6 Subversive Acts: Revolutionary People
Week #1
Opening Reflections.
Where have you seen God at work in your life this week?
Share any brief examples and encouragements.
Was there anything from Sunday’s message (from Adam and Hannah Heather) which resonated with you or that you felt resistance to? Anything else you particularly noticed?
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47
Read Acts 2:42-47.
1. Verse 47 says that the infant church enjoyed the favour of ‘all the people’. This seems to echo the observation the same author made in his Gospel, Luke 2:52 (NLT), that the child Jesus ‘grew in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and all the people.’ In what ways can we say that the infant church grew like Jesus? Is there a difference between finding favour and being popular? How can today’s church find favour with ‘all the people’?
2. Over the next few weeks we will be looking at six practices which characterised the early Church:
- The Apostle’s Teaching and Fellowship
- Communion / Eating Meals Together
- Prayer
- Wonders and Signs / Miracles
- Everything in Common / A New Economy
- Daily Addition of New People to the Church / Mission
Read Acts 2:42-47 again. Is anything missing from our experience of church today?
3. On the day of Pentecost, just 10 days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Church was born in the power of the Spirit. An international multi-lingual crowd from the Jewish diaspora witnessed 120 Jesus followers acting drunk in the streets of Jerusalem. The Apostle Peter, who, just seven weeks earlier had denied that he knew Christ, now preached with such power that 3,000 more people turned to follow him. Peter told them (Acts 2:38), ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ Four verses later they are getting organised! Some Christian traditions emphasise the need for a powerful ‘Pentecostal’ encounter with the Spirit, others with the need for disciplined spiritual practices. Who do you think is right? Do we need both? How do they work together?
“The early church didn’t say, ‘Look what the world is coming to!’ They said, ‘Look what has come into the world!’”
Carl Henry
Closing Reflections.
Is there anything you will take away from this study and discussion?What has stood out that you can take into your week ahead?
Pray together (in pairs or small groups) for each other, in response to your answers.
