Acts: The Gospel In Motion

Wednesday Night Bible Class: Acts 2: 14-41
Questions for discussion and study

•  John says that “the work of the Trinity is present in the ministry in the first century.”  Read Luke 24: 36-53, Acts 1: 1-11, and Acts 2:1-14.  To this point, how have God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit been active in the post-resurrection lives of the disciples? How is any of this activity new or different for the disciples?
  
• What does the disciple’s acceptance of the new manifestation of God say about their faith in the Lord?
  

Peter was a fisherman from Galilee without much formal education.  As a Jewish male, he would have gone to our equivalent of elementary school and learned the Torah (Genesis- Deuteronomy), but little else formally. Yet, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter preaches passionately and quotes from Psalms and Joel.   Holy Spirit equips Peter to deliver the Gospel message in a way that was powerful and effective.

• What happened in Peter’s life that made it possible for him to preach this way and quote from scripture he had not studied? Is it fair to say that the presence of Holy Spirit in Peter’s life gave him confidence and power that he did not have before?
  
• Read Jesus’ words to the apostles as he sends them out to preach in Matthew 10:16-20. What similarities do you see between Matthew 10 and Acts 2?
  
• Read Romans 8:11. What does Paul teach the church in Rome and also us about the presence of Holy Spirit?  When Holy Spirit is present in the life of Christ and the life of Peter, identify 2 demonstrable things that happen.
  
• Since Holy Spirit is alive in believers, and with the Matthew 10 promise and the Acts 2 equipping, what should believers expect from Holy Spirit? What should the presence of Holy Spirit do to fear in the life of a believer?
  
• Can you think of a time that Holy Spirit equipped you in a way that you were - on your own- unprepared for?

The words that Peter shared on Pentecost caused people to trust Jesus for salvation and come into relationship Him. Peter’s message was short and simple, yet, in his simplicity, Peter was focused on the Gospel message of the authority, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In terms of sharing the Gospel, John said, “If your lesson is just as true if Jesus had not died and risen from the dead, you have not preached the Gospel, you have given advice.”

• How would you define Gospel preaching? What does a Gospel message include? If you had to speak to Peter’s audience, what would you say? Can and/or should only preachers share a Gospel message?
  
• Read 1 Peter 3:15. How can having a prepared personal Gospel message help us “be ready” to share the Gospel today?  Given his failures, his redemption and ultimately, his Pentecost experience, do you find it significant that it’s Peter who encourages disciples to “be ready to give a reason for the hope we have in Christ”?
  
• Why are “advice” sermons more palatable in our modern culture than Gospel based messages? What damage do “advice” sermons do to the long-term health of a church? A community? A nation?