God's Power for Your Purpose - Acts 2:1-21

 

This Week's Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Crossroads Community Group Guide

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud the purpose of your group.

B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time (Optional): Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: I I Give You My Heart (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)

D. Video Message                                                                  

       

E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website        

F. Review:

1. How did you do with what you want to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):

• Why is it important to know what your God given purpose in life is?

H. Background Information for this study: 

The book of Acts is an historical account of how the church began and how it spread. It was written by Luke, a historian, who also wrote the book of Luke. Jesus has already been crucified, dead, buried and risen on the third day. Jesus appeared and talk with his diciples (followers) for a period of 40 days. 

Jesus gives His followers instructions. Humanly speaking the instructions are impossible to do. They (120  of them) are asked to spread the good news of Jesus to the whole world. Impossible in their own power. Jesus tells them to wait until then receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will give them and us the power to do what we can not do alone. One of the obstacles to doing what Jesus has asked them to do is that there are many different languages spoken in the world and the followers of Jesus only spoke Greek and Aramaic. There was no Google translate. 

Note 1: the word that is translated in these verses int the English word 'tongues' is literally the word languages.

Note 2: When these verses refer to the 'last days' they are refering to the time beginning with Jesus' crucifixtion and ascension until His return at the end of this age. ( See also Hebrews 1:2

Note 3: The prophesy Peter is refering to is found in the book of Joel 2 beginning at verse 28. 

First Section: Acts 2:1-4. The coming of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus.

Second Section: Acts 2:5-13. The Holy Spirit empowering them to speak in other languages.

Third Section: Acts 2:14-21-21. Jesus promises to give us His peace through the Holy Spirit.

In this study be sure to make a practical application to each section. Make application to your life including what you will do to tell other people the message.

J. Word: Read the scriptures above by section. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words; keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses.)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.

3. What are the details?

4. What jumps out at you and catches your attention?

5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for more than 30% of the time; let the group discover what God is saying to them.)

1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?