Welcome!
Welcome to the first weekly installment of our resource blog for Outward: The Book of Acts. Our sermon series will cover every bit of Acts—verse by verse and week by week—all 28 chapters of it. In tandem with the preaching, we will produce weekly resource blogs and discussion questions for use in our small groups. We hope to provide an accessible and fruitful way for everyone to participate each week in the following ways: attending worship and hearing the sermon, reviewing the Scripture passage, reading this resource blog, and preparing to discuss the questions together. And with that, here’s Week 1.
Week #1 – Acts 1:1-5
What does it mean to be ‘certain’ about something or to have ‘proof’ of it? Knowledge is a tricky thing to know … no pun intended. If you think about it, we operate throughout our lives with some level of knowledge about many things, but rarely have certainty or definitive proof of anything. We have a dependable car, so we are ‘certain’ it won’t break down. Really? As someone who, earlier this year, experienced my 6-month-old vehicle suffer an unexpected electrical malfunction rendering it inoperable, I would raise an eyebrow at that certainty. I love my spouse and kids, and there is good evidence of this in my life (hopefully), but can I actually give ‘proof’ that I love them?
Let’s take it a step further. If we only have limited knowledge in everyday matters and relationships, what does that say about matters of faith? Is it possible to have knowledge instead of just blind faith? Can we have ‘certainty’ that our God is who we think he is? Is there actually ‘proof’ that Jesus came in the flesh, died a criminal’s death, and rose again in power and glory? Is the Church today truly part of something launched by the Holy Spirit two centuries ago? And if so, shouldn’t all of this have deep meaning for and impact upon our daily lives? The first-century author named Luke answers all these questions with a resounding yes.
Luke wrote two books of the Bible as a two-part series: the Gospel according to Luke, which is Part 1, and the book of Acts, which is Part 2. He was a physician (Colossians 4:14) and a missionary traveling companion of the Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:11 and Philemon 23-24). He was also an excellent writer and meticulous historian. He addresses both his writings to someone named “Theophilus” (Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1). The Greek name, which was not uncommon at the time, is a combination of two words: theos, which means ‘God,’ and phileo, which means ‘love.’ Luke refers to him as “most excellent” (Luke 1:3), so he likely was a well-to-do individual in Greek society who would have funded the research, production, and copying of both books. The Gospel according to Luke gives Theophilus “a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us” by Jesus in his earthly ministry (Luke 1:1). The book of Acts tells Theophilus what happened after Jesus “presented himself alive … by many proofs” (Acts 1:3) and after the coming of the Holy Spirit, which is the “promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4).
Across both books, Luke makes his purpose of writing clear: so that Theophilus would “have certainty concerning the things [he] had been taught.” (Luke 1:4). In a very real sense, Theophilus stands in for all of us who call Jesus Savior and Lord. We, too, are fellow God-lovers who desire proof and certainty. We, too, need to be routinely reminded of the truth and life-changing power of the Gospel.
Scholars date Acts as early as A.D. 60s or as late as A.D. 70s, depending on whether they believe Luke intentionally omitted certain events or whether they had not yet occurred. The book chronicles many significant events surrounding the powerful launch, oppositional struggle, and explosive spread of the Christian Church. For us, the narrative of Acts should affect us in four ways:
- Informative – Learn from this! From the pages of this historical narrative, we can glean many fascinating details about the early Church. This should be the case no matter how many or how few times you have read it.
- Encouraging – Take heart! God’s Church has always been an underdog in the face of adverse cultural and societal winds. It was true in the first century, and it is true in the Western world today.
- Empowering – Expect God to move! The same Holy Spirit who indwelt the hearts of the earliest Christ followers indwells our hearts today. God is always working in and through his people.
- Rejoicing – Praise the Lord! As with any Bible study, it should lead us to worship our God all the more. For all he is and all he does, let us praise and worship our King.
Now, you’re ready to begin your discussion time together. Read through the passage aloud, which for this week is Acts 1:1-5. Then, enjoy your discussion of Outward: The Book of Acts using the Week 1 questions below.
In Christ,
Pastor Ken
Week #1 – Questions
- Have you read or studied the book of Acts previously? What would you like to see God do through your study of Acts this time?
- In v1, Luke describes his “first book” (his Gospel account) as covering “all that Jesus began to do and teach.” This phrasing casts Acts as a continuation of Jesus’ ministry. How can that be when it covers events after his ascension into heaven?
- How should this continuation shape our view of the Church’s ministry even today? Does the Church function as if we truly believe Jesus is alive and ministering among us?
- Read Luke 1:1-4. According to Luke, he writes his Gospel account (and presumably Acts) to give “certainty.” What does this mean for Theophilus, who was not an eyewitness to the life of Jesus or the events of Acts, and similarly for us? How might Luke and Acts help with your confidence in the Lord?
- Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. To what extent is certainty possible in matters of faith? Some religions view faith and knowledge as opposing forces. What should be the relationship between faith and knowledge for the life of the Christian?
- We just completed a sermon series on the Nicene Creed, which affirms the Trinity: Three Persons (Father, Son, Spirit) who are yet eternally one God. In today’s passage, can you find references to all three Persons of the Trinity?
- Luke makes multiple references to the Holy Spirit—the one through whom Jesus gave commands (v2), a promise of the Father made by Jesus to his disciples (v4), and with whom they would be baptized (v5). We are baptized with the Holy Spirit upon repenting of sins and trusting in Christ. Have one or two people share their testimony of this happening in their lives.
- How do you see and experience the Holy Spirit working in your life right now? Does this help give you ‘certainty’ of the things you have been taught?
- Our great God is still the main character of Acts. Our Lord is still on the throne, ruling and reigning, even now. Looking around our world today, does it look like it? Why or why not?
- If you’re in a season right now where it doesn’t seem like Jesus is still in charge, share about that. What should the family of God do for each other in those difficult seasons?
- During Christ’s ministry, he “had given commands through the Holy Spirit” (v2). The rest of Acts shows what happened when the Holy Spirit continued working through God’s people to spread God’s Word as they awaited Christ’s return. Today, we still have God’s Word (Scripture) and we have the same Holy Spirit at work within us. So, what should we expect to see God do as we await Christ’s return? Think big!
- Even if we don’t see it fully in our lifetimes, what seeds do you see God planting and watering with his Word right now?