Sunday, September 02, 2012

Opening: Think back to a time when you had to wait for something. Maybe it was to go to grandma’s for Christmas or on a vacation. Name as many emotions as you can think of that you experienced. Now think about a time when you were going somewhere or doing something that you really didn’t to go or do. Maybe it was a surgery or a court date or a parent-teacher conference. What were those emotions?

Scripture: Today we start our readings in the Book of Acts. Read Acts 1:1-8.

Insights:

• Luke wrote both his Gospel, and now this book of Acts. Look back at Luke 1:1-4. What was Luke’s purpose in writing? 
• This book is in some places called “The Acts of the Apostles.” A case could be made that it should be called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” 
• It has been suggested that Theophilus is merely a generic term for all Christians (the name means “loved of God”), but the epithet “most excellent” implies Luke was writing to a definite person, probably a Roman official, whom Luke held in high respect. 
• In the Gospels, the Twelve are called the disciples. Now in Acts, the term “apostles” is used to refer to those original members, while the term “disciples” refers to the ever expanding group of Christ followers. Disciple means “follower or learner,” and apostle means “messenger or missionary.” The apostles now had the special assignment of spreading the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection. 
•  Jesus clearly commands the apostles to remain in Jerusalem. Why?

Life Questions:

• How would the apostles recognize the coming “gift of God”, the Holy Spirit? How have you recognized the Holy Spirit? 
• Jesus told the apostles to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes, then be witnesses “in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Has there been a time you stayed? Have you been willing then to go?

Prayer Focus: For a fresh coming of the Holy Spirit, and the power to be Christ’s witnesses.

Saturday, September 01, 2012

Opening: What was your first paying job? Not your chores at home as a child, but the first time someone chose you and said, “I will pay you to do a job for me.” What do you think was one thing you learned from that experience?

Scripture: Sunday’s message is our text today. Please read Luke 5:1-11.

Insights:

• We know that Jesus grew up in Nazareth. But at the beginning of His ministry, he moved to Capernaum (see Matthew 4:13). It would become His base of operations for His Galilean ministry. Remember that whenever you read about Jesus’ travels. 
• In our passage, we find the third reference to Peter (scan back to the previous chapters of Luke to see the previous encounters of Jesus with Peter). And our passage occurs prior to Jesus naming the Twelve Disciples (see Luke 6:12-16). Clearly, Jesus is focused on establishing a relationship with this fisherman of Galilee.  Some commentators believe this is these disciples’ “second” calling. After the first call (see Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:16-20), Peter, Andrew, James, and John had gone back to fishing. They watched Jesus as He established His authority in the synagogue, healed the sick, and drove out demons. 
• In our passage, He established His authority in their lives – right where they lived, right where they worked. And when He had established His authority over the “everyday,” He called them to something greater. Instead of fishing for fish; they would be fishing for men and women.

Life Questions:

• Jesus instructing you to do something? Giving you a command? Is it something that you have already tried but He is asking you to try it His way? 
• Have you ever gone back to an old way, activity, attitude of your past before you began to really follow Jesus? Did you find that your nets were empty?

Prayer Focus: For tomorrow’s worship celebration, that we would truly and meaningfully worship the Christ who brings abundance, and that we would hear Him call us to fish for men and women.

Tomorrow’s Message Title: “The Church is like a… Fishing Trip”