Bible Study

                                                                         The Working Church  

                                                           The Book of the Acts of the Apostles

                                                                   Bible Study November 2024

                                                       Mount Olive Baptist Church Rectortown, VA                                                                     

                                                            Study #1

•The Concept of Work

–Divine Privilege,Consequence and Purpose
•Gen 2:2-3,15-17; 3:17-19
•Eph 4:28
•Receiving and Using Power (Acts 1:1-11)
–The bridge to the 40 days after the ressurection and the ascension of Christ.  The bridge to the end the Gospels and the beginning of the work transition to the Disciples/Apostles >Church
•Key Verses
–1:3, 6; 7-8

             --Revelations 21:2-3; Genesis 2:5

•The First Prayer Meeting:

             –Acts 1:12-14 

                 •Instructions from Christ (1:4) to wait and pray

                 •Included: 1) the remaining disciples, 2) women, 3) Mary the mother of

                   Christ, 4) and Christ’s Brothers (John 7:5; I Corinthians 15:7)

•The First Church Conference:
–Acts 1:15-26

          The center of the agenda was to appoint a new disciple or apostle as the are

          called now.  This new term is transitional continuation of the calling of the                  original twelve. (Praying/Seeking Guidance/Organization)

•The First Church Conference continued (1:15-26)
–vs 16-17. The Judas Paradox (Ps 41:9)
–vs 18-20. The Death and Legacy of Judas (Matt 27:3-8; Ps 69:25, 109:8)
–vs 21-25. The selection criteria and process for replacing Judas. (Biblical Criteria, Examining Options, Prayer for Wisdom and Guidance, Decision)
–vs 21-22. The selection pool of followers (Mark 1:9-11)
–vs 26. Disciples(Followers/Learners) > Apostles(Messenger/Missionary) = Change of Mission
 
 
 
                             Introduction to Acts
                                  Bible Study                            

                                                                       Studying

                                                                     The Power,

                                                                   The Formation,

                                                                   And The Work

                                                                   Of The Church

                                         Mount Olive Baptist Church, Rectortown, VA   (Nov 21 2024)

                                   

                                     Introduction to the Book of Acts

  • I.  Style and Challenge
    •     Peter > The Jews/Judaism
    •     Paul > Gentiles.Paganism     
  •       II.  Authorship                                                                                          

                Luke (companion to Paul) is generally considered as the primary writer

  •                     Parallels between The Gospel of Luke and Book of Acts
  •                          Concern for those outside of Juaism
  •                          Prominence of women
  •                          Role of the Holy Ghost
  •                          Acts: 16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:21-28:16; Col 4:14
  •          III. Date of Authorship - Generally Considered ~60 A.D.

Purpose - Account of the Development and Movement of the Early Church - In Four Interwoven Phases

  • The Movement from Jews to Gentiles
  •            Outreach to Jews - 1:1-8:3
  •            Outreach to "second-class" Jews such as Samaritans and proselytes 8:4-40
  •             Outreach to God-fearing Gentiles 9:32-11:18
  •           Outreach to Gentiles with no connection to Judaism 13:2-21:15
  • The Movement fromJerusalem to the Gentile World
  • Jerusalem throughout Judea, Samaria and Galilee 1:1-9:31
  • Extension to Antioch 11:19-13:1
  • Antioch based mission/ministry 13:2-21:16
  • Into Rome 21:17-28:31
  • Challenges and Development within the Early Church
  • The Establishment of Paul's role in spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles and it's parallel to Peter's role to the Jews
  • Challenges and Development within the Early Church
  • Jews versus Jewish Christians
  • Hebrew Christians versus Hellenistic Christians
  • Jewish Christians versus Gentile Christians
  • Christians versus Roman authority
  • The Establishment of Paul's role in spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles and it's parallel to Peter's role to the Jews (Ref: Mark 16:14-18)
  • Healing of the lame 3:2-10/14:8-10
  • Facilitator of miraculous healing 5:15/19:12
  • Exorcisms 5:16/16:18
  • Contentions with sorcery 8:18-24/13:6-11
  • Raising of the Dead 9:36-42/20:9-10
  • Deliverance from prison 5:19,12:7-11/16:25-26
  • The Book of Acts records how through the empowerment a group wnd guidance of the Holy Ghost, a smallas used to spread the Gospel to the world