this in mind, what do you learn from the following verses that will help you to run your Christian race with joy and dedication? a. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 b. Hebrews 12:1-3
Lesson 2 The Great Commission Overview Introduction I will go where you where You lead me Jesus, I will serve where You need me Jesus, Anywhere, anytime. Every step I take declares You as my King. My obedience is a precious offering. - Pat Schorr The Great Commission is literally the marching orders for the church. From the very beginning, it has been part of God s plan to use His daughters to help spread the good news of the gospel. Once the believers in the early church were filled with the Holy Spirit, they couldn t help but share about Jesus. Every Christian woman needs to be on the move in Spirit-empowered service. Begin this lesson with a prayer asking the Lord to fill you, send you out, and use you in the world around you. Memory Scripture Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 Commentary The word go in our memory scripture this week means as you are going. In other words, As you are going to work each day, as you are running errands, as you are going on vacation wherever you re going, share the gospel. That s part of what it means to be witnesses in Acts 1:8. We are sent out to the world around us to share the life-saving message of Jesus Christ. The best part of this great commission is that we are not alone, nor are we powerless. We have the Holy Spirit working in us, with us, and for us. That means that not only will we joyfully finish our race, but many others will join us at the finish line as well! Reflection Question Share one thing from the teaching that spoke to your heart and why. Homework Questions 1. The main teaching of the book of Acts is the expansion of the church throughout the world. Believers in the early church were called to be witnesses everywhere they went. According to Acts 1:8, what power did they need to be these witnesses? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
2. Read Acts 2:1-4. Describe what happened on the Day of Pentecost. 3. Read Acts 6:1-7. As the church began to grow, there was a need to raise up qualified people to serve in different areas of ministry. According to verse 3, what are these qualifications? 4. If there is anything that the book of Acts shows us, it is that God is on the move. He had commissioned His disciples to go and they were doing just that! They were moving from major city to major city to influence their world with the gospel. From the verses below, let s take a look back in history and list the seven major cities of Paul s time. a. Acts 13:1 d. Acts 13:14 b. Acts 13:6 e. Acts 14:1 c. Acts 13:13 f. Acts 14:6, 5. As the church was on the move, miracles happened! The Holy Spirit worked through ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things. Look at each of the miracles referenced below. What do you learn or glean that will give you confidence as you go and serve the Lord? a. Acts 3:1-8 b. Acts 9:36-41 c. Acts 12:5-11
Lesson 3 You Will Be My Witnesses Acts 1 Introduction Holy Spirit, You are welcome here. Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere. - Kim Walker Smith The people of the early church were powerful and passionate witnesses for Christ! They were Spirit-filled and Spirit-led believers able to do extraordinary things because the Spirit of God was at work in their lives. The same power available to them is available to us today. In fact, living the Christian life apart from the power of the Holy Spirit is impossible! It is the Spirit, alive and working in you, that causes you to be a powerful influence in the world around you. Begin your study with a heartfelt prayer, asking God to take your ordinary life and do extraordinary things through you as you yield to His Spirit! Memory Scripture But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8 Commentary The significant thing about witnesses is that they see something firsthand and are able to share this in a convincing way with others. After the death of Jesus, the disciples witnessed the resurrected Lord. This forever changed them and the way they ministered to others. Jesus was alive and He had conquered death. But more than just witnessing something with their eyes, Jesus promised His followers that they would be witnesses. In other words, God was going to use them in supernatural ways to testify of the reality of His Son, Jesus. The resurrected Jesus empowered them with His Spirit and was sending them forth with the message of the gospel. This same power is available to us today no wonder we can finish our race with victory and with joy! Reflection Question Share one thing from the teaching that spoke to your heart and why. Homework Questions 1. The book of Acts begins at the end of Jesus earthly ministry as He hands it over to the apostles to continue the work He began. Jesus doesn t leave them powerless to carry on the ministry. What does He promise them according to Acts 1:1-7? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
2. Jesus did not leave us without the proper equipment to effectively finish our race with joy. How are we equipped to carry on the ministry of Jesus according to Acts 1:8? 3. The apostles witnessed the supernatural immediately after the promise was given in verses 1-8. Record the miracle that the apostles saw with their own eyes in verses 9-11. 4. Read Acts 1:23-26. The apostles had to choose a replacement for Judas who had betrayed Jesus. How did they choose the new apostle? 5. Being a witness means that we are living in such a way that influences the lives of others. Look up the scriptures below and share what you learn regarding how we are to live so our witness to others will be powerful and effective. a. Hebrews 10:19-22 b. Hebrews 10:23 c. Hebrews 10:24-25
Lesson 4 Heaven-Sent Power Acts 2:1-21 Introduction Come Holy Spirit. Fall afresh on me. Fill me with Your Power. Satisfy my need. Malcolm Fletcher The second chapter of Acts is all about the Day of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit came upon those who were waiting in the Upper Room. Just as a body without breath is a corpse, so the church without the Spirit is dead. To be effective in your witness for Christ, you must have this heaven-sent power of the Holy Spirit! The Spirit ignites you and causes you to fervently serve the Lord. Before you begin your lesson, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you so that your life will be a wonderful and powerful reflection of Jesus who lives in you! Memory Scripture But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. John 16:13 (AMP) Commentary The world is in desperate need of change! But we are not going to change it with fancy ideas, criticism, or conformity to it. What the world needs is Christians whose lives are ignited by the Spirit of God. The early church didn t have any of the things we think are so important for success today. They didn t possess money, or political influence, or social status, yet they won multitudes to Christ and established many new churches. The secret of their success? Heaven-sent power! That same Holy Spirit is available to us today to help make us effective witnesses for Christ. The better we understand His working, the better we will be able to experience His power working in us. Reflection Question Share one thing from the teaching that spoke to your heart and why. Homework Questions 1. Read Acts 2:1-4. Describe the Day of Pentecost. Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
2. The work of the Holy Spirit was manifested supernaturally as a result of Pentecost. Read Acts 2:5-11 and describe what happened. 3. In Acts 2:12-13, what was the people s response to the manifestation of the Holy Spirit? 4. The joyful worship of believers was not the result of too much wine; it was the evidence of the arrival of God s Holy Spirit! In Acts 2:14-21, Peter explains from the Old Testament book of Joel the manifestation of the Holy Spirit that the people had witnessed. What message is given to them from these verses? 5. At Pentecost, the Christians were filled with the Spirit and experienced the baptism of the Spirit. From the verses below what do you learn regarding the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer s life? a. John 14:26 b. Romans 8:26-27 c. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Lesson 5 Devoted Disciples Acts 2:22-47 Introduction Come Holy Spirit. Only you can make me whole. Give me strength to make me grow. Malcolm Fletcher Acts 2 is a chapter that gives us great insight into what the life of a devoted believer should look like. As we will see, it s not enough to just talk about the Lord or to even say you believe in Him. There must be proof. No runner finishes a race just by showing up at the starting line and wearing all the right gear they must run the race. The same is true for us as devoted Christians. We must daily continue in the essentials of our faith, always mindful that others are watching us. Pause for a moment and pray before you start working on your homework today. Begin with a prayer of commitment letting the Lord know that your deepest desire is to live for Him. Memory Scripture Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 Commentary The Christians we meet in the book of Acts were not lukewarm; they were devoted disciples. They were serious about their walk and it affected their daily lives. They met daily (2:46), won souls daily (2:47), searched the scriptures daily (17:11), and increased in number daily (16:5). Their faith was a day-to-day reality. They taught the Word, shared in fellowship, broke bread in communion, and prayed together. Because the risen Christ was real and alive to them and His resurrection power was at work in them, they were powerful witnesses. As we look at these Christians, we would do well to mimic their walk. Reflection Question Share one thing from the teaching that spoke to your heart and why. Homework Questions 1. In Acts 2:22-40, Peter gives a powerful sermon witnessing to the lost Jews. He lists several reasons why they should believe and warns them not to reject the Messiah any longer. As a result of his sermon, what question did the people ask in Acts 2:37? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
2. From Acts 2:38, what did Peter tell them they must do? 3. Read Acts 2:41. What was the result of Peter s sermon? 4. Describe the early church according to Acts 2:42-47. 5. When the Spirit of God fills your life, your priorities change. From the following verses what should our priorities be? a. Revelation 2:2-4 b. James 1:21-22 c. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Lesson 6 There Is Power in the Name of Jesus Acts 3:1-16 Introduction At Your Name, the mountains shake and crumble. At Your Name, the oceans roar and tumble. - Phil Wickham The name of Jesus has authority behind it because He is the Son of God. The Bible clearly reminds us that the name of Jesus is above every name. Because of this, He deserves our worship and obedience. In our lesson this week, we will see firsthand how Peter heals a lame man by using the powerful name of Jesus. For us today, the name of Jesus is no less powerful. Begin your lesson with a prayer, asking the Lord for a fresh revelation of the power in His name. Memory Scripture Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. Acts 3:6 Commentary The emphasis in Acts 3 is on the name of Jesus. A name is much more than a form of identification. It carries with it authority and power. The name of the Lord has all authority behind it. When Peter and John came upon the lame beggar, the Spirit revealed to them that his greatest need was not money. He needed salvation for his soul and healing for his body. Through the power of the name of Jesus, he was completely healed. To the Christians of the early church, the name of Jesus was to be honored and glorified. Believers today should have the same conviction as they purpose in their hearts to live in such a way that honors the precious name of Jesus. Reflection Question Share one thing from the teaching that spoke to your heart and why. Homework Questions 1. Read Acts 3:1-11. The book of Acts is a book of action. Answer the questions below, sharing the action of this story. a. What action do Peter and John take when they come upon the lame man? b. What action does the lame man take? c. What is the response of the people to all the action they see? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
2. Notice that the lame man asks for money, but in return he receives a complete healing! From this incident, we see that God is able to do more than we could ever ask or think. What can you learn from this about not limiting God? 3. The names given to Jesus reveal much about who He is. From Acts 3:13-15, list the names used for Jesus and what they mean to you personally. 4. Peter addresses the men of Israel just months after the crucifixion. Read Acts 3:12-16. What does Peter tell them? 5. Jesus is power and authority yesterday, today, and forever. What is recorded in scripture reveals this truth over and over. As you read the scriptures below, what do you discover about His power and authority and how He used it to bless others? a. Mark 4:35-41 b. John 2:1-11
Lesson 7 Your Sins Are Blotted Out Acts 3:17-4:4 Introduction You have shown me favor unending, You have given Your life for me. And my heart knows of Your goodness, Your blood has covered me. - Brian Thiessen In our portion of scripture this week, we see that Peter did not leave the people without hope for forgiveness. He reminded them that if they would turn to the Savior, their sins would be erased, blotted out, and wiped clean. What an awesome promise for all who choose Christ! Let s take a moment to pray before we dig into our homework. Specifically, ask the Lord to help you and others you know and love, to accept the free gift of salvation and the wonderful truth that your sins are blotted out. Memory Scripture Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19 Commentary Having announced the crime, presented the evidence, and explained the nature of their sin, Peter then offered the Jews pardon in Acts 3:19-26. What a strange thing for the prosecuting attorney to become the defense attorney and the pardoning judge! Never forgetting his own sin, Peter s burden was to encourage his people to trust Christ and experience His gracious salvation. He knew firsthand, what it was like to be forgiven and have his sins blotted out. There was no doubt in Peter s mind that he was going to finish his race and finish well and his heart ached for his brethren to know the same blessings of the Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ. Reflection Question Share one thing from the teaching that spoke to your heart and why. Homework Questions 1. Read Acts 3:17-18. In his sermon, Peter boldly accuses the men of Israel of killing Jesus (v.15). In verse 17, what reason does Peter give for their crime? Women s Ministry of Calvary Chapel South Bay, 19300 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 352-3333
2. Read Acts 3:19-26. Peter s burden was to encourage the people to trust Christ and experience His gracious salvation and complete forgiveness. What does Peter tell the people to do in verse 19? 3. From Acts 3:19, what two things does Peter promise to the Jews if they will repent and receive the Lord? 4. Read Acts 4:1-4. How did the men of Israel respond to the invitation to repent and be saved? 5. The book of Acts is full of miracles. One of the greatest miracles of all is the miracle of salvation and complete forgiveness! To gain the truth about the unmistakable miracles that actually happened to real women, look up the following verses and share what stands out to you. a. Mark 16:9-11 b. 2 Kings 4:1-7