Acts Study Questions Week 1
Never On Your Own
Acts 1:1-5
INTRODUCTION: These five verses are part of the introduction and opening to the book of Acts. Acts, however, is not really a stand-alone volume. It is the second volume of a two-part series containing both the Gospel of Luke and Acts. Luke is the author of both and dedicates them to an acquaintance, Theophilus. Acts begins by linking this second volume to Luke’s first, his Gospel. Luke 24 is especially important to this linkage. There Jesus is raised and appears to the disciples after a ministry that involved both word and deed (Luke 24:50–53). In this section of Acts, Jesus proves himself to be alive to the apostles for a period of forty days. The disciples and readers such as Theophilus can be assured that Jesus is alive. His divine mission is alive and well on earth. More than that, he gives instruction to prepare them for mission, while also promising that enablement for this mission will come to accomplish what is needed for God’s kingdom.[1] Crucially though, we are reminded that as Christians, we are not called to follow Jesus in our own strength. Instead, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and He is the one who strengths and equips us to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
GETTING STARTED – In your group, share about a time that you needed help in your life when attempting to do something. This could be a new project, a home improvement task, or starting a new job. Who did you ask, and how did they help? Or, conversely, share about a time that you needed help and didn’t ask. How did it go? What would you have done differently?
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), 51.