The Holy Spirit

[1] Acts 1:1-7 [The Holy Spirit in times of persecution.]

[2] John 3:5 [The Holy Spirit brings conversion.]

[3] John 6:63 [The Holy Spirit brings the essence of life.]

[4] John 7:37-39 [The Holy Spirit is the life of Jesus.]

[5] John 14:15-17 [The Holy Spirit is the Counsel of Truth.]

[6] John 15:26 [The Holy Spirit gives witness to the truth about Jesus.]

[2]

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS  [Acts 1:1-7]

1.*What are some examples of the “proofs” that convinced the disciples Jesus was alive?(Jesus participated fully in physical life with them for 40 days.  He ate and talked with them.)

2.*Identify the focus of the 40-day Master’s class?(Jesus taught about God’s kingdom in light of His resurrection.)

Read Acts 1:4 and compare it with John 14:16-20.

3.*Why were the disciples to wait in Jerusalem?(They were to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit.)

4.*How could waiting make them ready for the promise?(Waiting would give them time to process everything.  It would make them ready to recognize the promise when fulfilled.)

Read Acts 1:6, the question from the disciples and then the first part of Jesus’ answer in verse 7.

5.*How does this question show what they didn’t understand?((They expected a political kingdom.)

6.*Why didn’t the disciples need to know times and dates according to Jesus?(The time was known only to God.  If Jesus didn’t know it, they didn’t need to know it either.)

7.*How does submitting to God’s knowledge about dates and times require more trust than knowing a date on a calendar?(As we trust God for unknown details, we acknowledge His authority so that we will be ready whenever the time comes.)

THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT  [Acts 1:8-11]

8.*How does Jesus turn the disciples away from what they cannot know to what they can know?(They can know the power of the Holy Spirit, and the knowledge about dates and times require more trust than knowing a date on a calendar?(As we trust God for unknown details, we acknowledge His authority so that we will be ready whenever the time comes.)

Session Goals:

*To acknowledge the importance of the Holy Spirit as Christ

of Truth.]

Session Goals:

*To acknowledge the importance of the Holy Spirit as Christ’s legacy to His followers.

*To explore the imperative of Jesus to receive the Holy Spirit.

*To allow the reign of God to be the central reality of our lives.

*To give witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ by relying on the empowering of

the Holy Spirit.

The Word to Live By:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Session Truth:

Jesus has promised His presence and power through the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to be witnesses of His transforming grace.

This session is about Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives.  Believers need to know that it is the Spirit who equips us with enabling power to live for Him.

THURSDAY NIGHT:  They shared a somber and mysterious supper.

FRIDAY:  Jesus was betrayed, arrested, tried, condemned, crucified, and buried.

SUNDAY MORNING:  Grieving at the tomb when their risen, living Lord met them.

The Gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus’ presence here on earth, while the Book of Acts tells the story of the Spirit and the Church.  Just before the Spirit came and formed the Church, the disciples spent 40 final days with Jesus.

Acts is really the “rest of the story” started in the Gospels.  While the Gospels tell the story of Jesus’ ministry on earth, Acts tells the story of the Spirit-transformed group of disciples and how they obeyed Jesus’ parting instructions.

EXPLORE:  WHAT JESUS PROMISED  What had Jesus already told them about the promised gift of the Holy Spirit according to the following scriptures?

[1] Matthew 10:17-20 [The Holy Spirit will help you speak can be witnesses [v. 8.]

9.*How does this give us a model for dealing with what we cannot know?(We use the power of the Spirit to leave what we cannot know to God’s perfect authority.  We can give witness that all we need to know is that God knows.)

10.*What was the purpose for the power of the Holy Spirit?(To be Christ’s witnesses concerning everything He taught and demonstrated with His life.)

11.*Witness is a key word in Acts, used 29 times in some form.  However, the Resurrection took place without eyewitnesses.  Why do you think Jesus returned to heaven in full view of the disciples [v. 9]?(Jesus wanted them to be eyewitnesses and to know for certain what happened to Him.)

PRAYERFULLY WAITING FOR THE PROMISE [Acts1:12-14]

The disciples return to an upstairs room to obey Jesus’ waiting instructions.

12.*Who was present?(The disciples, key women, and the family of Jesus [vv. 13-14a])

13.*How did the disciples pass waiting time?(In prayer [v. 14])

14.*Contrast this waiting period with the one after the Crucifixion.(They were devastated when Jesus died.  Now they waited with hope and purpose.)

GOD’S PURPOSES

Acts 1:1-14 emphasizes two important truths that apply to every Christian.

1.  Every disciple of Jesus is called to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

2.  Every disciple of Jesus is called to be a witness for Christ.

Left Behind for a Reason

Although Jesus left His disciples again, He did not leave them alone this time.  Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come upon the disciples and provide for them the power to be effective witnesses in His name.  The coming of the Spirit would mold the disciples into a special group of witnesses called the Church.  The Spirit would equip them in all the following ways.  Preaching the Gospel, Empowered Speech, Wondrous Deeds. A Spirit-filled Community: Wherever the disciples went, they knew they could rely on the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives to help them effectively witness to the love of God found in Jesus Christ.  If we are willing to prayerfully wait for His Spirit to descend upon us, how much more will God use us?