INDUCTIVE LESSON ONE The Adventure Begins As a high school track coach I was often trying to find new ways of building up strength in the leg muscles of my distance runners. One of my favorites was called the Chariot Race. For this workout, I would drive my SUV onto the track and attach four harnesses to the front bumper. Each runner would take his or her turn pulling my SUV around the track. The team of four with the fastest lap time got to go home early. Needless to say, the runners pulled like my leashed Golden Retriever when he sees a cat. Often I heard, Coach is too cheap to buy gas. One of my assistant coaches told me that if I just turned on the ignition I could use the power from the engine to get there a lot sooner. Unfortunately, in our church today, many of us are like the athletes pulling the SUV. We ignore the power available to us, and try to live our lives successfully in the strength of our own might. Listen to the promise of Jesus in Acts 1:8, But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you (NKJV). The word for power in the Greek (dunamis) is the basis for our English word dynamite. With the early church walking in the Holy Spirit, it is no surprise that the gospel exploded across the Roman Empire. With only 120 believers in the Upper Room, it was through the power of the Holy Spirit that the gospel spread to every corner of the Roman Empire and beyond, with an estimated two million believers by the time the last apostle died. Today through the work of the Holy Spirit, and not through the coercion of man, there are 2.1 billion Christians worldwide. Sadly, many believers and many churches no longer rely on the power of the Holy Spirit in their ministries and daily walk. It has been said that if the Holy Spirit were removed today, 95% of the activities within the church would continue, and the world would never know the difference. In marked contrast, if the Holy Spirit had been removed from the first-century church, 95% of the ministries would have stopped and the world would have continued in darkness. In our passage of study this week we encounter the phrase, baptized with the Holy Spirit. For many within the church, this phrase is used interchangeably with indwelling of the Holy Spirit and filling of the Holy Spirit. Most Bible scholars point out that these are separate actions by the Spirit, and there is some disagreement over the use of these phrases. John Piper states, I think the essence of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is when a person, who is already a believer, receives extraordinary spiritual power for Christ-exalting ministry. Conversely, John MacArthur and the website Let Us Reason believe that at the moment of conversion the individual is baptized with the Holy Spirit, who then indwells the new believer from that point on.2,3 The points on which we all agree are the indwelling of the Spirit in all believers, and the filling of the Spirit, which occurs to equip us for ministry and sanctification. To be filled with the Spirit 1
means we have totally relinquished control of our life to the direction of the Spirit. J. Vernon McGee observes that we have to be continually refilled with the Spirit because man is a leaky vessel.4 Chuck Smith comments, I am convinced that the greatest need in the church today is a renewal of the teaching on the subject of the Holy Spirit, in order that the church might come into the fullness of the Spirit. I believe that the only hope for our nation today is a spiritual awakening that will begin in the church with a fresh movement of the Holy Spirit upon the lives and the hearts of the church, who is seeking, who is thirsting, who is asking. 5 Our studies this year in the Book of Acts will meet that need and hopefully spark the awakening Pastor Chuck mentions. 1http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/you-will-be-baptized-with-the-holy-spirit 2http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/1704/the-baptism-of-the-holy-spirit-part 2 3http://www.letusreason.org/Biblexp212.htm 4Thru The Bible Commentary Series-Ephesians, J. Vernon McGee Thomas Nelson Nashville 1991 page 119 5http://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/smith_chuck/HolySpirit/hs_05.cfm Prayer Start by praying over the passage and asking the Holy Spirit to give you fresh insights and wisdom in understanding it. Then read through the entire passage two or three times. Memory Verse But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the world. Acts 1:8 Inductive Method Step 1: Observation On the importance of making observations, Chuck Swindoll writes: A small bottle containing urine sat upon the desk of Sir William Osler. He was then the eminent professor of medicine at Oxford University. Sitting before him was a classroom full of young, wide-eyed medical students listening to his lecture on the importance of observing details. To emphasize his point, he reached down and picked up the bottle. Holding it high, he announced: This bottle contains a sample for analysis. It's often possible by tasting it to determine the disease from which the patient suffers. Suiting action to words, he dipped a finger into the fluid and then into his mouth, as he continued Now I am going to pass the bottle around. Each of you please do exactly as I did. Perhaps we can learn the importance of this technique and diagnose the case. The bottle made its way from row to row as each student gingerly poked his finger in and bravely sampled the contents with a frown. Dr. Osler then retrieved the bottle and startled his students with the words: Gentlemen, now you will understand what I mean when I speak about details. Had you been observant you would have seen that I put my index finger into the bottle but my middle finger into my mouth! There is much to be learned from that true story, especially regarding you and your Bible. Time and again I have heard the complaint, "But I just don't get anything out of the Bible. I read it and ask God to show me His truth, but nothing happens!" Or people will occasionally say, "When I read that passage you preached on today, I wondered, 'How in the world will he get anything out of this?' I really can't understand why I 2
can t see what is there. "I've got good news---you can! But you will have to open your eyes and think. You will need to force yourself to observe, to take notice, to read the Scriptures like a detective examining the evidence, to discipline yourself to become saturated with the particulars of the passage. Since such attention to details will supply you with the raw materials you must have to interpret God s Word accurately, I strongly advise you to begin today. Think of your eyes as searchlights. Become a glutton for details in everyday life. Don t glance at birds see sparrows. Don t smell flowers, observe the hyacinth, the fuchsia, the tulip. Don t consider a tree look at a willow or a birch. Don t watch cars, notice Fords or Pontiacs and Toyotas. Don t simply hear others words listen for feelings and picture detailed concepts. Stop collecting the garbage of generalities and start stretching your mental muscles in the gymnasium of in-depth perception. My Observations: In the left column, write down observations you make directly from the text. Things to look for: What are the promises? What are the commands? What are the sources of conflict? What are the cause/effect relationships? What are the repeated words and ideas? What do we know about who is speaking and who is receiving the message? What comparisons and contrasts can you identify and what do they illustrate? Do you have unanswered questions on part of the passage? (Share them with your group.) Digging Deeper: In the right column, write down any additional observations you can add from other sources such as: Other scriptures that apply (cross references) Dictionaries for specific words (English or Greek dictionary) Bible dictionaries for historical information Commentaries (See the Tool Box at the end of the study for suggested sources.) Parallel passages in other books. Accounts found in parallel passages, while very similar, often reveal small but critical details omitted by another author. Inductive Method Step 2: Interpretation Webster tells us that interpret means to explain the meaning or make understandable. What is the spiritual truth or lesson that God is trying to teach in this passage? Don t isolate the passage but read into it and read out of it. Look for commands, imperatives, promises, or warnings. What is God saying to those people at that time? (You will share what God is saying to you in the next section.) State the spiritual truth or lesson in a single sentence. 3
Inductive Method Step 3: Application This is where you purpose to do what God has taught you in your time with Him. It is through applying the Word that God changes lives. Application does not happen by osmosis, but by intent. God enlightens us with His Word, we apply what we ve learned with our wills, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to carry out these choices. The goal of all application is to glorify God by becoming more like Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for... Teaching: What did I learn? Reproof: Where do I fall short? Why do I fall short? Correction: What will I do about it? Training in righteousness: How can I make this principle a consistent part of my life? Study Text / Worksheet Write down your observations, comments, or questions directly on the text as you go over it. Prologue and Promise Acts 1: 1 8 1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which, He said, you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? 7 And He said to them, It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 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. My Observations 4 Digging Deeper
Interpretation: Application: The Ascension and Prayer Meeting Acts 1:9 14 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. 12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. My Observations 5 Digging Deeper
Interpretation: Application: Matthias Chosen Acts 1:15 26 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16 Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry. 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it ; and, Let another take his office. 21 Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection. 23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles. 6
My Observations Digging Deeper Interpretation: Application: Take Away / Summary If one of your friends at work or a neighbor were to ask you what you did on Tuesday, you would tell them you went to a Bible study. The next question would likely be, What did you learn? We often summarize an entire athletic contest or a movie in a few brief sentences, and easily convey the essence of the event. Now apply these same skills to give a summary of the passage in a sentence or two. Then, in an additional sentence or two, describe what impact this passage will have on how you live. Memory Verse 7
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the world. Acts 1:8 Key Words/Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary, or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. Baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5) Receive Power (Acts 1:8) Tool Box Step 1: The Bible. Read the passage in a couple of different versions. If you are having trouble understanding a passage, choose a more dynamic version such as New Living Translation or The Message). To focus in on the exact meaning of a verse, choose a more literal translation such as New American Standard Bible or New King James Version. Step 2: Study Tools. Use these to help you dig deeper. Background Information: 1) Unger s Bible Dictionary 2) Bible Dictionaries online at biblestudytools.com and blueletterbible.com. Word Studies: 1) Zodhiates The Complete Word Study New Testament 2) Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary 3) Strong s Dictionary of Bible Words 4) The two websites listed above Step 3: Commentaries. Commentaries should not be used in place of studying God s Word directly, but they can give you additional insights. Some good commentaries include: John MacArthur, J. Vernon McGee, The Expositors Commentary, NIV Application Commentary, William Barclay (great for background and culture but be careful of his spiritual applications). 8
Word for Word Translations NASB New American Standard Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/new- American-Bible-NASB/ AMP - Amplified Bible http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/amplified-bible-amp/ ESV - English Standard Version http://www.esvstudybible.org/ KJV King James Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/king-james-version-kjv- Bible/ NKJV New King James Version http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/new-king-james- Version-NKJV-Bible/ NIV New International Version http://www.biblica.com/niv/ Thought for Thought Translations NLT New Living Translation http://newlivingtranslation.com/ The Message http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/message-msg-bible/ 2014 Mark Newton. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. www.harvest.org Prayer Requests 9
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