Everything Jesus Began to Do and to Teach

In one paragraph

Pastor Mark opened the first Sunday of a new series in the book of Acts, walking through the first chapter and drawing a straight line from the 12-steps series the congregation just finished to what it looks like to be the continuing body of Christ in the world. The sermon focused on what the early disciples did in the days between the ascension and Pentecost, and what that pattern might mean for...

Read together

1. Acts 1:1 Luke's opening address to Theophilus, describing his first book about what Jesus began to do and teach
2. Luke 1:1-4 Luke's careful historical account for Theophilus so he could be certain of the truth he was taught
3. Acts 1:2-3 Jesus giving instructions through the Holy Spirit and appearing to apostles for forty days after his resurrection
4. Acts 1:4-5 Jesus commanding the apostles to stay in Jerusalem until they received the promised gift of the Holy Spirit
5. Acts 1:6 The apostles kept asking Jesus whether the time had come to restore the kingdom to Israel
6. Acts 1:7-8 Jesus saying the Father alone sets times and seasons, and that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them to be witnesses to the ends of the earth
7. Acts 1:9-11 Jesus taken up into a cloud, and two white-robed men telling the disciples he would return the same way
8. Acts 1:12-14 Apostles returning to Jerusalem, gathering in an upper room, constantly united in prayer with Mary and others
9. Acts 1:15-20 Peter addressing the 120 believers about Judas fulfilling scripture, his death, and the field of blood
10. Acts 1:21-26 Peter calling for a replacement for Judas, the nomination of Barsabbas and Matthias, prayer, and casting lots
11. Psalm 69:25 Peter quoted it as scripture predicting that Judas's home would become desolate
12. Psalm 109:8 Peter quoted it as scripture saying another should take Judas's position
13. Psalm 69:1-4 Pastor read verses about being surrounded by enemies and sinking in deep waters to illustrate the imprecatory nature of the psalm
14. Psalm 69:22-25 Imprecatory language calling for retribution on enemies, used to explain Peter's attitude toward Judas
15. Romans 15:13 Spoken as the closing benediction, asking that God fill the congregation with joy and peace in believing by the power of the Holy Spirit

Talk about it

1. Pastor Mike described the book of Acts as 'the continuing words and deeds of Jesus by his spirit through his apostles.' What does it mean to you personally that the church is the ongoing body of Christ in the world, and where do you see that happening around you?
2. Jesus told the disciples that the times and seasons were not for them to know, but that they would receive power to be his witnesses starting right where they were. How do you handle the tension between wanting to know what God has planned and simply being faithful where you are right now?
3. The disciples devoted themselves to being together and to persistent, united prayer before the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. What keeps us from that kind of persistent, united prayer, and what would it look like for our group to pursue it more seriously?
4. Pastor Mike said you cannot schedule a revival but you can make the conditions favorable, and he listed obedience, fellowship, prayer, study, and appointing leaders as those conditions. Which of those feels most lacking in your own life right now, and why?
5. The mother who stopped Pastor Mike in the hallway asked where and when it was appropriate to bring a desperate prayer request. What does her question reveal about how we think about prayer in community, and how could we make it easier for people to bring their hardest needs to one another?