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Impact
The Acts of the Apostles is the story of how the good news of Jesus went from Judea to Rome and out to every part of the known world, all in one generation!
Input
Acts Chapter 1 verses 1 to 5
1.Connects with Luke's first volume (Luke Chapter 1 verses 1 to 5)
2.Gives the power source promised to the whole movement
Acts Chapter 1 verses 6 to 9
1.The Rule of God is still pre-eminently the centre of the good news of Jesus.
2.Faith in Jesus is not a subversive Jewish Sect, but a world arena for God's love, justice and spiritual power.
Question - Verse 8 is the key to Acts.
Why?
'Martyr' is the Bible word for Witness. Remember that the qualifications for a witness are:
1.First-hand personal experience of the events
2.Willingness to speak the whole truth about it
3.Be ready to take the consequences of telling it.
"Ponderama"
Acts Chapter 1 verse 9
How do you understand the Ascension?
Is it about direction (upwards) or to another dimension?
Overviews of Acts
One 'maps' the 28 Chapters with 2 overlapping parts:
1.The Holy Spirit and the Jewish Church (Chapters 1 to 12) and
2.The Holy Spirit in the Gentile Church and Paul, Chapters 9 to 28).
Another 'maps' it in the widening circles of Chapter 1 verse 8 into all the world.
Another 'map' (by C.H. Turner) divides into six progress reports of church growth:
1-Growth in Jerusalem-Ch1 verse 12 to Ch 6 verse 7
Check this by looking up the last verse in each Report or Section.
2-Growth in Palestine-Ch 6 verse 8 to Ch9 verse 31
3-Growth in Non Jewish People-Ch 9 verse 32 to Ch 12 verse 24
4-Growth in Into Asia-Minor-Ch 12 verse 25 to Ch 16 verse 5
5-Growth into Europe-Ch 16 verse 6 to Ch19 verse 20
6-Growth in the Capital (Rome)-Ch 19 verse 21 to Ch 28 verse 31
Output
Acts Chapter 1 verses 12 to 35
Compare the church here with the church in Acts Chapter 2, and discuss.
Question - Which of these Chapters sets out the Living Model of the Church of God?
Before you pray together, re-read Chapter 2 verses 42 to 47 and Chapter 4 verse 31.
(Peterson's paraphrase in Chapter 2 verse 47 is: "People in general liked what they saw."
Pray about that for today's church.
Optional Reading for Next Session read Acts, Chapter 6 verse 8 to Chapter 9 verse 31.
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