January 7, 2024: Acts 1:4-11
Main Point: The Holy Spirit would help the disciples share the Gospel.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Questions for Small Group Discussion:
- WHY IS WAITING SO HARD? WHEN HAS GOD MADE YOU WAIT FOR SOMETHING?
- JESUS'S FOLLOWERS NEEDED THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-GOD WITHIN THEM. WHAT IS THE DANGER IN MOVING AHEAD WHEN GOD TELLS US TO WAIT?
- WHY DO WE STRUGGLE WITH WANTING TO KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS? IS JESUS'S RESPONSE IN VERSE 7 COMFORTING OR FRUSTRATING? EXPLAIN.
- WHAT POINT DID JESUS MAKE IN VERSE 8? HOW HAVE YOU PLACED LIMITS ON THOSE WITH WHOM YOU SHOULD SHARE THE GOSPEL?
- HOW DO YOU THINK THE DISCIPLES FELT AS THEY WATCHED JESUS ASCEND INTO THE CLOUDS?
- WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE DISCIPLES TO WITNESS JESUS'S ASCENSION?
- WHY SHOULD KNOWING YOU HAVE THE POWER OF GOD LIVING INSIDE OF YOU ENCOURAGE YOU TO LIVE MORE BOLDLY FOR CHRIST?
- WHEN HAS THE FEAR OF FAILING OR MESSING UP KEPT YOU FROM WITNESSING TO OTHERS?
- WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE TO DEPEND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT'S POWER RATHER THAN ON YOUR OWN?