Step By Step Through the New Testament(Part II)

Rev. Christopher J. RespassAntioch Bible Institute

Spring 2014

Lessons 2 & 3: Acts: Pentecost, Early Church Life,

Witnessing for Jesus

Acts: Pentecost & Early Church Life

I.The Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13)A. Feasts—Passover & Pentecost

1. Passover2. Pentecost (Feast of Weeks): 50 days

after Passover

B. Significance1. Passover = Jesus is the sacrifice2. Pentecost= Holy Spirit indwells

Acts: Pentecost & Early Church Life

C. Sounds & Sights of Pentecost1. Sound: Wind (pneuma)

--the Spirit (pneuma) of God

2. Sights: Fire--“Divine presence”--Exodus 3:2-5

Acts: Pentecost & Early Church Life

D. Filling of the Spirit1. Each believer was “filled” receiving as much of the Spirit as they could hold.

2. The Holy Spirit filled them with power.

3. The believers spoke in tongues (languages) unknown to them, but known and understandable by others.

Acts: Pentecost & Early Church Life

E. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

“The event of Pentecost brought the Spirit’s presence into the life of all Christians. The Holy Spirit now teaches, leads, and produces Christian character in all believers.”

(Lea & Hudson, 114).

Acts: Pentecost & Early Church Life

II.Peter’s Sermon (Acts 2:12-40)A. Rebuts the charge of Drunkenness (v.14-15)

B. Explained the significance of the Sounds, Sight and Speaking in Tongues (v.16-21)(see, Joel 2:28-32).

C. Presented Jesus’ life, death and resurrection as the apex of God’s divine plan for the salvation and redemption of mankind (v.22-36)

Acts: Pentecost

D. Made and appeal to the people for repentance, faith and baptism (v.37-39).

“[Peter’s] appeal in Acts 2:38 promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who expressed repentance and faith as symbolized by baptism.” (Lea & Hudson)

Acts: Pentecost

“Peter did not link the gift of the Holy Spirit merely with the act of baptism, but with baptism as a visible sign of repentance

and faith. Christians receive the Holy Spirit by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, and

baptism is the outward sign of this conversion.” (Lea & Hudson,

114-15)

Acts: Early Church LifeIII.Characteristics of a Spiritual Church (2:42-47)

A. Doctrine—learning about Jesus and the Word

B. Fellowship—commemorating the death of Jesus and hoping in his return.

C. Prayer—praise and fervent intercession.

Evangelism, Discipleship, Ministry, Fellowship, Worship

Acts: Early Church Life

IV.The Church at Prayer (Acts 4:23-31)

Q: How do the prayers of this church compare to the prayers of contemporary churches you have attended?

Similarities? Differences?

Acts: Early Church LifeIV.The Problem of Sin in the Church (Acts 5)A. When Satan attacks the church he:

1. brings persecution from without2. deception and division from within

B. Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)1. God takes hypocrisy seriously2. They lied to God3. Endured a drastic punishment--Death

Acts: Early Church LifeV.Caring for Needs of Others (Acts 6:1-7)A. The Problem—Grecian widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

B. The Solution—Deacons.The apostles refused to leave the preaching of the gospel in order to make ministry to widows a full-time task. So, they appointed seven men full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom as deacons.

Acts: Early Church Life

C. The Result—God’s word increasedBecause the Apostles were now able to focus on preaching the word and prayer, God’s word increased and the number of believers grew rapidly.

Acts: Witnessing For Jesus

VI. Witnessing By Martyrdom (Acts 6:8-7:60)

A. Stephen: The First Martyr of the Early Church.

1. Steven is seized (Acts 8:8-15)2. Steven preaches (Acts 7:1-53)3. Steven is stoned (Acts 7:54-60)

B. "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church"--Tertullian, early church father

Acts: Witnessing For Jesus

C. There may come a time when you will be an actual martyr or a symbolic "martyr." (Rev. 6:9-11).

Are you Ready to be a Witness for Jesus?

Acts: Witnessing For Jesus

VII. Witnessing and Worldliness (Acts 8:5-24)

A. Simon the Magician: Talk v. Walk1. Came from a pagan faith system--used

magic (v.9-10)

2. Believed and became a companion of Phillip and, eventually, Peter and John.

3. Did not fully understand and offered to pay for the power to impart the Holy Spirit (v.18-19)

Acts: Witnessing For Jesus

B. Peter rebuked Simon (v.20-23)1. Did not understand spiritual matters

(v.20)2. Could not share in the spiritual ministry

(v21).3. Had a heart not right before God (v.21)4. Had committed wickedness (v.22)5. Was full of bitterness (v.22)6. Was captive to sin (v.23)

Acts: Witnessing For Jesus

C. What do we learn from this?1. Discipleship is important.

2. Those from other faith systems may require more time to learn and "unlearn" some behaviors.

3. A person's talk and walk must match.

Acts: Witnessing For Jesus

VIII. Witnessing One-on-one (Acts 8:26-40)

A. Ethiopian Eunuch: "religion" is not "salvation"

1. Phillip leaves a powerful Samaritan ministry to travel down to a desert

road (v. 4- 8, 26).

2. A powerful, Ethiopian leader in the court of Queen Candace was returning from worship

in Jerusalem and was reading the OT.

Acts: Witnessing For JesusB. What do we learn from this?

1. Jesus Christ died for people--all people.2. Sharing the gospel requires sacrifice.3. Sharing the gospel takes time and patience4. People are searching for answers, often

without the guidance they need.5. Saints must be prepared to meet people

where they are spiritually.6. Being "religious" is not the same as being "saved."

Questions