Trusting the Spirit

Sunday, October 25, 2015
Act 11:1-18 KJV 

1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. 4 But Peter rehearsed [the matter] from the beginning, and expounded [it] by order unto them, saying, 5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: 6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. 8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common. 10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. 12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: 13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; 14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as [he did] unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did the apostles and disciples hear about the Gentiles in Judea? (v.1) 
2) What happened to the Apostle Peter when he went to Jerusalem? (v.2-3)
3) How did Peter respond? (v.4-17)
4) How did the Jewish disciples respond to what the Apostle Peter told them? (v.18)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Have you ever refused to share Christ with anyone because of their ethnicity or economic station in life? If so, why?
6) Has you ever been challenged about the people that you shared Christ with? If so, why?

LIFE LESSONS
7) Our Lord died for everyone and expects His followers to share Him with whoever He sends our way.
8) We share Christ through our testimony and are witnesses to the love of Christ through the giving of our time, talent and/or treasure.

God For All

Saturday, October 17, 2015
Acts 10:39-48 KJV 

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After preaching to Cornelius and his household about Jesus, what did the Apostle Peter tell them that he and his fellow disciples were witnesses to? (v.39-41)
2) What did Jesus command His disciples to witness to and why? (v.42-43)
3) What happened as Peter was witnessing to Cornelius and his family? (v.44)
4) How did the Jewish believers respond? Why? (v.45-46)
5) What was the Apostle Peter's question and command to those who witnessed what happened next? (v.47-48)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) How do you know that you have received the Holy Spirit?

LIFE LESSONS
7) The Holy Spirit is given to everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ and earnestly desires or seeks the Holy Spirit's infilling.
8) The infilling of the Holy Spirit is not only manifested through speaking in unknown tongues, but through an immediate change in one's behavior and/or character.
9) The Holy Spirit is given to empower the believer to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ and to live a Spirit-led life.
10) Baptism is an external sign of an internal reality.

Stand Ready

Saturday, October 5, 2015

Acts 8: 26-40

26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS

1) What did the angel of the Lord tell Philip to do? (v.26)

2) What did the apostle do, in response, and who did he happen upon? (v.27)

3) What was the eunuch doing? (v.28)

4) What did the Holy Spirit tell Philip to do next? (v.29)

5) What did Philip do and what did he hear and say in response? (v.30)

6) How did the eunuch respond to Philip? (v.31)

7) What Scripture was the eunuch reading and what did the eunuch ask Philip about the passage? (v.31-34)

8) How did Philip respond to the man? (v.35)

9) What did the eunuch ask Philip to do next and what was Philip's response? (v.36-37a)

10) What did the eunuch say in response to Philip's question? (v.37b)

11) What did Philip do next? (v.38)

12) What happened after Philip baptized the man? (v.39)

13) How did Philip get to Azotus and what did he do while he was there? (v.40)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

14) Has the Holy Spirit after directed you to witness to a specific individual? If so, how did you respond?

LIFE LESSONS

15) When the Holy Spirit leads us to witness to other people, our best response is to obey Him.

Witnessing the Truth

Sunday, September 20, 2015
Act 5:27-29, 33-42 KJV

27 And when they had brought them, they set [them] before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. ... 33 When they heard [that], they were cut [to the heart], and took counsel to slay them. 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, [even] as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten [them], they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Following their second imprisonment and supernatural escape, what did the members of the Sanhedrin council ask the apostles? Why? (v.27-28)
2) How did the Apostle Peter respond? (v.29)
3) How did the members of the council react to Peter's declaration? (v.33)
4) Who stood next and what did he tell those who listened to him? (v.34-39)
5) How did the other members of the council respond to the man and what did they do to the apostles? (v.40)
6) What did the apostles do next? (v.41-42)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Have you ever been persecuted because of your profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, how did you respond to the persecution?

LIFE LESSONS
8) Those who witness boldly for the cause of Christ will suffer persecution from the people of this world, but will also receive eternal rewards from the Lord Himself.

Prevailing Truth

Saturday, September 19, 2015
Act 4:5-12 KJV

5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who gathered to question the Apostles Peter and John, the day after their arrest? (v.5-6)
2) What did they ask them? (v.7)
3) Who responded, how did he differ from those he responded to, and what did he tell them? (v.8-12)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Have you ever had to defend your faith in the Lord Jesus? If so, briefly describe what happened.

LIFE LESSONS
5) The indwelling Holy Spirit emboldens us and grants us divine wisdom to share Christ with others.  

Why are you Baptizing?

Saturday, February 28, 2015
John 1:24-28 KJV 

24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After John the Baptist identified himself as the one who would prepare the way of the Lord to the priests and Levites, who else was sent to question him and what did they ask him? (v.24-25)
2) What was John's response to their question? (v.26)
3) What did John say about the One who would come after him? (v.27)
4) Where did the confrontation with John take place? (v.28) 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Has anyone ever confronted you about your witness for Christ?
6) What has been, or what will be, your response to those who ask why you share Christ with unbelievers?

LIFE LESSONS
7) Our witness for Christ is not just in what we say about Him, but in what He does through us for His glory.
8) The greatest witness for Christ is a changed life.