ACTS Bible Study with Christ Lutheran Church
7 PM ... Wednesday, October 7, 2020
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SHARE: Pivotal Point Highs or Lows
What was a PIVOTAL POINT in your LIFE?
What was a PIVOTAL POINT in your FAITH LIFE?
PRAY: Dearest Lord, this is a Pivotal Moment. You have called each of us into ACTION and to ACT upon our faith. You have led us, not only onto a PATH of Discipleship, but commissioned us into a MISSION of Apostleship. This means we need to learn from you how to face CONFLICT with Faith rather than Fear, and with the support of the Holy Spirit, rather than a sense of being Alone. Help us ACT in support of your whole church, not just OUR part. In the name of the Crucified and Risen Savior we Pray. AMEN.
READ & TALK: LUKE 24
1) LAST WILL & TESTAMENT of JESUS to Disciples preparing to be Apostles
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.…
READ & TALK: ACTS 2
2) DAY of PENTECOST: Disciples begin to act like Apostles
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. …
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
READ & TALK: ACTS 7
3) STEPHEN STONED: Apostles begin to give their Lives for the Gospel
Stephen continued, 51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. 8 1aAnd Saul approved of their killing him.
READ & TALK: ACTS 9
4) SAUL’S CONVERSION: New Apostles Emerge to Act Upon the Gospel
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
READ & TALK ACTS 13
5) PAUL & BARNABAS in MISSION: The Apostles bring the Act on the Road
1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
READ & TALK: ACTS 15
6) PAUL & JERUSALEM: The Acts of the Apostles develops Conflict
1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
7) PAUL & SILAS: Apostles Go in Different Directions
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
READ & TALK: ACTS 23
8) PAUL UNDER ARREST: Returning to the City of Conflict
12 The next morning some Jews [from Jerusalem] formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
READ & TALK: ACTS 28
9) PAUL AND LUKE: On the Journey to Rome Luke starts using the word WE
28 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.PRAY: Dear Lord, Open my EYES and HEART when you are PRESENT. Help me notice when my heart is BURNING in the presence of your WITNESS. Help me see how you came FOR everyone with grace FOR everyone.
PRAY: Dearest Lord, this is a Pivotal Moment. You have called each of us into ACTION and to ACT upon our faith. You have led us, not only to a PATH of Discipleship, but commissioned us into a MISSION of Apostleship. This means we need to learn from you how to face CONFLICT with Faith rather than Fear, and with the support of the Holy Spirit, rather than a sense of being Alone. Help us ACT in support of your whole church, not just OUR part. In the name of the Crucified and Risen Savior we Pray. AMEN.
BLESS: Pick somebody and say one of these blessings to them ... or make up your own.
Nice ... Intelligent... Kind ... Helpful ... Inspirational ... Loving
God loves you and I love you too.
May God bless you today and every day.
Jesus is our Rock … but you Rock too!!
Every time I see you I thank my God.
You are a Beloved Child of God
I am so Blessed to be in your Circle of Care