Acts #8 – Study Questions
The Gospel Brings Joy
Acts 8:4-40
INTRODUCTION: Jesus’ final instruction to his disciples (the 11) at the ascension was to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit, who would give them the power to be his witnesses starting in Jerusalem and then eventually to the very ends of the earth. Here in chapter 8, we see the expansion of the gospel to Samaria. The scene continues to underscore how God is leading the mission, whether through persecution or by direct guidance. Philip is God’s faithful messenger, and divine providence drives the mission. What seemed a disaster, the scattering of the church has resulted in a successful mission that was not the result of human planning. Sometimes God puts us in places we do not plan on to further his work. There is a second important dimension to this section. Those who respond are not Jews but those on the edge of Judaism, namely, Samaritans and an Ethiopian. The reach of the gospel is moving toward those beyond the center of Judaism in fulfillment of Jesus’s post-resurrection commission (Acts 1:8), on its initial journey “for all who are far away” By use of a bridge that involves those on the periphery of Judaism, the unit sets the stage for the outreach to the Gentiles.[1] What is undeniable is that, wherever the gospel is preached, it brings joy.
GETTING STARTED – This Sunday, we celebrated baptisms. Baptism is the public confession of a private commitment to follow Jesus in a life-defining way. Every time I baptize someone, there is a tangible feeling of joy, both in the person being baptized and in the congregation. As a group, share about a time that you felt joy from an encounter or experience with the Lord.
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
[1] Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007), 321.