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Buildn i n Community ACTS
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JOHN ORTBERG W I T H K E V I N & S H E R RY H A R N E Y
New Community KNOWING . LOVING . SERVING . CELEBRATING .
Buildn i n Community ACTS
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Acts: Build Community Copyright © 1999 by the Willow Creek Association Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530 ISBN 978-0-310-22770-0 All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offered as a resource to you. These are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of Zondervan, nor do we vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Interior design by Sherri Hoffman Printed in the United States of America 08 09 10 11 12 13 • 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15
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CONTENTS
New Community Bible Study Series
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Introduction
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Session 1 Filled with the Spirit—Acts 1:1–11
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Session 2 Walk in the Spirit—Acts 2:1–24
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Session 3 Devoted to Each Other— Acts 2:42–47; 4:32–35
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Session 4 Encourage Each Other—Acts 4:32–37; 9:23–30; 11:19–26; Acts 15:36–41
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Session 5 Devoted to the Word— Acts 2:14–42; 6:1–7; 8:26–35
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Session 6 Becoming Bold Champions of the Gospel— Acts 3:1–4:20
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Leader’s Notes
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New Community BIBLE STUDY SERIES
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od has created us for community. This need is built into the very fiber of our being, the DNA of our spirit. As Christians, our deepest desire is to see the truth of God’s Word as it influences our relationship with others. We long for a dynamic encounter with God’s Word, intimate closeness with His people, and radical transformation of our lives. But how can we accomplish those three difficult tasks? The New Community Bible Study Series creates a place for all of this to happen. In-depth Bible study, communitybuilding opportunities, and life-changing applications are all built into every session of this small group study series.
How to Build Community How do we build a strong, healthy Christian community? The whole concept for this study grows out of a fundamental understanding of Christian community that is dynamic and transformational. We believe that Christians don’t simply gather to exchange doctrinal affirmations. Rather, believers are called by God to get into each other’s lives. We are family, for better or for worse, and we need to connect with each other. Community is not built through sitting in the same building and singing the same songs. It is forged in the fires of life. When we know each other deeply—the good, the bad, and the ugly—community is experienced. Community grows when we learn to rejoice with one another, celebrating life. Roots grow deep when we know we are loved by others and are free to extend love to them as well. Finally, community deepens and is built when we commit to serve each other and let others serve us. This process of doing ministry and humbly receiving the ministry of others is critical for healthy community life.
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Build Community Through Knowing and Being Known We all long to know others deeply and to be fully known by them. Although we might run from this level of intimacy at times, we all want to have people in our lives who trust us enough to disclose the deep and tender parts of themselves. In turn, we want to reveal some of our feelings, expressing them freely to people we trust. The first section of each of these six sessions creates a place for deep knowing and being known. Through serious reflection on the truth of Scripture, you will be invited to communicate parts of your heart and life with your small group members. You might even discover yourself opening parts of your heart that you have normally kept hidden. The Bible study and discussion questions do not encourage surface conversation. The only way to go deep in knowing others and being known by them is to dig deep, and this takes some work. Knowing others also takes trust—that you will honor each other and respect each other’s confidences. Build Community Through Celebrating and Being Celebrated If you have not had a good blush recently, read a short book in the Bible called Song of Songs. It’s a record of a bride and groom writing poetic and romantic love letters to each other. They are freely celebrating every conceivable aspect of each other’s personality, character, and physical appearance. At one point the groom says, “You have made my heart beat fast with a single glance from your eyes.” Song of Songs is a reckless celebration of life, love, and all that is good. We need to recapture the joy and freedom of celebration. In each session your group will commit to celebrate together. Although there are many ways to express joy, we will let our expression of celebration come through prayer. In each session you will take time to come before the God of joy and celebrate who He is and what He is doing. You will also have opportunity to celebrate what God is doing in your life and the lives of those who are a part of your small group. You will become a community of affirmation, celebration, and joy through your prayer time together.
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You will need to be sensitive during this time of prayer together. Not everyone feels comfortable praying with a group of people. Be aware that each person is starting at a different place in their freedom to pray in a group, and be patient. Seek to promote a warm and welcoming atmosphere where each person can stretch a little and learn what it means to be a community that celebrates with God in the center. Build Community Through Loving and Being Loved Unless we are exchanging deeply committed levels of love with a few people, we will die slowly on the inside. This is precisely why so many people feel almost nothing at all. If we don’t learn to exchange love with family and friends, we will eventually grow numb and no longer believe love is even a possibility. This is not God’s plan. He hungers for us to be loved and to give love to others. As a matter of fact, He wants this for us even more than we want it for ourselves. Every session in this study will address the area of loving and being loved. You will be challenged, in your personal life and as a small group, to be intentional and consistent about building love relationships. You will get practical tools and be encouraged to set measurable goals for giving and receiving love. Build Community Through Serving and Being Served Community is about serving and humbly allowing others to serve you. The single most stirring example of this is recorded in John 13, where Jesus takes the position of the lowest servant and washes the feet of His followers. He gives them a powerful example and then calls them to follow. Servanthood is at the very core of community. To sustain deep relationships over a long period of time, there must be humility and a willingness to serve each other. At the close of each session will be a clear challenge to servanthood. As a group, and as individual followers of Christ, you will discover that community is built through serving others. You will also find that your own small group members will grow in their ability to extend service to your life.
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Bible Study Basics To get the most out of this study, you will need to prepare and participate. Here are some guidelines to help you. Preparing for the Study 1. If possible, even if you are not the leader, look over each lesson before you meet, read the Bible passages, and answer the questions. The more you are prepared, the more you will gain from the study. 2. Begin your preparation time with prayer. Ask God to help you understand the passage and apply it to your life. 3. A good modern translation, such as the New International Version, the New American Standard Bible, or the New Revised Standard Version, will give you the most help. Questions in this guide are based on the New International Version. 4. Read and reread the passages. You must know what the passage says before you can understand what it means and how it applies to you. 5. Write your answers in the spaces provided in the study guide. This will help you to participate more fully in the discussion and will also help you personalize what you are learning. 6. Keep a Bible dictionary handy to look up unfamiliar words, names, or places. Participating in the Study 1. Be willing to join in the discussion. The leader of the group will not be lecturing but will encourage people to discuss what they have learned in the passage. Plan to share what God has taught you during your preparation time. 2. Stick to the passages being studied. Base your answers on the verses being discussed rather than on outside authorities such as commentaries or your favorite author or speaker.
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3. Try to be sensitive to the other members of the group. Listen attentively when they speak, and be affirming whenever you can. This will encourage more hesitant members of the group to participate. 4. Be careful not to dominate the discussion. By all means participate, but allow others to have equal time. 5. If you are a discussion leader or a participant who wants further insights, you will find additional comments in the Leader’s Notes at the back of this book.
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INTRODUCTION
Acts—Build Community Welcome to the Adventure As we grow in our responsiveness to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, we give birth to community. As we experience authentic community, worship erupts. As we grow into deep worshipers of Jesus Christ, our mission becomes crystal clear. People matter to God, and they matter to us when we have the heart of Christ. The story of Acts helps us see that a group of Christ followers, ignited by the presence of the Spirit, truly can change the world. Church is no longer a place we go or something we do; we are the church. Do you hunger for a new and fresh experience of the Holy Spirit? Does your soul thirst for real, authentic community? Do you long to grow as a worshiper of the living God? Are you filled with a longing to invite others into the community of Christ followers called the church? If so, welcome to this adventure called the book of Acts. Let’s build community together.
What Might Happen? What might happen in our lives if we are committed to let the message and power of the book of Acts come alive? If we are willing to enter this study with an open heart, we will connect with the most prominent character in the book of Acts—the central figure in this history of the early church. Take a moment to read a few of the opening verses of the book of Acts: In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. (Acts 1:1–2)
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On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4–5) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) Who is the most prominent character in the book of Acts? It is not Peter, and it is not the apostle Paul—although both play significant roles. The lead role in the drama of the book of Acts is played by the Holy Spirit. (Some scholars even call this book “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.”) The early church experienced the prominent and powerful presence of the Holy Spirit working among them. Ordinary people were gifted and empowered to do extraordinary things; but apart from the Spirit, they could do nothing. The Spirit is the source of power for kingdom living. If you desire to be fully open to the Holy Spirit and receive supernatural power to live a kingdom life, the book of Acts is for you. As we look at the early church through the window of this book, we will learn to practice community in new and fresh ways. The Holy Spirit gives birth to the community of the church. You will discover that the meaning of community is not vague or hazy. Luke, the author of Acts, does not allow us to understand community as a general feeling of goodwill toward people with a few peripheral behaviors. Rather, Luke places community at the core of our being. Community is about how we belong to each other as Christ followers. Reflect on a few verses that paint a picture of what the Spirit was doing among the early followers of Christ:
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They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. (Acts 2:1) All the believers were together and had everything in common. (Acts 2:44) The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. (Acts 5:12) History shows that when God moves in mighty ways, the people of God face life together. They don’t just go to church— they meet together, pray together, share what they have, and invest deeply in each other’s lives of each other. Explosive energy is generated when God’s people are together. Worship and praise erupts and can’t be stopped!
The Longing of Our Hearts The book of Acts paints a vivid picture of life infused with the dynamic and radiant power of the Holy Spirit. This book gives us a look behind the curtain of the delivery room where the church was given birth. We see the first breath of the Holy Spirit filling this small band of believers. We watch as the church takes its first steps toward discovering how to live as God’s new community. As we watch this drama unfold, we discover we are not watching their story, but our story. We are the church of Jesus Christ—still growing, still maturing, still learning, still discovering what God would have us be. We are created for community. We long to be with other Christ followers, to know and be known, love and be loved,
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serve and be served, celebrate and be celebrated. Our place in the life of the community of God’s people becomes clear as the book of Acts helps us build community. Our yearning to know the purpose of our existence is satisfied as the pathway to intimacy with God and others unveils itself through the drama of the early church. —John Ortberg
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SESSION ONE
Filled with the Spirit ACTS 1:1–11
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rank Laubach, a pastor who had served in the Philippines as a missionary in the early part of the twentieth century, hit bottom. As he looked at his life’s work, it seemed like it had all come to nothing. He and his wife had lost three children to malaria; and now, in his mid-forties, he was separated for health reasons from his wife and their one remaining child. Frank Laubach felt isolated and broken. But then . . . he met God! He found relief when he discovered that he could live in intimate communion with God through the Holy Spirit. During this process of seeking peace, he maintained a personal journal of prayers and reflections. He wrote these words sitting on a mountain, facing a life of failure, separated from everyone he loved: The most wonderful discovery that has ever come to me is that I do not have to wait until some future time until the glorious hour. I do not need to . . . wait for any grave. This hour can be heaven. Any hour for anybody can be as rich as God. For do you not see that God is trying experiments with human lives. That’s why there are so many of them. He has, at this moment, one billion seven hundred million experiments going on around the world. And His question is, “How far will this man and that woman allow me to carry this hour?” This Sunday afternoon at three o’clock He was asking it of us all. I do not know what the rest of you said, but as for me, I asked God, “How wonderful do you wish this hour alone with me to be?” And God answered convincingly, “It can be as wonderful as any hour that any
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human being has ever lived. For I who pushed life up through the protozoa and the tiny grass and the fish and the bird and the dog and the gorilla and the human being and who am reaching out toward eternity, I have not become satisfied yet. I am not only willing to make this hour marvelous, I am in travail to set you akindle with the Christ-thing that has no name. How fully can you surrender and not be afraid?” And I answered, “Fill my mind with your mind to the last crevice. Catch me up in your arms, God, and make this hour as terribly glorious as any human being ever lived, if you will. I scarce see how one could live if his heart held more than mine has held from Thee these past few hours.” Clearly my job here is not to go to the town plaza and convince people to change their religious beliefs or to win a theological debate. My job is to live wrapped in God, trembling to His thoughts, burning with His passion. And my loved ones, that is the best gift you can give to the place where you live. . . . You and I shall soon blow away from our bodies. Money, praise, poverty, opposition, these make no difference, for they will all alike be forgotten in a thousand years. But this Spirit, which comes to a mind set upon continuous surrender— this Spirit is timeless life. Frank Laubach’s life stands as a testament to the Holy Spirit’s power to move through the life of a willing person. This broken and yielded man decided that his one passion would be to walk in the presence of His God, led by the Spirit, every moment of every day. What grew out of this decision, he allowed, would be up to God. What did God do through this man? Frank Laubach developed a volunteer-based method of literacy education known as “each one teach one” and became the father of a worldwide literacy movement. As a result of his teaching methods, more than sixty million people speaking two hundred different languages and dialects learned to read in their own native tongue. He became an advisor to presidents and national leaders.
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What can God do through one life fully surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit? Only God can answer that question. Do you dare ask Him?
Making the Connection 1. What does it look like when the Holy Spirit is at work in the life of a person or church?
Describe a time when you had a deep sense of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Knowing and Being Known The Hard Work of Waiting My childhood church expected everybody to attend the main service—even little kids. We had no children’s church, no developmentally appropriate age-sensitive curriculum, no special message for kids. From the time we were old enough to graduate from nursery, we were old enough for big church. We had none of this contemporary, seekerfriendly jazz. No dramas or stirring visuals enhanced our worship. No
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Generation X, guitar-playing, surfer dude led worship to make it exciting, entertaining, or relevant.We did church the good ol’ fashioned way, with hymns accompanied by the organ and sermons that seemed eternal. And we liked it that way! . . .Well, not really. I made it through by snacking from a little plastic bag of Cheerios that my mom brought for me. I would ration them and eat them as slowly as I could. If the message finished before my Cheerios ran out, I considered the morning good. But if the Cheerios ran out before the message was over, I knew it would be a long morning for all of us.To this day, if a sermon or message goes particularly long, I find myself having a strange craving for Cheerios.
Read Acts 1:1–5 and Luke 1:1–4 2. Describe a time when you had to wait for something that you were very excited to receive or experience.
How did you feel when the waiting was finally over?
Why is waiting so hard for us?
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3. What connections do you see between the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts?
4. Imagine you were one of the disciples who saw Jesus and heard Him teach in the forty days following His Resurrection. How do you think you would have felt after meeting Him?
How do you think you would have responded when you heard that Jesus’ primary instruction was to wait (Acts 1:5)?
Meeting the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is not in our employ; we are in his. . . .We must let him work on his terms and schedule.We cannot manipulate his power or program his activities. But because he is Lord, we must be open to whatever he wants to do, receptive to whatever gifts he sends, responsive to whatever priority he sets. God is at work in the world today—that is the heart of what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit.The Sovereign Father has not left the completion of his plan to chance. He, with the Son, has sent the Holy Spirit as the guarantee that the entire divine purpose will be carried out. . . . Our task (as God’s people) is to apply God’s truths to our lives, to believe his promises, to obey his orders, to experience his forgiveness and power, to rejoice in his magnificent gifts to us. —David A. Hubbard, The Holy Spirit in Today’s World (Word, 1973)
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Read Acts 1:6–11 5. What do you learn about the person of the Holy Spirit in this first chapter of Acts (Acts 1:1–11)?
What do you learn about the work of the Holy Spirit?
6. What does Luke teach us about Jesus in each of these time frames: • His earthly ministry
• His work following the Resurrection through today
• His return at the end of time
What is the relationship of Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
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7. If you had some misconceptions about the Holy Spirit as a young Christian, what were they?
In what ways has your grasp on the person and work of the Holy Spirit in the church grown?
The Life of the Spirit I heard a story about a group of college students in Southern California who would often go door-to-door and ask this question,“Would you like to receive the gift of eternal life?” One day, they knocked on a door that was answered by a woman who had a screaming baby in one arm, a vacuum in her hand, and loud kids running around behind her. She looked exhausted.The students smiled and asked,“Would you like to know how to have eternal life?” She sighed and answered,“Frankly, I don’t know if I could stand it!” For many people, stretching this life out for eternity is not very appealing. The Spirit, though, offers and brings to followers of Christ a life that is qualitatively different from this one.The presence of the Spirit always gives life—not simply by adding years, but by replenishing souls. Life in the Spirit is not just about eternity, although eternity is an important part of it, but about radical transformation, meaningful direction and purpose, amazing discoveries of real life, and indescribable joy.
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Read Galatians 5:22–23 and Romans 12:3–8 8. What is one fruit of the Spirit that you see growing in your life (Galatians 5:22–23)?
What is one fruit that needs to be watered and grown more in your life?
9. If you have had opportunity to discover, develop, and use a spiritual gift, how has this experience deepened your understanding of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit?
What is one spiritual gift God has given you, and how are you seeking to use it for His glory and for building up others?
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10. What have you learned as a follower of Christ that helps you tune in to the voice of the Spirit and grow more responsive to the Spirit’s leading?
Celebrating and Being Celebrated Pray together and celebrate the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in your lives. Remember ways the Spirit has encouraged, challenged, convicted, and empowered you. Praise God for the way the Holy Spirit has gifted each person in your group and for how these gifts are being used in ministry. Celebrate ways you see the fruit of the Spirit growing in the lives of your group members.
Loving and Being Loved Identify one person you have a difficult time loving. (If there is a chance group members know this person, don’t use a name; only talk about the situation and how you want to grow in your love for this person.) Invite your small group members, over the coming month, to pray for the power and love of the Spirit to infuse this relationship. At the end of the month, give your group an update on how you are growing in your ability to express and show love in this relationship.
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Serving and Being Served Every follower of Christ is gifted by the Spirit to do some kind of ministry. Commit as a group to serve each other, and the church, by challenging one another to develop your gifts for ministry. Let this happen on three levels: 1. For group members who have never discovered their spiritual gifts, challenge them to take a class, or read a book on spiritual gifts. I would suggest the class or book Network, by Bruce Bugbee, Don Cousins, and Bill Hybels. As a group, commit to helping each group member identify at least one spiritual gift. 2. For those who know one of their spiritual gifts but are not using it right now, challenge them to develop this gift and begin serving God, the church, and those outside the church. Again, as a group, commit to encouraging every group member to understand their gifts and use them for ministry. 3. For those who have identified their gifts and are doing ministry, do all you can to encourage, support, and bless them as they continue to serve. Every ministry involves commitment and hard work. Offer consistent encouragement and constructive feedback to each of your group members as they follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and use their God-given abilities for ministry.
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S E S S I O N T WO
Walk in the Spirit ACTS 2:1–24
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esus was not only fully God, He was also fully man. Therefore, He models what life can be like if we walk in the Spirit. From beginning to end, the Spirit and Jesus are in relationship. All of Jesus’ ministry was done in the power of the Spirit of God. As members of the Trinity, Jesus and the Spirit are eternally at work together. The life of Jesus and the ministry of the Holy Spirit are inextricably intertwined. God spoke through an angel and revealed that He would send a messenger (John the Baptist) ahead of the Messiah (Jesus) to prepare the way. The angel said: He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. (Luke 1:15) When the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary about what was about to happen to her, he said: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) When Mary was pregnant with Jesus, she visited Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. This is the greeting Elizabeth gave to Mary: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
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In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” (Luke 1:41–42) When Jesus’ parents brought Him to the temple as a baby, this is what happened: Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God. . . (Luke 2:25–28) At His baptism, we see a powerful picture of the Father, Son, and Spirit together: When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21–22) When Jesus began His teaching ministry, He went to Nazareth, His hometown, and began His message by reading this Scripture: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18–19 from Isaiah 61:1, 2)
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Jesus taught about the Spirit, was led by the Spirit, and clearly walked in the Spirit. Jesus arranged His life around practices, experiences, and relationships that would keep Him connected to the life and work of the Spirit. We live in the age of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was unleashed on the earth through the life and ministry of Jesus. Since Jesus opened the door for us to experience the Spirit and since Jesus was so connected with the Spirit, He is our example of how life can be lived in the presence and power of the Spirit. His life becomes our pattern to follow.
Making the Connection 1. Although Jesus was fully God, He was also fully man. How is His life an example of how we can live in intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit?
Knowing and Being Known A Hunger Only the Spirit Can Fill In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe waiting for the emerging of a Spirit-led, Spirit-intoxicated, Spirit-empowered people. All of creation watches expectantly for the springing up of a disciplined, freely gathered people who know in this life the life and power of the kingdom of God. It has happened before, it can happen again. . . . Such a people will not emerge until there is among us a deeper, more profound experience of an Emmanuel of the Spirit—God with us, a
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knowledge that in the power of the Spirit Jesus has come to guide His people Himself, an experience of His leading that is as definite and immediate as the cloud by day and fire by night. —Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline (Harper and Row, 1978)
Read Acts 2:1–13 2. Imagine you could talk to one of the seekers in the crowd on Pentecost day who became a follower of Christ. How do you think they would describe the coming and work of the Holy Spirit?
3. Although God did a great work through the power of the Spirit, there were still some who mocked and refused to believe (Acts 2:13). Describe a time you have seen God work through the Spirit, but some still refused to believe.
Why do you think some respond to the presence and work of the Spirit and others remain hard-hearted and resistant?
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4. Describe a time when the Spirit broke through to you and brought you to a place of deep commitment and surrender to Jesus.
Changed by the Spirit When the Spirit is at work in a follower of Christ, change happens! It can be slow and gradual, or sudden and radical, but transformation always takes place.We need to open our lives to the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit.We need to recognize His presence and welcome His power to change us more and more into the image of Jesus. How can we grow more responsive to the leading of the Spirit? When you wake up in the morning, before you say a word to the person you would normally greet first, quietly ask the Spirit to guide you in how you should greet this person. When the telephone rings, quickly whisper a prayer for the Spirit to give you guidance in your conversation. All day long, ask how you can be with people in a way that will free the love of God to flow from you to them. When you see a neighbor, interact with a coworker, or meet with a client, seek the wisdom and leading of the Holy Spirit; when someone bumps into you, irritates you, or hurts you, humbly pray, “What do You want me to do in this situation? Lead me, Spirit of God.” Take these opportunities to grow in dependence on the Holy Spirit. Let your experiences and emotions—whether joy, fear, gratitude, temptation to sin, or just boredom—trigger prayer for the leading of the Spirit. Cry out for the Spirit to lead your every thought and action. Developing our relationship with the Holy Spirit is a reciprocal, cyclical process: God pours His Spirit out on human beings, and we open ourselves to receive Him, primarily through prayer and surrender. Our responses to the leading and prompting of the Spirit teach us even more how to sense His direction and hear His voice.
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Read Luke 22:54–62 and Acts 2:14–24 5. The same Peter who publicly denied Jesus three times is now boldly telling others about the Savior. How have Peter’s attitude and actions changed since he has been filled with the power of the Holy Spirit?
6. In Peter’s message he quotes from the prophet Joel (Acts 2:17–21 from Joel 2:28–32). What does Joel teach us about what happens when the Spirit enters the life of the church?
7. How have you seen the Spirit at work transforming your church?
What are some of the dreams and visions God has given your church through the working of the Spirit?
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The Spirit Will Bring Growth Dwight Moody, a nineteenth-century evangelist, spoke about Jesus to great crowds of people in England. Large numbers of people came to God because of him. A skeptical pastor from Scotland went to a meeting where Moody was preaching. His intention was to confirm his feeling that Moody was not involved in a true work of God and was not being led by the Spirit. He did not like Moody or his methods, and wanted to confirm his suspicions. As the meeting went on, he watched what happened. He sat amazed as people came to God in genuine repentance. He went up to Dwight Moody after the meeting and said,“Moody, I have seen your mission, and I have come to the conclusion that it is the work of God. And I’ll tell you why: I can see no possible relationship between you personally and the results you are achieving.Therefore it must be of God.” Moody, rather than taking offense, accepted this as great affirmation. Because where the Spirit is involved, He leads people toward the kind of life that Jesus intended for us to live.
Read 1 Corinthians 3:5–9 8. The apostle Paul paints a wonderful picture of partnership in ministry. What part do followers of Christ have in doing God’s work?
How is this a genuine partnership?
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9. What is one ministry or work of God that you are part of right now?
What is your part in this ministry?
What have you seen the Spirit do in this ministry?
10. Why is it crucial that we give glory and credit to God when the Spirit does great things?
What is one praise you can lift to God right now for how the Spirit is working in your life?
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Celebrating and Being Celebrated Take time as a small group to celebrate the work God is doing in and through your lives by the power of the Spirit. Also spend time praising the Spirit for the work He is doing in your small group and your church.
Loving and Being Loved The Spirit always leads us toward the kind of life that Jesus led. Take time in the coming days to read the gospel of Luke. Reflect deeply on how Jesus’ life was guided by the Spirit. Look for ways you can order your life so that the Spirit has maximum room to speak, lead, and empower you. Offer your life to God as a sacrifice of love, more and more shaped and led by the Spirit. Identify one or two areas in which you need to grow in your dependence on the Spirit, and then ask one of your small group members to pray for you and encourage you along the way.
Serving and Being Served Our lives are about partnering with God in ministry. We are to offer our time and abilities—our entire selves—to God. Take time as a group to affirm each member who is part of a specific ministry or service opportunity. Bless them, affirm them, and challenge them to continue serving God and others by using their God-given gifts. For those who are still seeking the Spirit’s direction for how they can serve, commit to pray for them and encourage them to discover, develop, and use their God-given gifts to glorify God.
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New Community
knowing . loving . serving . celebrating .
Build Community
Acts
Challenging questions encourage you to reflect on Scripture and its impact on your life, both as an individual and as part of a community of Christ followers.
In Acts, you will discover that God wants to do a fresh work among his people by the power of the Holy Spirit. You will find the pathway to authentic community. You will learn how to grow as a worshiper. And you will deepen your passion to invite others into the fellowship of Christ-followers we call the church. Sound exciting? Let’s rediscover church together!
New Community
b u i l d
New Community Series—a high-impact tool for experiencing the transforming power of God’s Word. This cutting-edge series lets you explore life-changing topics from a biblical perspective in community with others in your small group.
Today, some people think of the church as a powerless institution made of ancient traditions and stuffy buildings. They’re wrong! The church is the new community of God’s people. It’s filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. And it has as much to say to the world today as it did two thousand years ago.
c o m m u n i t y
Experience the Holy Spirit’s Transforming Power in God’s New Community
knowing . loving . serving . celebrating .
John Ortberg is a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, and the author of The Life You’ve Always Wanted and If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. He has written for Christianity Today and is a frequent contributor to Leadership Journal. Kevin and Sherry Harney serve at Shoreline Community Church in Monterey, California. They have authored Finding a Church You Can Love and Organic Outreach For Families, and more than sixty small group Bible Studies. Learn more at: kevingharney.com and sherryharney.com
Build Community Acts six sessions
Cover Design: Holli Leegwater Cover Photo: Photodisc / D. Normark
RELIGION / Biblical Studies / Bible Study Guides USD $9.99 ISBN 978-0-310-22770-0
john ortberg with kevin
9780310227700_cover_NEW.indd 1
& sherry harney
12/6/16 2:39 PM