Pastor Ralph

Q3. (Acts 7:51) Stephen accuses the Jewish leaders of stubbornness, hard-heartedness, and resistance to God. Have you ever noticed these tendencies in your own heart? What must you do if you see such things in yourself?

Q2. (Acts 6:3, ? What list of qualities do you see in Stephen when you combine the apostles’ list of qualifications (verse 3) with the description of Stephen’s character (verse 8)? Why is a ministry that combines the word with miracles so powerful?

Q1. (Acts 6:1-2) What is the root problem in the Jerusalem church that shows up in food distribution? How could such a root problem slow growth and erode spiritual life? How do the apostles deal with it? Is there a root problem in your congregation that leaders need to deal with that threatens the health of the church? Why do leaders sometimes avoid dealing with church problems?

Q5. (Acts 5:17-42) Why do you think Luke includes this long section about the apostles’ imprisonment, trial before the Sanhedrin, and flogging? In your culture, what does it take to keep Christians from sharing their faith openly? Do you share your faith openly?

Q4. (Acts 5:1-11) What is the central sin Ananias and Sapphira are guilty of? Why is lying to Peter the same as “lying to the Holy Spirit” (verse 3), “lying to God” (verse 4)? How can acting toward the church as a mere human institution put us under God’s judgment? What does it mean to “test the Spirit of the Lord” in verse 9. Why was that wrong?

Q3. (Acts 4:32) Why is “having everything in common” at the root of true Christian fellowship? Of koinonia? What does this have to do with the mark of disciples who are known for deep love for one another (John 13:34-35)? To what degree does the church fall short of this?

Q2. (Acts 4:31)What does it mean, “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit”? Weren’t they already filled with the Spirit?

Q1. (Acts 4:23-31) Why do the believers pray for boldness? Why do they need boldness in this circumstance? What does this tell us about their faith? Their character?

Q4. (Acts 4:19-20) We are told to submit to the civil authorities God has placed over us (Romans 13:1). How are we to balance submission to God with submission to parents and government? How can we be faithful to God and still be humble?

Q3. (Acts 4:12) What are the implications of believing that Jesus Christ is the exclusive way to God? How does this conviction energize evangelism? Why does our culture resist this belief so adamantly?

Q2. (Acts 3:19-20) Why is repentance necessary to experience personal “times of refreshing,” peace, and renewal? According to Acts 3:19-20, when does the ultimate “time of refreshing” come?

Q1. (Acts 3:6, 16; 4:10) What kind power do we possess in the name of Jesus? Why do many believers conclude their prayers, “in Jesus’ name, Amen”? (John 14:14) How does praying in Jesus’ name relate to praying in God’s will? Can we misuse praying in Jesus’ name? If so, how?

Q5. (Acts 2:42-47) What characteristics of the early church in Acts 2:42-47 are necessary for healthy congregations in our day? In which of these characteristics is your congregation most healthy? Most unhealthy?

Q4. (Acts 2:38-40) What about repentance and baptism is vital for forgiveness? To whom is the Holy Spirit promised? What will save us from our corrupt cultures today?

Q3. (Acts 2:14-36) What part(s) of Peter’s message on the Day of Pentecost was so convicting to those who heard it?

Q2. (Acts 2:11-13) Why are these messages in tongues so convincing to the crowds? What is the content of the messages the believers are speaking out in these various languages? In what kind of Bible books do we see this kind of content?

Q1. (Acts 2:1-4) When the Holy Spirit falls on the Day of Pentecost, what is the significance of the sound of wind? Of the flames? Of the spontaneous speaking of the praises of God in other languages? How does this filling conform to Old Testament patterns?

Q3. (Acts 1:14) While we know that individual prayer is powerful (James 5:16b), Jesus indicates that group prayer is even more powerful (Matthew 18:19). How would you describe what was happening with this “Fellowship of the 120”? Have you ever been part of a group praying like this? Do you value prayer enough to gather with others to pray? How much of your church’s “prayer meeting” is spent in actual prayer?

Q2. (Acts 1:8) What kinds of power does Jesus offer us in the Holy Spirit? In what ways does Acts 1:8 function as an outline or blueprint of the Book of Acts? Where do you and I fit in to fulfilling Acts 1:8?

Q1. (Acts 1:4-8) Why aren’t Jesus’ disciples to leave Jerusalem and return to their homes? In what ways does the Spirit’s coming represent a filling? A coming upon? A baptism?

Please share your thoughts on one or more of the questions in this lesson.

Please share your thoughts on one or more of the questions in this lesson.

Please share your thoughts on one or more of the questions in this lesson.

Please share your thoughts on one or more of the questions in this lesson.

Please share your thoughts on one or more of the questions in this lesson.