FALL 2016 | PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE

UNVARNISHED TRUTH: LIFE’S GREATEST STORY

UNSTOPPABLE GOSPEL
 SESSION 7
UNSTOPPABLE MISSION

What is something you have waited

for that was worth the wait?
#unstoppable
Q U E S T I O N #1
82 S e ss i o n 7
 THE POINT

The Holy Spirit empowers us

to spread the gospel.

THE PASSAGES
Acts 1:4-8,12-14

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

We don’t like to wait.
Chalk it up to impatience or maybe it’s because we live in a world
of instant gratification, but we want what we want when we want it.
Two minutes waiting at the fast food drive-thru—too long.
Sixty seconds to heat up food in a microwave—too long.
Fifteen seconds for a movie to stream to your TV—too long
Some things, though, are worth waiting for.
The fine craftsmanship that goes into a well-designed and well-
built house.
An all-day, slow-roasted barbecue dinner.
Finding and marrying the love of your life.
At the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus told His disciples to
wait. He was going to give them an incredible gift—the presence
and power of His Holy Spirit. They couldn’t have fully appreciated
all that meant, but they waited nonetheless.
When the Holy Spirit came, He empowered the disciples for
a mission that was unstoppable. From their single location, His
mission spread across the world—and it continues today.
His gift was worth the wait.

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 THE POINT The Holy Spirit empowers us to spread the gospel.

Acts 1:4-5
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that
they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the
Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the
Holy Ghost not many days hence.

The life of a Christian is not hard, it’s impossible. Following Jesus

means …
… loving people—even people who hate you.
… doing the ethical thing at work even if it means putting your
career on the line.
… forgiving people who don’t deserve to be forgiven.
The One who called us to this impossible life never sugarcoated
how difficult it would be. Jesus said:
“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
“In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33).
Jesus, the Son of God, never expected us to live this impossible
life in our own power. Jesus Himself lived His life on earth in union
with and empowered by God the Holy Spirit. That same Spirit is
the secret to the power we need to live and follow Jesus. Living
the Christian life is only possible with the power of the Holy Spirit
living through us.
Before Jesus’ crucifixion, He prepared His disciples for the
time He would soon leave the earth. He told them, in essence,
He would send Someone to be with them always. The Holy Spirit
would dwell in them—and us—to comfort, guide, remind us of
Jesus’ words, give us the right words to say, and fill us with power
(John 14:16-21,26; 15:26-27; 16:7-15).

8 4 S e ss i o n 7
 In Acts 1:4-5, Jesus reminded His followers they soon would
receive the gift He had promised earlier: the baptism of the Holy
Spirit. The disciples were already familiar with water baptism.
John the Baptist had baptized people in the Jordan River as a sign
of repentance in preparation for Jesus’ arrival. Jesus’ followers
adopted the same practice to show repentance and to confess faith
in Jesus. Just as a believer is immersed (baptized) in water, so the
disciples would be “baptized with the Holy Ghost.” At Pentecost,
the Spirit would descend on believers to empower them to preach
the gospel. From that moment forward, God’s people would be
forever changed in how they relate with Him.
God began to dwell within His people in the Person of His Holy
Spirit. This was a game-changer. Up until this time, the Holy Spirit
came only upon certain people like judges, prophets, or kings, to
equip them for a specific task. After the coming of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost, the Holy Spirit would indwell and empower all believers
permanently.
So the Christian life really is impossible to live—apart from
the Holy Spirit. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do
nothing. But once we receive His power at salvation, we can do
anything He calls us to do.
A little boy once heard that if he asked Jesus to be his Savior,
God would come and live inside his heart. So he asked his parents,
“How can God live inside my heart? He’s so big! He made the whole
world! If He lived inside my heart, He’d stick out!”
That little boy was right. If God truly lives in our hearts, He’s
going to stick out. His love will too. His forgiveness will stick out.
His power will too.

What do you find difficult about waiting on the Lord?

Q U E S T I O N #2

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 THE POINT The Holy Spirit empowers us to spread the gospel.

Acts 1:6-8
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying,
Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the
seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,
and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

KEY WORD
witnesses (v. 8)—A witness (Greek: martys) gives a testimony of something he or she has
experienced. Our English word “martyr” comes from the same Greek root.

God is always pursuing His people. Many people have yet to be

won, but He will not rest while they are apart from Him. God sent
the Holy Spirit to work through us to continue the work of bringing
His children home. Rather than occupying one human body—as
Jesus did—the Holy Spirit indwells all believers. In this way, God
multiplied His efforts to spread the message of how He sent His
Son to bring people to Himself.
In verse 8, Jesus laid out God’s agenda succinctly. His mandate
in this verse laid the foundation for the rest of the Book of Acts,
which is largely about how the early believers carried out this
mandate.
Initially, the disciples had other things on their minds. Based on
verses 6-7, they viewed the gift of the Spirit as an answer to their
hopes for a new kingdom for Israel. They wanted freedom from
Rome, military might, and a political king. But God had something
bigger in mind. Not a regional government, not a temporary
kingdom, but a mission to reach all the people on earth with a
message that would impact eternity.

8 6 S e ss i o n 7
 Jesus told His followers to remain in Jerusalem and wait because
they would soon receive the power the Father had promised
(v. 4). When they were filled with the Spirit, they would be His
“witnesses,” telling what they had experienced with Jesus—all they
had seen Him say and do, including His death and resurrection.
They would do this with His power, the power of His Spirit.
The Greek word for power is dunamis, from which we get our
English words dynamo, dynamite, and dynamic. The Spirit fills
believers with the “dynamite” of God. He empowers His church to
do amazing things. By the power of the Holy Spirit, a handful of
believers turned the world upside down as the “gospel earthquake”
rumbled from Jerusalem to “the uttermost part of the earth.”

DIGGING DEEPER

The Great Commission the coastal territories and Galilee as well.

The geographical scope of
Acts 1:8 provides a rough
outline of the entire book: Jerusalem
(1–7), Judaea and Samaria (8–12), the
ends of the earth (13–28). As such it can
well be considered the “theme” verse of
Acts. It is not by accident that Jerusalem
came first. In Luke’s Gospel, Jerusalem
was central, from the temple scenes of
the infancy narrative to the long central
journey to Jerusalem, to Jesus’ passion in
the city that killed its prophets. The story
of Jesus led to Jerusalem; the story of the
church led from Jerusalem. Judaea and
Samaria are probably to be taken together;
Judaea was understood in the sense of the
Davidic kingdom, which would include
Samaria would be included within Judaea
in this broader sense, but it is mentioned
separately because of its non-Jewish
constituency. The “uttermost part of the
earth” is often taken as referring to Rome,
since the story of Acts ends in that city.
This or a similar phrase is often found in
the prophets, however, as an expression
for distant lands; and such is the meaning
in Isaiah 49:6, which may well lie behind
Acts 1:8. In fact, the final verse in Acts, with
Paul preaching without hindrance in Rome,
suggests that the story has not reached its
final destination—the witness continues.
—John B. Polhill, Acts, vol. 26 of The New American Commentary, gen. ed.
David Dockery (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992), 85-86.

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 THE POINT The Holy Spirit empowers us to spread the gospel.

“In Jerusalem and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth” Jesus laid out a deliberate plan of
expansion that began at home and moved outward geographically
to include all people.
The same Spirit who descended on believers at Pentecost and
turned the world upside down for Jesus is alive today in every
person who has placed faith in Jesus Christ. He is sending you
and me out on a mission. He is commissioning us to go, to be His
messengers locally, nationally, and globally. In Acts 1:8, Jesus is
authorizing us and empowering us to “be witnesses unto me both
in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth.”
We live in amazing times.
We can obey Acts 1:8 by hopping on a jet plane and flying to the
ends of the earth.
We can carry out Acts 1:8 by sending the good news out to the
ends of the earth over the Internet.
We can fulfill Acts 1:8 right at home, because the world is
literally coming to our cities. Wherever you go, you are likely to
hear unfamiliar languages being spoken: Spanish, Portuguese,
French, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, Farsi, and on and on. In
this “melting pot” called America, we can carry the Lord’s
message to the ends of the earth in our own neighborhoods
even as we also go to the ends of the earth.

What do these verses teach us about God’s mission?

Q U E S T I O N #3

8 8 S e ss i o n 7
Acts 1:12-14
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet,
which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.
13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room,
where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and
Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and
Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with
the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

What do you do when you find yourself waiting on the next thing
God has for you? So many of us just try to stay busy. We fill the
waiting with activity. Not these disciples. They went to a single
upstairs room and prayed. And they didn’t just pray for an hour or
two. They “continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.”

How is praying with others for a common mission different from your
personal prayers?

Q U E S T I O N #4

Let me share what I see in the disciples’ ten-day prayer meeting:

1. Prayer should be primary. For many of us, prayer is neither
our primary nor even our secondary choice, but prayer is often
only a last resort. “When all else fails, pray.” But prayer was not the
last resort for the early church. It was not the first item to open the
agenda; it was the main agenda.
2. Fear can be a great motivator. For all the disciples knew,
the same people who crucified their Lord might come for them as
well. It was fear, not piety that drove the early church to its knees.
Prayer is your life when you’re scared to death.
3. Prayer unites us. The disciples were single-minded, joined
together as one. Why? Because prayer unites us.

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 THE POINT The Holy Spirit empowers us to spread the gospel.

Prayer maximizes “Thee” and minimizes “me.” Prayer says, “My

agenda is unimportant, Lord, but your agenda is all-important.”
The reason for so much disunity and disharmony in the church is
because many Christians contend for their own agendas, not God’s
agenda. When we pray and seek God’s will together, He will unify
us and keep us focused on our common center: Jesus the Lord.
Praying together with a unified mind and purpose says, in effect,
“Lord, we want Your power. We want Your plan, We want You to do
Your work through us.”
Pray—and wait for God to work.

What common mission can our group pray for together?

Q U E S T I O N #5

“YE SHALL BE WITNESSES …”

Make a prayer list based on Acts 1:8. Write specific requests you can pray throughout the
coming week.

A prayer for my city:

A prayer for my nation:

A prayer for my world:

How might God use you to answer your own prayer in each case?

9 0 S e ss i o n 7
LIVE IT OUT
Acts 1:8 is our mission. It’s mine, and it’s yours. It
may seem like an impossible mandate, but we can
fulfill that mission by relying on the power of the
Holy Spirit. Consider one or more of the following
applications to live out His mandate this week.

Accept the mission. Recognize Jesus has

commanded you to be His witness wherever you
go and wherever He sends you. Say “yes” to Jesus
and then ask Him when and where.

Embrace the gift. Understand the Holy Spirit

is the source of your strength to be the witness
God has called you to be. Rely on Him for
guidance and power.

Pray together. Make prayer a priority with your

Bible study group, not an afterthought. Consider
meeting with another member this week for
coffee or tea and a time of prayer.

God’s mission is unstoppable—and so is the Spirit

He’s placed within you. Remember His mission is
your mission—and it starts with prayer.

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SESSION 8
UNSTOPPABLE MESSAGE

What often gets you sidetracked

during the day?
#unstoppable
Q U E S T I O N #1
92 S e ss i o n 8
 THE POINT

Jesus died for our sins, rose again,

and reigns as Lord.

THE PASSAGES
Acts 2:22-24,32-33,36-38

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Do you know the original mission statement of Harvard University?

“Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed

to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know
God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3) and …
seeing the Lord only giveth wisdom, let every one seriously set
himself by prayer in secret to seek it of him (Prov. 2:3).”

Surprised? When the school was founded in 1636, the

administration hired only Christian professors, forming Christian
character was a top priority for students, and ministers were
trained and equipped to share the gospel. Every diploma displayed
a shield that contained the school’s motto, Veritas Christo et
Ecclesiae, meaning “Truth for Christ and the Church.”
Today, the university maintains a legacy of academic excellence
but has lost its original mission. Harvard has experienced “mission
drift”; it has lost sight of its original purpose.
That happens in the church as well, but it doesn’t have to. God
has given us a clear mission. From the beginning, as we will see in
Acts 2, an unstoppable message drives our mission.

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 THE POINT Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.

Acts 2:22-24
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which
God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge
of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because
it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

KEY WORDS
miracles, wonders and signs (v. 22)—Miracles show the power of God. Wonders
emphasize the response of people who witness miracles. Signs are intended to point back
to God.

Ten days after Jesus ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit descended
in power just as Jesus had promised. The Spirit launched His great
work on earth with a miraculous show of power that included
the sound of a mighty wind, tongues of fire, and the ability of the
believers to speak in languages from all nations.
Skeptics accused the disciples of being drunk. But then Peter
stepped forward and preached the first sermon of the New
Testament church. When Peter opened his mouth, he had one
item on his to-do list: Declare Jesus Christ. Acts 2:14-36 provides
Peter’s entire sermon. Everything that had just happened—from the
tongues of fire to the disciples’ speaking in many languages—served
to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy of Joel. In fact, every Old
Testament prophecy pointed to Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.
Peter aimed for the heart of the crowd. He stated simply: Jesus
was crucified, but God raised Him back to life. Peter explained
that Jesus was handed over to be crucified by the deliberate plan
and foreknowledge of God the Father. Both the crucifixion and the
resurrection were prophesied in the Old Testament.

94 S e ss i o n 8
 This was God’s plan from the beginning.
Peter’s message holds two truths that some people tend to set
against each other: the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of
man. The cross was “delivered by determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God” yet it was “by wicked hands” He was
“crucified and slain.” In other words, God is in control, but the men
involved are held responsible for their deeds. The tension between
these two truths has sparked debate for centuries, but Peter stated
them together unflinchingly and without apology.
As for human responsibility, we can never grasp the meaning
of the cross until we understand the depth of our sin and how it
separates us from
God. Along with the
“It was Christ who willingly went to the cross, lawless men who
and it was our sins that took Him there.” crucified Him, we
—FRANKLIN GRAHAM all are responsible
for Jesus’ death.
Once we see
ourselves as sinners in need of salvation, we can understand why
there had to be a cross and why the cross is vital to our message.
But Jesus didn’t merely die; He rose again. If Jesus had sacrificed
His life for us and then remained dead, His would just be a
poignant story about a martyr. But Jesus is unique in all of history;
He is the only person who ever lived, and died—and then returned
to life never to die again. His death and resurrection are the
heartbeat of the gospel message.

What can we learn from Peter’s approach to sharing the gospel?

Q U E S T I O N #2

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 THE POINT Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.

Acts 2:32-33,36
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having
received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth
this, which ye now see and hear.
............................................................
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath
made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

In A.D. 186, Polycarp, a church leader in Smyrna, stood before

Roman authorities. The proconsul weighed Polycarp’s fate and urged
him to, “Swear, and I will release thee—reproach Christ.” But for
Polycarp there was no other lord but Jesus.
Polycarp held fast: “Eighty and six years have I served him, and
he never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King,
who hath saved me?” And with that confession, Polycarp was
burned alive and pierced with a sword. Polycarp died for professing
his belief that Jesus alone is Lord.1

What are the personal implications of recognizing Jesus as Lord?

Q U E S T I O N #3

Why is it so important to confess Jesus as Lord and not give that

title to anyone else? The Greek word for lord, kurios, sometimes
was used simply as a title of respect, like ‘sir.’ It also referred to
one who was master over many slaves or servants. But when the
Romans called Caesar kurios, they were using the term in its
1. Foxes Book of Martyrs, Chapter II: The Ten Primitive Persecutions [online] [cited 23 October 2015].
Available from the Internet: http://www.ccel.org/f/foxe/martyrs/fox102.htm.

96 S e ss i o n 8
highest sense: to signify divinity. They were acknowledging the
emperor as their god, since the title denoted absolute sovereignty.
Peter used the term at the climax of his sermon in Acts 2:36 to
describe the absolute sovereignty of Jesus Christ: “Therefore let all
the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same
Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Here, Lord is a
majestic title, used to show God’s sovereignty and divine power. The
word points to the Deity of Jesus; Peter was declaring Jesus is God.

What are the worldwide implications that God has made Jesus Lord?

Q U E S T I O N #4

The title of Christ was also extremely significant. Jews

believed the only one who could claim that title would be he who
had accomplished the work of the Messiah. In His death and
resurrection, Jesus proved He was worthy of the title.
Jesus “being by the right hand of God exalted”; with the Father
He sits in the most authoritative, sovereign position in the universe.
It’s because Jesus holds this most exalted position that He had the
authority to send the Holy Spirit along with the signs and wonders
people witnessed that day.
Jesus is Lord, equal with God; that truth is central to the gospel
message. It matters that Jesus is more than a good man or a great
teacher. Because Jesus is Lord and Christ, He alone is able to save.
Later, Peter and John would proclaim about Jesus, “Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved” (4:12).
Because Jesus is Lord and Christ:
1. He is worthy of our worship. He’s not only worthy of our
respect, but also of our worship. He is the One before whom
every knee one day will bow (Phil. 2:10-11).

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 THE POINT Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.

2. He is worthy of our obedience. Because Jesus is Lord and

Christ, He deserves to be sovereign in our lives. He has the
absolute right to tell us what to do and expect our complete
obedience.
As our King, He is worth living for—and dying for.

Acts 2:37-38
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said
unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall
we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

KEY WORD
repent (v. 38)—In the New Testament, repent means to change one’s mind in the sense of
turning away from sin and self and turning to God (Jesus), making God (Jesus) the center of
one’s life.

The final words of Peter’s sermon had a devastating impact on his

hearers. Imagine how it would have felt to realize you had taken
part in murdering the long-prophesied Messiah of Israel! No wonder
many in the crowd turned to the apostles, deeply convicted, and
asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37).
In the original Greek, Luke’s words actually mean they were “cut
to the heart.” These people didn’t merely feel bad or ashamed; they
were suffering and sorrowing over the sin of having rejected and
crucified the Messiah. They were filled with anguish and horror
over what they had done.
The goal of preaching is not to make people feel condemned, but
to open their hearts to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

98 S e ss i o n 8
 Condemnation brings a general feeling of worthlessness. It can
paralyze you from realizing God’s love and plan for your life. When
you feel condemned and riddled with guilt, you say to yourself, “I’m
no good. I always mess up. I can never measure up as a Christian.”
Condemnation leaves you feeling powerless and immobilized.
Conviction brings awareness of specific sins, attitudes, and
habits in your life that need to be changed. It is not a general feeling
like condemnation. It is a specific spotlight on areas in need of
care. When the Holy Spirit convicts you, it is with the loving desire
that you turn from sin and turn to Christ. Conviction motivates
and encourages you to change.
When the people asked, “What shall we do?” Peter was poised and
ready with a call to action: “Repent, and be baptized.” Peter was not
saying we must do two things. Only one action is required: repentance.
Repentance in the Greek language literally means “after-mind”
or “changed mind.” To repent is to change the way you think about
your life and your behavior. It means to change your thinking,
change your heart, and change the direction of your life. It is
agreeing that God is right and you are wrong. So Peter told his
listeners to repent and reverse the course of their lives.
But what about being baptized? The phrase that follows—“for
the remission of sins”—sounds like we experience forgiveness as a
result of baptism. But the little word that begins the phrase is the
Greek eis, which can be translated for, because of, or on account
of. Peter was calling the crowd to be baptized because their sins
had been forgiven.
That’s the unstoppable message: Jesus is Lord and Christ, and
when we acknowledge Him and turn from our sin, we are forgiven.

As we share the gospel, how can we work toward the goal of conviction
rather than condemnation?

Q U E S T I O N #5

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 THE POINT Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and reigns as Lord.

DIGGING DEEPER

Conviction mental conviction is intended. The total

Sense of guilt and shame
leading to repentance. The
words “convict” and “conviction” do not
appear in the KJV. The word “convince”
comes closest to expressing the meaning
of “conviction.” The Holy Spirit is the
One who convicts, and the (inhabited)
world is the object of conviction. First,
conviction for sin is the result of the Holy
Spirit awakening humanity to a sense
of guilt and condemnation because of
person is involved. This can lead to action
based on a sense of conviction. Third, the
conviction results in hope, not despair.
Once individuals are made aware of their
estranged relationship with God, they
are challenged and encouraged to mend
that relationship. The conviction not only
implies the exposure of sin (despair) but
also a call to repentance (hope).
—Glenn McCoy, “Conviction,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, gen.
eds. Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England (Nashville: Holman Bible
Publishers, 2003), 336-337.

sin and unbelief. Second, more than

SIGNS OF LIFE
List some of the things God used to call you to repentance and new life in Christ:

Now list evidence that God indeed saved you and gave you new life:

How can you use these details as a witness to call others to repentance and faith?

10 0 S e ss i o n 8
LIVE IT OUT
How will the unstoppable message of the gospel
influence your life this week? Consider the following
applications:

Focus. Evaluate the focus of your spiritual

life. Are you focused on Jesus or on programs;
activities, or your own interests? Determine one
way you will support your church in spreading
the message of Jesus, whether it’s inviting
someone to church, volunteering to help in the
nursery, or something else.

Develop. Improve your skill at sharing the

message of Jesus. Take an evangelism class at
your church or read a book on how to share your
faith. Of course, there is no better way to hone
your witnessing skills than by witnessing.

Share. The message of salvation is for all

Christians to share. Pray for opportunities to
share the message of Jesus in your everyday
conversations. Consider asking one of the
members of the group to go with you this week.

Let’s avoid the dangers of “mission drift,” both in

our lives and in our churches. Let’s not forget that
the message of Jesus Christ and His salvation is the
reason for everything we do.

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 SESSION 9
UNSTOPPABLE LOVE

What are some employee benefits

that would get you excited?
#unstoppable
Q U E S T I O N #1
10 6 S e ss i o n 9
 THE POINT

Loving people is a powerful expression

of loving God.

THE PASSAGE
Acts 2:41-47

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

Businesses are not just known for their products or services.
They’re known for their work environment and culture.
An Internet-related company offers its employees on-site vehicle
maintenance, a laundromat, hair salon, and “nap pods” where
employees are free to take power naps during work hours.
A toy company offers paid time off for school-related absences
like parent-teacher conferences or field trips.
A healthcare company gives month-long vacations after only
five years and will pay most of the cost if you choose to go to a
country you’ve never visited.
One pet food company allows employees to bring their dogs to
work.
These companies have created an inviting culture that draws
people to work there.
The church is also known for its culture that is far deeper than
corporate perks. The early church’s culture overflowed with love—
love that reflected Jesus Christ and drew people to Him. Their
example in Acts 2 challenges us to continue that reputation and be
a church immersed in a culture of love.

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 THE POINT Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.

Acts 2:41-42
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same
day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

KEY WORDS
fellowship (v. 42)—The Greek word koinonia comes from a root word meaning “common.”
In this context, koinonia expresses shared interests and concerns, full engagement in a
community of believers.
breaking of bread (v. 42)—Most likely this refers to the Lord’s Supper, which is a reminder
of Christ’s body and blood sacrificed for the salvation of those who place their faith in Him.

God did an incredible work in and through the believers on the

day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came upon the believers, Peter
proclaimed the gospel of Jesus, and “about three thousand” people
responded and “were added unto them.” Out of their common love
for the Lord Jesus, the believers came together and shared meals,
worshiped and praised God together, and enjoyed each other’s
company. They continued to grow “in the apostles’ doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

What aspects of church life have been especially meaningful to you?

Q U E S T I O N #2

Let’s focus for a moment on that crucial last element: prayers.

Every great movement from God starts with prayer and is
confirmed by prayer. Remember from our study of Acts 1, the first
activity of the church was a prayer meeting.

10 8 S e ss i o n 9
 DIGGING DEEPER

The Lord’s Supper “breaking of bread” frequently, there is

One of the continuing activities no command anywhere in the Bible that
of the early Christians was specifies how often the Supper should be
the “breaking of bread” [Acts 2:42] from observed. The only indirect reference is
home to home, accompanied by the in Jesus’ phrase “do ye, as oft as ye drink
apostles’ teaching, fellowship, and prayers. it, in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:25).
Sometimes the phrase breaking of bread The emphasis is always upon the proper
may refer to a regular fellowship meal, observance and meaning, not upon the
but most often it seems to refer to the frequency.
Lord’s Supper because it is in the context —Brian L. Harbour, Notes on Acts 2:42-46 in Disciple’s Study Bible, gen. ed.
Trent C. Butler (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 1988), 1365.
of worship, prayer, and praise to God.
Although they seem to have observed the

The iconic evangelist of our

generation, Billy Graham, led
multitudes to Christ for decades.
Now in his 90s, Billy Graham still
recognizes prayer as the power
behind effective evangelism. His
son Franklin said,
My father can no longer take
walks or kneel in the woods to
pray. His eyesight has dimmed
and his conversations are brief.
But I can tell you that he kneels
in spirit to the Lord as he prays
for lost souls….1

1. Franklin Graham, “Franklin Graham: My Father Still Prays for the Lost,” Billy Graham
Evangelistic Association Newsletter [online], 25 July 2014 [cited 23 October 2015]. Available
from the Internet: http://billygraham.org/story/franklin-graham-my-father-still-prays-for-
the-lost/

10 9
 THE POINT Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.

Prayer is the key to effective evangelism. We don’t change

people’s hearts with our convincing arguments or clever
presentations. Far more important than anything a believer can
learn about evangelism is how much he or she depends on the Holy
Spirit for witnessing. Before you start to have a conversation about
Christ with another person, pause for prayer. It doesn’t need to be
a long, involved prayer. Sometimes it’s enough to say, “Lord, let me
speak your words.”
A friend of mine says, “The reason we don’t pray is not because
we’re too busy, but because we’re too confident.” Jesus said,
“without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5); and Paul wrote, “Pray
without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Prayer should drive us to our
knees in humility, knowing we need Jesus every hour.
Prayer is more than just calling on God to act on behalf of
others; prayer allows God to change me—the one praying. As I pray
in the love of Christ for others who don’t know God, I become more
burdened for their souls. As I pray for their broken relationships,
health concerns, financial worries, or problems at work, I grow in
concern and love for them. In the process of praying, God
transforms me into a more loving, compassionate messenger of His
good news. I become more motivated to share the love of Christ
and more effective in sharing. People will be more open to hearing
our message when they sense that we genuinely care about them
and what matters to them. Praying for others leads to caring
for others.

In what ways have you seen or experienced the transformational power

of prayer?

Q U E S T I O N #3

110 S e ss i o n 9
Acts 2:43-45
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were
done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as
every man had need.

The believers in the early church didn’t just meet together to pray
and worship. Verses 43-45 shows how they provided for the needs
of one another. It’s an incredibly moving picture of the church
living out its divine identity. Three characteristics are prominent:
Unity. They “were together, and had all things common.”
Selflessness. They “sold their possessions and goods.”
Mutual care. They “parted them to all men, as every man
had need.”
Caring for people is an incredible way to open a conversation
about Jesus Christ. When people see your sincerity, they’re more
willing to listen to you.
I’m not suggesting we should use “caring” as a tool of
manipulation. We care because it is right, because God cares. And
even if they reject the gospel, we continue to care just as God does.
Meeting physical needs is one way we obey the second greatest
command: “Love thy neighbour as thyself” (Mark 12:31).
The first Christians were so committed to caring for others they
sold their own possessions and property to provide for anyone
among them who was in need. That’s pretty radical. In the second
century, Aristides, the Athenian philosopher, described believers:
They love one another: and from the widows they do not turn away
their countenance: and they rescue the orphan from him who does
him violence: and he who has gives to him who has not, without
grudging. … And if there is among them a man that is poor or needy,
and they have not an abundance of necessaries, they fast two or three
days that they may supply the needy with their necessary food.2
2. The Apology of Aristides: on Behalf of the Christians, edited by J. Rendel Harris (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2004), 49.

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 THE POINT Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.

Anything they contributed was a gift that came directly from

the heart, not from autocratic rule. They gave from the overflow of
their generosity.
In this passage, Luke was describing what happened in the
early church. Their example of caring and extravagant love should
motivate us to consider how we can imitate it. How much should
we give and how much should we keep? No one can give a pat
answer to that question. We must find the balance in our own lives.
For example, my son and I have the goal of watching a baseball
game in every Major League ballpark before he finishes high
school. Believe me, flights, hotels, tickets, meals, and souvenirs all
add up. Someone could chime in with “Just think how that money
could have been spent on the needs of the poor.”
I think of those needs, but I also think of what my son needs
from his dad and the depth of conversations we have on our
journeys. We have to find the balance that’s right for our families,
budgets, and conscience.
Living with certain tensions is one of life’s challenges. Money
spent building relationships and creating memories with our
children is not wasted, but can be a step of discipleship and love
in their lives. Our family goes on mission trips and vacations, both
with the desire to share the unstoppable gospel with others.
The point is not to adopt an attitude of “How much do I have to
give?” but to respond to the God who loves us extravagantly with a
heart of loving generosity.

What would it look like for our group to practice the extravagant love we
see in this passage?

Q U E S T I O N #4

112 S e ss i o n 9
Acts 2:46-47
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and
breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness
and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord
added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The early church prayed and cared for others. But they didn’t stop
there. Perhaps if they had done only these two things—nothing
more—none of us would know about Jesus. At some point, in
addition to praying for and helping people, they had to tell them
about Jesus—who He is and why He lived, died, and rose again.
They had to speak the message behind their love and caring acts.
The early believers evangelized! We know this is true because
“the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” This
happened because someone who knew Jesus told someone who
didn’t know Jesus how to know Jesus!
Sharing completes the cycle of prayer, care, and share. We pray,
and God leads us to care. We care, and He leads us to talk about
His Son, Jesus: “Let me tell you why I can love at all. It’s because
Jesus first loved me.”
It may not always happen in this precise, 1-2-3 order—prayer,
care, and share. But it’s a pretty good template. We talk to God, we
love others through our actions and words, and we connect them
to God—a beautiful circle.
Prayer, care, and share: three acts that can become an
incredible, dynamic lifestyle.
In most cases, the opportunity to share Christ will be built on
the foundation of a friendship. You’ll pray for that person and find
some way to demonstrate you sincerely care—even if it’s just to
say, “I’ve been praying for you about that problem you shared with
me.” In the course of praying and caring, the Lord will give you an
opportunity to share how Jesus is the answer to whatever he or she
is going through.
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 THE POINT Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.

A statement that’s been around for years says, “Preach the

gospel. Use words when necessary.” Catchy, but wrong. Sure, we
preach the gospel as we show people we care, but we also need
to tell them the reason we care. They need to know about Jesus
Christ, and they need to know how to be saved. Ed Stetzer aptly
rephrased this statement:
Preach the gospel, and use words, since it’s necessary.3

Loving others involves praying, caring, and sharing. In which of these

areas would you like to grow?

Q U E S T I O N #5
3. Ed Stetzer, “Preach the Gospel, and Since It’s Necessary, Use Words,” Outreach Magazine, [online], 5 August 2015 [cited 23 October 2015]. Available from the
Internet: http://www.outreachmagazine.com/features/4816-ed-stetzer-preach-the-gospel-and-since-it-s-necessary-use-words.html/3.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS

Choose the words that best describe your church or Bible study group:
___ chaotic ___ fun ___ life changing ___ close ___ sharing

___ caring ___ warm ___ exciting ___ giving ___ praying

List some words that you would like to see describe your fellowship in the coming years.

_________________ _________________ _________________

How can God use you to contribute to that reality?

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LIVE IT OUT
How will you actively and intentionally show
love to people this week? Consider the following
applications:

Prayer. Instead of merely taking an exercise

walk through your neighborhood, take a prayer
walk. Pray for the people who live in each
house in your neighborhood. Pray for their
spiritual, emotional, and financial needs—and
pray especially for their salvation. Ask God to
work in their lives and to use you as His chosen
instrument to tell them about Jesus.

Care. Actively look for someone in need this

week. Determine to give sacrificially, whether of
your time, money, or other resources to help that
person in the name of Jesus.

Share. Think of someone you’ve prayed for or

helped in practical ways but never talked to
about Jesus. Bring Jesus into your conversation
with that person. Let them know your concern
for them is motivated by the love of Christ in
your life.

As members of the church, we have an opportunity

to create a culture that’s much more attractive than
anything a corporation could produce. But it starts
with you. Choose to pray, care, and share as a witness
of Christ.

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 SESSION 10
UNSTOPPABLE OPPORTUNITIES

When has a “chance” encounter

changed your life?
#unstoppable
Q U E S T I O N #1
116 S e ss i o n 10
 THE POINT

We intersect daily with people

who need Christ.

THE PASSAGE
Acts 3:1-10

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

In the early 70s, Bill Fernandez had two friends, both named Steve.
Out walking around the neighborhood one afternoon with one of
them, Bill saw the other Steve washing his car. It seemed like the
perfect opportunity to introduce his two friends.
And that’s how Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak met. They hit
it off immediately. They both had an interest in technology and
eventually they co-founded a little company called Apple.
A chance meeting led to the founding of one of the world’s
most highly valued businesses, one that has redefined computers,
phones, and even how we listen to music.
Wait a minute. A chance meeting?
As a follower of Christ, I hesitate to call the encounters I have
with people mere “chance” meetings. The daily interruptions and
intersections with people may be unplanned on our part—they
may even feel random—but from God’s perspective they are not.
These unplanned intersections can be “divine appointments”—
opportunities that can change the direction of a life.
In Acts 3, Peter and John took advantage of just such an
“unplanned meeting” to do something incredible for God.

SUGGESTED USE | WEEK OF NOVEMBER 6 117

 THE POINT We intersect daily with people who need Christ.

Acts 3:1-4
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of
prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom
they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask
alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

Peter and John chose a busy intersection. They were going to

the temple in Jerusalem at the time of afternoon prayer. Three
o’clock in the afternoon—”the ninth hour”— was one of the times
designated daily for prayer, and it was also the time for one of the
two daily sacrifices. Needless to say, it would be a busy time at the
temple with large crowds coming to pray and offer sacrifices. Peter
and John likely chose this crowded time and place as a forum to
witness. They were men on a mission.
As they approached the temple gate, they saw a disabled man
begging from those who passed. It’s similar to scenes we might
see in urban America. I say “we might see,” because so many of us
choose not to see. We walk on, avoiding eye contact.
David Sleppy chronicled the lives of the homeless in the book
No One Sees Me. The book’s title is based on a conversation Sleppy
had with a homeless man on the street. The photographer/author
asked the man, “What’s the worst part about being homeless?”
The man replied, “No one sees me.”1
Individuals matter. Peter and John had just seen 3,000 people
come to Christ in one day, but they still saw and cared about the
individual. They did just what Jesus had done—they looked at the
individual as if, at that moment, no one else in the world mattered.
1. Alyssa Figueroa, “Do You Ignore Homeless People?” Alternet [online], 29 January 2013, [cited 6 January 2016]. Available from the Internet: www.alternet.org/poverty/
psychology-behind-why-people-react-way-they-do-homeless-person-asking-help.

118 S e ss i o n 10
Jesus was never too busy to make time for those who interrupted
His busy schedule. Jesus stopped for the woman with a bleeding
disorder who touched His robe while on His way to heal Jairus’s
dying daughter (Mark 5:21-34). Jesus saw purpose in the
interruptions that came at Him.
Intersections bring opportunity. Whenever we drive just about
anywhere, we pass crossroads—intersection after intersection.
Most of the time, we just drive through them without taking in the
sights. That’s a pretty good picture of everyday life: each day we
intersect with people, and sometimes we fail to notice them at all.
God put us on this pathway called life, and we need to be aware of
the people who come and go in our lives.
It’s been said life is what happens while we’re making other plans.
Divine intersections usually happen when we’re heading somewhere
else. They may not fit comfortably into our schedule or our agenda.
But God brings people into our lives for a reason. He wants us to
slow down and allow ourselves to be divinely inconvenienced for the
sake of the unstoppable gospel—and for the sake of each of those
individuals. Don’t look at these divine intersections as interruptions
to the journey; they are a part of the journey itself.

DIGGING DEEPER

BEAUTIFUL GATE gate as the one on the east side of the

Scene of the healing of a lame
man by Peter and John (Acts
3:2,10). Neither the Old Testament nor
other Jewish sources mention a “Beautiful
Gate.” Christian tradition has identified the
gate with the Susa (or Shushan) or Golden
Gate on the east side of the temple leading
from outside into the Court of the Gentiles.
Modern scholars, however, identify the
Court of Women leading from the Court
of the Gentiles. Others place it east of
the Court of the Men. Josephus, a Jewish
historian in the first century, described a
gate of “Corinthian bronze” outside the
sanctuary. Jewish sources refer to this gate
as Nicanor’s Gate.
—“Beautiful Gate,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, gen. eds. Chad
Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers,
2003), 179-180.

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 THE POINT We intersect daily with people who need Christ.

How can we get better at noticing the opportunities God gives us to

love others?

Q U E S T I O N #2

Up to this point, the beggar at the temple rightly might have also
said, “No one sees me.” But no more. Peter said to the beggar, “Look
on us.” Peter was acknowledging, “We see you. You are not invisible
to us. We want to help.”
Thanks to the willingness of Peter and John to turn a divine
interruption into an unstoppable opportunity, this man’s life was
about to change. Forever.

Acts 3:5-8
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I
thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately
his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the
temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

These words reflect Peter and John’s attitude toward the beggar:

“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good

therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any
fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it,
for I shall not pass this way again.”—Stephen Grellet

120 S e ss i o n 10
 They didn’t see the man as a nuisance blocking their path.
They didn’t rationalize, like many people do when accosted by
panhandlers: “I don’t have any money … someone else will help
… he’ll always be here begging … his relatives should provide for
him … he should get a job.” Instead, they viewed his need as an
opportunity God had placed in their path.
“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have
give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and
walk.” He then took the disabled man by the right hand and pulled
him to his feet. The man, who had been lame from birth, may have
expected to topple to the ground immediately; yet his feet and
ankles supported him perfectly. Think of the wild emotional ride
the man surely must have experienced: disappointment when Peter
told him he would receive no money; terror at being yanked to his
feet; and finally, overwhelming joy when he was suddenly whole.
1. Peter and John gave what they had. They didn’t stop because
of what they didn’t have; they looked at what they did have and
moved forward. God always supplies what we need to do His
work; otherwise, He wouldn’t have brought us to that place. Even
when we feel ill-equipped, we must take a step of faith.
2. Peter and John relied on Jesus. The apostles didn’t have the
power to heal; Jesus did. When they said, “In the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” they were acknowledging
the power and authority of Jesus Christ to heal.
When we open our eyes to the needs around us, it can be
overwhelming. People in physical, emotional, and spiritual need are
everywhere. Where do we begin to help with problems so deep-
seated? We have to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us.

When have you seen Jesus make a dramatic difference in someone’s life?

Q U E S T I O N #3

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 THE POINT We intersect daily with people who need Christ.

Acts 3:9-10
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate
of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that
which had happened unto him.

The impact of Peter and John’s actions in the lame man’s life were
huge. Before that day, his disability had …
… prevented him from being able to earn a living.
… marked him as blemished, cut off from access to full
worship in the temple (Lev. 21:17-20).
… caused others to reject him, and kept him socially ostracized.
Now suddenly the man was physically whole and considered
worthy to worship with his fellow Jews. He had been asking for
pennies and been handed a treasure.
But the impact of this single deed didn’t end with the beggar;
it impacted the crowd. They responded “with wonder and
amazement.” And why not? After all, the man had been lame since
birth. He had a congenital condition; his was not the cause of a
recent injury or disease. When a man has been unable to stand or
walk for “above forty years” (Acts 4:22), he just doesn’t suddenly
get better. So when the crowd saw this man standing, walking, and
even leaping and praising God, it got their attention!
If you read the rest of Acts 3, you’ll see Peter seized this
opportunity to talk about Jesus to all those who had come to the
temple to worship. One opportunity to talk to one man about Jesus
led to another opportunity. As a result, the number of the men
alone who believed swelled to about 5,000 (4:4).

1. Peter and John interrupted their plans to respond to a man

in need.

122 S e ss i o n 10
 2. People who saw the healing were amazed and surely their
interest was piqued.
3. Peter shared the gospel.
4. Many people came to Christ.
The ripple effect: one opportunity leads to another. One changed
life leads to another, and another.

How have you been affected personally by others’ obedience to Christ?

Q U E S T I O N #4

Edward Kimball took an interest in a 17-year-old teenager and

determined to reach out to him in the name of Jesus. In the shoe
store where the young man worked, Kimball led Dwight L. Moody
to faith in Christ. Moody would go on to lead thousands to faith in
Christ, impacting a whole generation on two continents.2
Edward Kimball was an ordinary man, just like Peter and
John—and just like us. God will take our little acts of obedience
and multiply them a thousand times over.
Jesus’ parable of the talents speaks to the repercussions of
what we do at life’s intersections. The servant who seized the
opportunity to use what the master gave him was rewarded with
more responsibility and more opportunities. The servant who
declined the chance to use what the master gave him was denied
future opportunities for service (Matt. 25:14-30).
One “yes” to the God-given opportunity in front of you can lead
to ongoing impact. One “yes” can bring further opportunities.
Because Peter and John responded to the man in their path, they
had the opportunity to preach to a crowd. Multitudes responded,
bringing more opportunities for ministry.
Say, “Yes!”
2. Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, D.D., The Life and Work of Dwight Lyman Moody, ch. 5 - His Conversion, [online], [cited 6 January 2016]. Available from the Internet: http://
www.biblebelievers.com/moody/05.html

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 THE POINT We intersect daily with people who need Christ.

How can we make room now so we can say yes to future opportunities
to serve?

Q U E S T I O N #5

INTERSECTIONS OF HOPE
Consider the places you are likely to encounter someone in your community in need of
the gospel message. Make a short list or sketch a map.

Now consider ways you or your group can help get the gospel message out in those
places. List some means that might demonstrate God’s grace and power there.

How will you ensure that God gets the glory?

124 S e ss i o n 10
LIVE IT OUT
How will you make the most of the intersections
and opportunities that come your way this week?
Consider the following applications.

Look. Search for such opportunities. Allow

your schedule to be interrupted to allow you to
minister by listening, offering encouragement,
praying with someone, or meeting a need.

Obey. Respond to opportunities God has placed

in your path to reach out to someone at work
or in your neighborhood. When you see a need,
determine to be a “first responder.” Ask God to
use you to show the love of Jesus to someone
who doesn’t know Him.

Join others. Discover opportunities your

church has to show Christ’s love to people in
need nationally or globally. Consider talking with
a staff person at your church and signing up for
ministry opportunities that match your gifts.

To follow Jesus is to serve a sovereign God who

guides your path and that of others. That doesn’t
leave much room for random chance. Every day
provides more opportunities to intersect with
His plan.

125