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Editorial and Design Staff Author C. Gene Wilkes General Editor Margie Williamson Copy Editor Kaci Lane Hindman Graphic Design Brandi K. Etheredge Cover Design Melanie Magee, Brandi K. Etheredge
C. Gene Wilkes—Gene is the Pastor of Legacy Church, Plano, Texas, where he has served since 1987. The church has transitioned during his ministry to more effectively carry out its mission “to help people trust Jesus,” and to live out its vision as “a mission outpost where every member is a missionary in his or her mission field.” Gene is the author of Jesus on Leadership: Discovering the Secrets of Servant Leadership from the Life of Christ; Paul on Leadership: Servant Leadership in a Ministry of Transition; My Identity in Christ; With All My Soul: God’s Design for Spiritual Wellness; CommunityBased Servant Evangelism; An Angel in the Flame: A Tale of Two Saviors; and Yahweh––Divine Encounters in the Old Testament and Christos: God’s Transforming Touch (both from Life Bible Study). Gene speaks at national conferences on the topics of spiritual gifts, lay mobilization, disciple making, and servant leadership. He has led conferences and taught in Canada, China, Albania, Russia, and Cuba. Gene received his bachelor’s degree from Baylor University and his M.Div. and Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Gene is a Resident Teaching Fellow for B. H. Carroll Theological Institute and an adjunct professor in the Cary Cook Graduate School of Leadership, Dallas Baptist University. He leads peer learning groups, coaches church leaders in the transition ministry, and serves on the advisory boards of Dallas Providence Homes, a transformational housing ministry for battered women and their children, and Children Medical Center of Dallas Pastoral Care. For the past ten years, Gene has served as a volunteer chaplain for the Plano police and fire departments.
Introduction When someone asks, “Where do you go to church?” or “What church do you belong to?” what image of “church” comes to your mind? Do you go to church? Is it on the corner of Main and First streets? Or are you the church and its address is wherever you and those who follow Jesus gather? Is the church an institution or a movement? Or is it a non-profit organization or way of life? All of these questions cause us to consider what it means to be a follower of Christ as His church in the twenty-first century. Church in America has taken many forms in the last 50 years—from sprawling mega campuses and multi-site venues to small neighborhood communities of faith who meet in homes and serve the needs of those nearest them. They live out what their Leader taught them to pray, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). All claim to be what Jesus promised His disciples the church would be. Regardless of how we see ourselves as the church, followers of Jesus should return to the biblical record in order to walk through the story of the birth and early years of what Jesus called “my church” (Matt. 16:18). We must measure our practices and beliefs against our Leader’s intentions for us. This study will help us do that as we observe the biblical record known as the Acts of the Apostles and select letters written by church leaders to those they served. What we will see is that the Church or Ekklesia, the “called out ones” in the original language, is the movement of God both locally and globally that embodies the person and purposes of Jesus. We will observe its explosive beginnings, growing
pains, and challenges by internal and external forces. We will see religious, social, economic, and racial barriers buried by the love of Jesus as communities of Christ-followers influenced the culture around them. We will watch the message of Jesus spread from Jerusalem to Rome and read at the end of Luke’s account of its growth that enabled this message to spread “unhindered.” We will meet servant-leaders like Peter, James, and Paul and see they are like us in many ways. Yet, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they and many others did astonishing things for God that we are told we can do in the name of Jesus today. We will see the underbelly of God-chosen leaders fighting over beliefs and control, but we will also see a glimpse of heaven on earth as people humbly value others above themselves and put the interest of others before their own. The subtitle of this study is “the unstoppable movement of God.” Jesus promised that whatever the “gates of Hades” unleash against it, will not stop it (Matt. 16:18). The Ekklesia has suffered persecution since its first days of existence. The presence of God in a group of people who live like its Leader is not welcome in every community. Even though there is an enemy who wants to stop this movement, Jesus’ promise of resilience remains true. The Church will remain until its Leader returns. I invite you into the Story of Christ’s Church through the pages of Scripture. I pray you will feel the Holy Spirit’s presence as you examine Hisstory through the beginnings and ultimate victory of the unstoppable movement of God.
TABLE OF CONTENTS week 1: Christ’s Unstoppable Movement: What is the Church?..............................................................................12 week 2: The Power of the Spirit: Jesus’ Ascension and the Holy Spirit....................................................................18 week 3: The Church Founders: The Choosing of Matthias.....................................................................................24 week 4: Baptism of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost....................................................................................30 week 5: The Church’s Message: Peter Speaks...........................................................................................................36 week 6: In Example and Speech: Healing of the Beggar...........................................................................................42 week 7: Finding Salvation in Christ: Discovering Christ’s Identity..........................................................................48 week 8: Creating Community: Sharing Among Believers.........................................................................................54 week 9: Integrity Before God: Ananias and Sapphira...............................................................................................60 week 10: Worthy of Suffering: Persecution of the Apostles........................................................................................66 week 11: Shared Ministry: Choosing the Seven.........................................................................................................72 week 12: The Martyrdom of Saints: The Stoning of Stephen....................................................................................78 week 13: God’s Perfect Plan: The Dispersion of the Church.....................................................................................84 week 14: An Instantaneous Conversion: Philip and the Ethiopian............................................................................90 week 15: The Apostle to the Gentiles: The Conversion of Saul.................................................................................96 week 16: From Jews to Gentiles: Peter and Cornelius.............................................................................................102 week 17: A Growing Church: The Church at Antioch............................................................................................108 week 18: Reaching the Lost: Paul’s First Missionary Journey...................................................................................114 week 19: Supporting Missionaries: Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch...............................................................120 week 20: Healing a Rift: The Jerusalem Council.....................................................................................................126 week 21: Valuable for Service: Paul and Barnabas’ Disagreement............................................................................132 week 22: Hypocritical Beliefs: Paul’s Disagreement with Peter................................................................................138 week 23: Spiritual Parenthood: The Second Missionary Journey of Paul and Timothy...........................................144 week 24: Instructions for Worship: The Role of Prayer...........................................................................................150 week 25: A Noble Task: The Qualifications of Leaders...........................................................................................156 week 26: God-Breathed: The Bible..........................................................................................................................162
week 27: Share the Word: The Role of Preaching and Teaching.............................................................................168 week 28: The Call to Macedonia: Paul’s Vision.......................................................................................................174 week 29: Expressing Joy in Difficulty: Paul and Silas in Prison...............................................................................180 week 30: The Church Expectant: The Return of Christ..........................................................................................186 week 31: The Unknown God: Paul in Athens.........................................................................................................192 week 32: Receiving God’s Encouragement: Paul in Corinth....................................................................................198 week 33: Internal Divisions: The Need for Spiritual Maturity.................................................................................204 week 34: Accountability: The Role of Church Discipline........................................................................................210 week 35: In Remembrance: The Lord’s Supper.......................................................................................................216 week 36: Building Up the Body: The Role of Spiritual Gifts...................................................................................222 week 37: Supporting the Work: The Role of Giving...............................................................................................228 week 38: Causing Change: The Riot in Ephesus.....................................................................................................234 week 39: Faithfulness in Ministry: Paul’s Parting Message to the Ephesians............................................................240 week 40: One in Christ: The Church’s Foundation................................................................................................246 week 41: Equipping for Ministry: The Roles of Church Leadership........................................................................252 week 42: Testimony in Chains: Paul’s Arrest...........................................................................................................258 week 43: Facing Obstacles: Paul’s Journey to Rome................................................................................................264 week 44: Declaring God’s Kingdom: Paul in Rome................................................................................................270 week 45: The Attitude of Christ: The Unified Church............................................................................................276 week 46: The Priesthood of Believers: The Role of the Believer..............................................................................282 week 47: The Church Prepared: John’s Vision of Christ’s Return...........................................................................288 week 48: Dwelling with God: The Church Eternal.................................................................................................294
Conclusion...............................................................................................................................................................300
STATEMENTS OF FAITH When studying the Bible, broad themes, or essential truths, become obvious. These themes become the foundation for understanding who God is and how He has revealed Himself. Life Bible Study curriculum is designed to highlight eight truths that are essential in understanding the character and work of God. GOD IS Only one true and living God exists. He is the Creator of the universe, eternally existing in three Persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each equally deserving of humanity’s worship and obedience. He is infinite and perfect in all His attributes. THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD The Bible is God’s written revelation to people, divinely given through human authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is entirely true. The Bible is totally sufficient and completely authoritative for matters of life and faith. The goal of God’s Word is the restoration of humanity into His image.
PEOPLE ARE GOD’S TREASURE God created people in His image for His glory. They are the crowning work of His creation. Yet every person has willfully disobeyed God—an act known as sin—thus inheriting both physical and spiritual death and the need for salvation. All human beings are born with a sin-nature and into an environment inclined toward sin. Only by the grace of God through Jesus Christ can they experience salvation. JESUS IS GOD AND SAVIOR Jesus is both fully God and fully human. He is Christ, the Son of God. Born of a virgin, He lived a sinless life and performed many miracles. He died on the cross to provide people forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation. Jesus rose from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return in power and glory.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD AND EMPOWERER The Holy Spirit is supernatural and sovereign, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ. He lives within all Christians beginning at the moment of salvation and then empowers them for bold witness and effective service as they yield to Him. The Holy Spirit convicts individuals of sin, uses God’s Word to mature believers into Christ-likeness, and secures them until Christ returns.
THE CHURCH IS GOD’S PLAN The Holy Spirit immediately places all people who put their faith in Jesus Christ into one united spiritual body, the Church, of which Christ is the head. The primary expression of the Church on earth is in autonomous local congregations of baptized believers. The purpose of the Church is to glorify God by taking the gospel to the entire world and by building its members up in Christ-likeness through the instruction of God’s Word, fellowship, service, worship, and prayer.
SALVATION IS BY FAITH ALONE All human beings are born with a sin nature, separated from God, and in need of a Savior. That salvation comes only through a faith relationship with Jesus Christ, the Savior, as a person repents of sin and receives Christ’s forgiveness and eternal life. Salvation is instantaneous and accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. This salvation is wholly of God by grace on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus Christ and not on the basis of human works. All the redeemed are secure in Christ forever.
THE FUTURE IS IN GOD’S HANDS God is actively involved in our lives and our future. Through His prophets, God announced His plans for the future redemption of His people through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son. With the call of the disciples, God prepared the way for the future of His Church. In Scripture, God promised that Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth to resurrect and judge the saved and unsaved. As the all-knowing and all-powerful Creator and Judge, God can and should be trusted today, and with our future.
1—Christ’s Unstoppable Movement: What is the Church? The Old Agreement’s prophets and writings mention it. The New Agreement’s Gospels and letters establish, describe, and instruct it. That “it” is the Church, the Ekklesia. The Church is God’s plan to continue the rescue mission of Jesus to all people, and it is God’s visible presence in the world. Ekklesia is people—a people called by God for a divine mission. The Church is a movement of God, a spiritual revolution that has captured the hearts of men and women since the day the Holy Spirit of God descended on a small, praying group who trusted Jesus as the Christos. This movement of God is centered on Jesus and empowered by His Spirit, and it will have no end until He returns to close His-story. Jesus established the Ekklesia movement when Simon, one of His disciples, confessed He was the Christos, the Messiah. Jesus changed Simon’s name 12
to Peter, or Rock(y), and declared He would build His Church upon the rock of Peter’s trust in Him. Jesus also shared the authority so others could continue what He had begun. He would open and close the door to the Kingdom of God that He began through His ministry on earth. The Memory Verses for this chapter are Psalm 118:22–23. This is the mystery of Jesus Christ: He was the “rejected stone” that did not fit into the expectations of Israel’s religious leaders due to their understanding of the Old Agreement. However, He became the “cornerstone” for His Church, the Ekklesia. Our question to consider is: What is the Church? Write down your first impressions. Study the following passages, and then come back to re-write your description. Ekklesia—The UnStoppable Movement of God
1.1 Who Do You Say That I Am? Every four years our country holds an election year to name a new President. American citizens enjoy the privilege of choosing their leaders. Many governments do not give people a chance to vote on who leads them. A common question during an election year is, “What do you think about (fill in the blank with the candidate’s name)?” And, given the voter’s interest in the process, he or she can share thoughts about that candidate. Opinions are important in an election year because positive opinions can cause a candidate to get elected. Negative opinions will put someone else in office. Is your community holding any elections as you read this chapter? If so, what are your opinions about those running for office? If not, how interested are you in the election process? _________________________________________ _________________________________________ Read Matthew 16:13–16. Circle the setting of Jesus’ question (v. 13). Underline the disciples’ (v. 14) and Simon’s responses (v. 16) to Jesus.
anic hope in the hearts of the people. The disciples were on the right track—Jesus was the prophet of God—but they had yet to see Jesus’ true identity. Jesus then turned the question to His followers: “Who do you say I am?” (v. 15) Opinion polls do not matter when Jesus looks us in the eye and asks what we believe about Him. He wants to know our hearts, not what others say. Simon, one of the first people Jesus called to join Him on His rescue mission, boldly confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v. 16). Simon trusted that Jesus was the Messiah, the promised Christos of God, God’s Son. His confession said Jesus was the One the prophets promised. Simon confessed what every follower of Jesus confesses when he or she is ready to enter Jesus’ Kingdom. What common opinions do you hear about Jesus from the people around you? Record them below. If Jesus were to stand before you and ask, “Who do you say I am?” how would you answer? Would you truthfully say what Simon said? Sit quietly and let your heart, rather than your head, speak. Write what your heart says in the space below: _________________________________________ _________________________________________
Jesus was not running for office when He led His followers to Caesarea Philippi, but He did want to know how those He came to rescue perceived His identity. He did not ask what people thought about His teachings or miracles. Jesus wanted to know who the people thought He was. Jesus’ identity as the Christos was central to what He did. He wanted a status report from His apprentices that day in Caesarea Philippi. Their answers sounded like a Who’s Who among God’s prophets. John the Baptizer, Elijah, and Jeremiah all placed messi-
1.2 How Do You Know? We live in a culture that claims the primary way to know truth is through reason, which places value in the scientific method, logic, and empirical sciences above divine revelation and faith. People of faith are often labeled simplistic and undiscerning, and people who rely solely on their abilities to reason are often respected, no matter how outlandish their
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conclusions. A biblical world view insists that the only way of knowing truth is through revelation— God unveiling Himself and His ways to those who trust Him. Revelation trumps mere human reason in the things of God. What God has revealed in His Word, both living and written, is the foundation for what we know as truth. Reason plays its part, but the one who trusts that Jesus is the Christos begins with revealed truth. If you were to describe the way you are most confident that what you know is true, would you say you lean more on reason or revelation? Write your answer here: ________________________________________ ________________________________________
identity requires a new name—Simon the fisherman would now be Peter the rock. Second, Jesus said “on this rock I will build my church” (v. 18). Peter would be the central figure in the formative years of the Church, and Jesus would build His Church upon this confession—that He is the “Christos, the Son of God.” Both the person and confession became the bedrock of the movement embodied in the Church. Matthew was the writer of the Story of Jesus who recorded His use of the word “church,” or “Ekklesia.” It literally means “the called out ones,” and can be translated “assembly.” We get our English word church from the German translation of the original word. Jesus said He would build His called out ones upon His disciple to whom God had revealed His identity. Jesus, the Christos, is the center and purpose of the Church.
________________________________________ Read Matthew 16:17–18. Underline the source of Simon’s confession according to Jesus (v. 17). Circle Simon’s new name and the word church (v. 18).
Jesus’ third response to Simon’s confession was to assure him and the others that even “the gates of Hades will not overcome” what He would create in the Church. The movement of God would be unstoppable.
Jesus called “Simon son of Jonah” blessed because of his confession. “Blessed” is the same word Jesus used in the Beatitudes, which means “favored by God” (Matt. 5:3–11). “My Father in heaven” had revealed Jesus’ true identity to Simon. Divine revelation, not human reason, was the source of Simon’s confession of Jesus. The disciple was not smarter or wiser than his peers when he identified Jesus as the Christoss. Simon was able to make this assertion because God revealed it to him. Jesus then responded to Simon’s declaration in three ways. First, Jesus gave him a new name. Jesus changed His disciple’s name to Peter, or Rock. New 14
Ekklesia—The UnStoppable Movement of God
1.3 Keys to Open and Close Pope Benedict XVI was in New York City on a visit to America. He is in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. I have visited this cathedral several times and have marveled at the beauty of the architecture and admired the significance of this building in the heart of the city. The German-born Pope visited a Jewish synagogue on the eve of Passover after he addressed an assembly of the United Nations. He visited with our President and kissed a baby in route. This recognize leader of the Roman Catholic Church has made a splash on the American landscape. Some believe he is the fulfillment of Jesus’ words to Peter when Jesus gave him the “keys of the kingdom.” Others see the Pope as corrupt, embodying false, organized religion. Regardless of the public opinion of him, the Roman Catholic Church’s claims he is the vicar of the Church. That belief stems from the same words of Jesus that Protestants and other arms of Christianity insist do not grant him that place. Whatever your religious identification, you have beliefs about the person and power of the Pope. In a non-judgmental way, write down some of those personal beliefs as you approach the next words of Jesus to His disciple, Peter. ________________________________________
authority. Like a homeowner who has the keys to open and lock a house, Jesus gave Peter the authority to open and limit the rescue movement of the Ekklesia following His ascension. We will experience Jesus’ words coming true as the Story of the Holy Spirit unfolds before us in this study. Jesus said that what Peter would “bind” and “loose” on earth as it related to the Kingdom of God would be ratified in heaven. Jesus did not establish an office of authority by His words, but gave Peter the authority needed to lead His movement after He returned to the Father. Jesus shared this authority with all of the disciples, not only Peter. (See also Matt. 18:18.) Peter and the disciples would not create the Church on their own. Jesus commissioned them to make other disciples, and He gave them the Holy Spirit and the authority to lead those within the Ekklesia. How do these words of Jesus to Peter help build your trust in Jesus and His Church? What is clearer to you? What is still unclear about Peter’s role in the Church? Write some of your conclusions and questions here: ________________________________________ ________________________________________
________________________________________ ________________________________________ Read Matthew 16:19–20. Circle the word keys and underline the words bind and loose. Jesus declared He would build His Ekklesia on the person and confession of Peter, and He also gave Peter the authority to build it with Him. The “keys of the kingdom of heaven” is a metaphor for
1.4 Volume II I like good multi-volume stories. When one volume ends, I quickly begin the next because I either want to see how the next part of the story begins or what
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adventure the main character falls into. The best ones carry the initial conflicts and characters into the next volume, which shows how both grow until promises or problems are resolved. From the success of series like Lord of the Rings and Left Behind, readers have said they like stories that continue beyond what one book can hold. What is your favorite multi-volume story? If you are not much of a reader, what television series do you like best? Write the titles of the series and why you like it. ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Read Acts 1:1–3. Write the full name of this Book of the Bible in the space below, and underline the name to whom the volume is addressed. Summarize what the author told his reader he has written prior to what he has written here: ________________________________________ ________________________________________ The Acts of the Apostles is the second volume of Luke’s Story of Jesus. The first was later named after Luke. In it, he told of Jesus’ life on earth. In Acts, Luke called his Story of Jesus his “former book” (v. 1). Unlike the other writers of the Story of Jesus, Luke named an individual to whom he wrote. We are not certain who Theophilus was, whose name means “dear to God,” but he was also the one Luke addressed in his first volume, whom he called “most excellent” (Luke 1:3). He was possibly someone who knew of Jesus, and Luke sought to provide the back story for him to aid in his trust of Jesus. Luke reminded Theophilus that in his first volume 16
he wrote about “all that Jesus began to do and to teach” until His ascension. Luke also explained that “through the Holy Spirit,” Jesus commissioned His disciples to do likewise (v. 2). The main character within the Acts of the Apostles is really the Holy Spirit working through the apostles. The promised Holy Spirit came upon the apostles at the festival of Pentecost. The story of the Holy Spirit’s powerful leadership in their lives provides the contents of the story. Luke’s second volume could be called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” I’ll use that title in this study. Luke completed his summary of Jesus’ ministry by telling his readers that Jesus appeared to them over a period of 40 days, showed them proof of His resurrection, and spoke to them about the things concerning “the kingdom of God” (v. 3). Luke confirmed what the other writers of Jesus’ story recorded between His resurrection and return to heaven. Having connected the present volume to the previous one, Luke was prepared to share the rest of the story with Theophilus. Take time to read Luke 24 to see what Luke referred to in the introduction of his second volume of the Story of Jesus. Record those things that are fresh in your knowledge of Jesus and His-story during that time below: ________________________________________ ________________________________________
1.5 The Unexpected Leader History is filled with unexpected turns. The unlikely become leaders, and the most likely fade away into the masses. Jocks end up working for nerds. Beauty Ekklesia—The UnStoppable Movement of God
queens end up old and wrinkled like the rest of us. The poor become rich. The rich squander their wealth and end their lives as paupers. The powerful lose their power. The apparently unintelligent invent the gadget that changes how we all live. People are like golfers in the club house. They may all dress the same, but you never know how well they can play the game until you walk the course with them. Clothes do not make the golfer. The score at the end of 18 holes makes the golfer. The same is true in His-story. What we expect seldom turns out that way, and whom we trust is not always the most trustworthy. His-story is a story of the unexpected, rejected One actually being the center of the story from the beginning. Has anyone in your life turned out to be someone different than you expected? What surprised you about that person? Write your observations here: ________________________________________
is the “precious cornerstone.” For those who do not believe, Jesus is the “stone the builders rejected.” Read the entire “stone passage” in 1 Peter 2:4–8. According to God’s revelation to Peter, those who trust in Jesus as the Christos are built into “a spiritual house” with Jesus as its cornerstone. This work of God is called the Church. The Ekklesia exists because of Jesus, not the other way around. Christ alone is the Church’s true identity and purpose. He is the head and cornerstone of the Ekklesia, and the Holy Spirit empowers, gifts, and guides those who call Jesus the Christ. Our key question is: What is the Church? The Church is the body of believers, both local and global. This body is founded on Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and commissioned by Christ to proclaim His true identity to the world and to be His visible presence in the world.
________________________________________ Read Psalm 118:22–23. Underline verse 22 and circle who was responsible for this in verse 23. These obscure verses in the 118th psalm of the Old Agreement became a metaphor of Jesus’ identity. He quoted the verses after His Parable of the Tenants. He used them to explain what would happen after the religious leaders rejected Him as the Christos (see Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17). He was the “stone the builders rejected” who would become the “capstone,” or “cornerstone” (NLT), of the new movement of God. Jesus was the foundation for the new building God would build among His people to house His presence—the Church. Peter connected the psalmist’s words and Jesus’ words. He later wrote that those who trust Jesus as the Christ trust that He
Based on this introduction to the Ekklesia, describe your understanding of the Church. What is fresh for you? What has been confirmed for you? Are you a member of the Ekklesia or the Church as you know it? Write some of your thoughts here: ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________
For further study: • • • •
1—Christ’s Unstoppable Movement: What is the Church?
Psalm 118:22–24 Matthew 21:42 Mark 12:10 Luke 20:17
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2—The Power of the Spirit: Jesus’ Ascension and the Holy Spirit How would the Jesus movement continue after He returned to heaven? After His death, burial, and resurrection Jesus showed Himself to hundreds of people. He had promised to build “the Church” upon the rock of His disciple, Simon Peter. How would they know if they were doing what Jesus wanted them to do? His followers were ready to be in the Kingdom, not lead the Kingdom! Fear-filled questions and concerns were on the hearts of Jesus’ apprentices. Luke continued his story of Jesus so readers would know the details of Jesus’ last days on earth and His directions to His disciples. Luke desired all to know that Jesus “became flesh and made his dwelling among us” at His birth. Luke recorded, “This same Jesus . . . will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Jesus’ return to heaven marked the completion of His mission on earth and the beginning of His-story in the Church 18
until His return. In this next passage from the Acts of the Apostles, or the Acts of the Holy Spirit, we will observe Jesus’ final words to His disciples, the scope of His mission call on their lives, and His ascent into heaven. At the end of this passage, the disciples will be in an upper room doing all they knew to do in difficult times—praying. The Memory Verse for this chapter is Acts 1:8. Luke and Matthew both recorded Jesus’ final words to His disciples. Luke’s account adds two elements: the mention of the Holy Spirit and the growing influence Jesus’ witnesses would have. Our question to consider is: What is the role of the Holy Spirit? No movement of God has power without God’s presence. God’s presence in the Ekklesia is the Holy Spirit. Write your initial thoughts on His role in the Church today. Ekklesia—The UnStoppable Movement of God
2.1 Table Talk When my daughters were younger, I would take them individually on “Dad dates.” They would choose the restaurant, and I would pay the bill. The main purpose of the date with Dad was to model how I wanted young men to treat them on a date. Hopefully, my example would become a benchmark for them to judge whether a boy respected them and treated them like ladies. The second purpose was to hear their hearts. I prayed that in the middle of our conversations over chips and dip I would somehow hear their plans and hopes. I would do the same for them, and we always came away from those times knowing and trusting each other better. I miss our “Dad dates.” What meal experience comes to mind when you remember times with family or friends during which you learned something unique about their lives? Record your experience here: ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Read Acts 1:4–5. Underline Jesus’ command to the apostles and what He said would happen “in a few days.” Luke introduced this conversation between the resurrected Jesus and His disciples with the indefinite phrase “on one occasion.” Sometime in the 40 days of appearances, Jesus sat and ate with the Eleven. Note that Luke, the doctor (Col. 4:14), included the detail that after His resurrection, Jesus ate solid food like everyone else. Jesus was not a ghost. He had a tangible body.
During this table conversation, we don’t know if Jesus described to His disciples what He felt and saw during His resurrection. But we do know Jesus told the disciples not to leave Jerusalem (v. 4). Jesus told them to “wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” Waiting is a spiritual discipline few disciples are able to master. But the Eleven knew Jesus’ words were true and did what He said to do. What was the promised gift? Read John 14:16, 26 to recall Jesus’ promise. Jesus went on to describe the gift by explaining, “John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5). The promised Holy Spirit would come to them “in a few days.” John had prophesized at Jesus’ baptism, “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8). The gift of the Holy Spirit recorded in Acts 2 during the festival of Pentecost would be the fulfillment of John’s prophecy and Jesus’ promise. Pray that God begins to reveal to you the promise of the Holy Spirit and His role in your life as well as in the life of the Ekklesia, to which you belong. Sit at the table with Jesus and the Eleven and listen to Him like a loved one returning from a journey, sharing with you about His experience and what it means to Him and for you.
2.2 When Will You Come Back? Jesus demonstrated that He had come to bring the Kingdom of God “on earth as it is in heaven.” We learn this truth from Jesus’ teachings and miracles recorded in His-story. Jesus’ disciples staked their lives and livelihoods on Him and the hope of such
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a King and Kingdom. When Jesus allowed His enemies to crucify Him, the disciples’ hopes surely failed. They were ready to return to their former lives as faithful Jews waiting for the Christos. However, when Jesus showed Himself as the resurrected Lord, their hope for the Kingdom on earth soared. The only question: When would it happen? What hopes in your life have been shattered by an unexpected turn of events? What things have happened since that experience that gave you hope again? Write some of your feelings here: ________________________________________
restoring the kingdom to Israel. But He did not ignore their question; He simply redirected their perspectives away from an earthly kingdom. He would give them their mission with His next breath. Luke recorded His words in verse 8. How do you believe Jesus’ words impacted the disciples’ hope? Jesus had said this same thing prior to His resurrection. How do Jesus’ words affect your trust in Him? Prayerfully share with God what is on your heart. Spend some time thinking about the Kingdom for which you live and how your hope influences the way you live.
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2.3 The Mission ________________________________________ Read Acts 1:6–7. Underline the disciples’ question and Jesus’ first response to them. The disciples had the chance to ask Jesus many questions. The last one turned out to be about when Jesus was “going to restore the kingdom to Israel” (v. 6). Jesus’ followers still had hope He would set up His earthly kingdom and restore Israel to its kingdom status among the nations. When Jesus promised the gift of the Spirit would come in a few days, they wanted to know if that would be the time they would see Jesus establish Himself as King of Israel.
Our question to consider for this chapter is: What is the role of the Holy Spirit? Especially, what is the Holy Spirit’s role in the movement of Jesus called the Ekklesia? If you have not written your answer to this question, do so now in the space below. Read Jesus’ words that follow and compare them to your answer on the next page:
The timing of His Kingdom’s final reality would be unknown to them (v. 7; Mark 13:32). The Father had set the “times” and “dates,” all the ticks of the clock and seasons of time, by His own authority. Jesus stayed consistent with His answer about when He would return—He did not know these things. It seemed as if Jesus ignored their question about 20
Ekklesia—The UnStoppable Movement of God
________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Read Acts 1:8. Circle the word witnesses and underline the power that drives the witnesses. Circle the places where Jesus said they would witness.
groups. They would be (notice the future, predictive tense) His witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (v. 8). You can follow the Story of Jesus in Acts by Jesus’ game plan for how their witness would grow. Their witness in Jerusalem is recorded in Acts 1–7. Their witness in Judea and all Samaria is found in Acts 8–11:18. Acts 11:19 to the end of the story recorded their witness from Antioch to Rome.
Jesus offered His apprentices a more powerful mission than being leaders in an earthly kingdom. They did not understand the power they would need to carry out His call on their lives. Jesus told them He would empower them “when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” Jesus commissioned His apostles under the authority of His name, and He empowered them with the presence of His Spirit (v. 8; Matt. 28:19). What would they need His authority and presence to do?
Take a look ahead at the outline of Acts as laid out in Acts 1:8. Go to a Bible atlas or map and draw concentric circles to mark where Jesus said His witnesses would go. Insert your hometown, state, country, and “the ends of the earth” into the passage to get a feel for Jesus’ mission for you as part of the Ekklesia.
They and those who followed them would be “witnesses.” The English word martyr comes from the Greek word that meant “witness.” To be a witness is at the core of the mission of Jesus. The Ekklesia is witnessing servants of God. Christfollowers were sent as the Ekklesia to share one worldwide mission: to witness to the Person of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. Look ahead in the Story of Jesus in Acts, and you will see how these sent ones were “witnesses” to Jesus and all He said and did. (For example, see Acts 2:32; 3:15; 5:32.) The Holy Spirit and the ones Jesus sent would testify to who Jesus was and what He did.
I get caught flatfooted when I see something spectacular. It happens most often in nature when I see a massive thundercloud or rainbow or lightning bolt. Few things made by people catch me off guard (except an occasional piece of art or architecture), but sights in creation have a way of slowing me to a standstill in order to see what is going on. If I am running or hiking, I have to remind myself to start moving again after I see God’s handiwork in creation, or I would stay there looking into the sky all day.
Jesus told His disciples to “make disciples” of all ethnic groups (Matt. 28:19). He even told them how the message and mission would spread to the
2.4 Stop Staring into the Sky
What brings you to a stop to stare at the spectacular? List some of your experiences here: ________________________________________ ________________________________________
2—The Power of the Spirit: Jesus’ Ascension and the Holy Spirit
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Read Acts 1:9. Underline the middle phrase of the sentence. Jesus had given His servant-leaders their mission. His work on earth was done. When He had finished talking to the eleven disciples, Jesus was “taken up before their very eyes.” This event marks the ascension of Jesus. Why is this so important to the Story of Jesus? Here is a partial list of what that event meant. First, Jesus’ ascension meant He went to prepare a place for us (John 14:2). Second, it meant He would send the Holy Spirit to empower His followers and convict the world of who He was (John 16:7). Third, Jesus’ return to heaven meant the Ekklesia would be established (Acts 2:1–4, 42–47), and the Holy Spirit would give gifts to empower the people of the Church (1 Cor. 12). Fourth, Jesus would now serve as the disciples’ High Priest and Advocate with the Father (Heb. 4:14; 1 John 1:9). And there is more than just what is mentioned here. Jesus’ resurrection and ascension were His exaltation and glorification and were given to Him for His humiliation of suffering and “obedience to death on a cross” (Phil. 2:8–11). God, the Father, affirmed all Jesus had done and said by His glorious exaltation in His ascension. Read Acts 1:10–11. Circle who spoke to the disciples and underline their message to them. Frozen between the past and the future, the disciples only stared into the clouds (v. 10). They had their orders but no one had said, “March!” Like children gawking at a hot air balloon flying over their neighborhood, they stood with mouths hanging open, wondering what to do. 22
While they looked into the sky, “two men dressed in white” (Perhaps the same two men in Jesus’ empty tomb?) suddenly stood beside them and said, “Men of Galilee.” The disciples must have been startled by the broken silence when the two addressed them. The messengers wanted to know why they still starred into the sky. Jesus was gone. They had a mission to complete. They reminded the disciples, “This same Jesus . . . will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (v. 11). In essence they told them, “Quit looking for Jesus in the sky. The same One will return just as He said He would. Now, get on with what He told you to do.” Place yourself among the disciples as Jesus ascended before them. What do the event and the words of the “two men” compel you to do today as one of His followers? Review the results of Jesus’ ascension and thank God for what those things mean to you as one on mission with Him.
2.5 Stories or Minutes of a Meeting? I don’t like taking minutes of meetings. It’s so taskoriented. I’d rather hear the stories people told while we gathered. But stories alone do not always trace what you have done to complete your mission. On the other hand, keeping minutes allows you to go back and remember who was there, what decisions were made, and who was responsible for doing what by the next time you meet. Minutes tell a story— just not as well as a story itself. Stories are best around meals or coffee. Minutes belong in meetings to keep the group together and on task.
Ekklesia—The UnStoppable Movement of God
Which do you prefer? Minutes or stories? Both are important, but one suits your personality and work style better. Write which you like and why you like it in the space below: ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ Read Acts 1:12–14. Circle the names and places Luke recorded in his account for Theophilus. Underline what the group did when it gathered (v. 14).
The women most likely included those who were with Jesus from the cross to the tomb. Jesus’ mother and his brothers also joined Jesus’ eleven apprentices in prayerful waiting. The stage was set for God to empower this newly revitalized core of disciples to complete the mission Jesus had given them before He returned to heaven. If you were to evaluate your prayer life with the words “together” and “constantly,” what would you say? Do you mostly pray alone and occasionally, or do you have faithful prayer partners who pray without ceasing about the things of God? Write your thoughts here: ________________________________________ ________________________________________
Someone essentially kept minutes after Jesus’ ascension because Luke has specific names and activities of those in the “upper room” just prior to the Holy Spirit’s arrival. While these verses contain simple facts about where the disciples were (vv. 12–13) and who was there (v. 14), they also give us the basic facts that prepare us for what comes next. All but Judas Iscariot from the Twelve chosen by Jesus were reunited in Jerusalem. They had come to Jerusalem on Jesus’ orders to “wait for the gift my Father promised” (v. 4). “They went upstairs to the room where they were staying” (v. 13), where they had experienced their Last Supper with Jesus. They were not idle in their waiting. Luke noted, “They all joined together constantly in prayer” (v. 14). They actively waited on Jesus’ promised Holy Spirit while praying “together” and praying “constantly.” Both of these modifiers teach us how we are to pray as we wait on God’s Word to be realized in our lives.
________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ If you have time, reread the first chapter of Acts to see and feel what was in place when God released the Holy Spirit on this waiting band of disciples.
For further study: • •
Luke 24:44–49 John 15:26–27
2—The Power of the Spirit: Jesus’ Ascension and the Holy Spirit
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