This blog complements a weekly Bible study held at Meridian, Idaho, United Methodist Church. Phil Bence, the study leader, starts threads of discussions by posting information and posing questions.
Anyone is welcome to participate in this discussion. If you wish to participate in the Acts online Bible study, send an email to office@meridianumc.com with your name and phone number. Place "On-line Bible Study" in the message line of your email. In a day or two you should receive an email giving you the info you need to participate in this online study.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Acts 1
Watch this discussion for material that will appear after the first on-site Bible study meets at the Meridian United Methodist Church on Thursday evening, January 5.
As a good Bible study rule of thumb, I like to follow the three steps of what is called “Inductive Bible Study:
1. Observation—What does the text say? 2. Interpretation—What did the text mean for its author and first readers? 3. Application—What does the text mean for us today?
In the observation stage of our study, we will use tools others have found profitable: 1. Looking for repetition of key words and ideas in our Acts passages 2. Looking for places where the author compared and contrasted people, events, places, etc.
We may on occasion also use the ‘reporters’ questions: Who, what, when, where, how, why.
Common biblical study focuses on verse by verse or paragraph by paragraph bits of text. I would like us to focus on chapters [or sometimes even larger units of text] as wholes.
In chapter 1 as a whole, what are the significant repeated elements? 1. The followers of Jesus A. The apostles, e.g., v. 2—“the apostles he had chosen” 13—the eleven apostles named 21—It is necessary to replace Judas as an apostle 26—Matthias becomes one of the twelve apostles B. A larger group of followers, e.g., v. 13—“the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” 14—a group of about a 120
[What kinds of things were these followers doing? 3 spending time with Jesus 3 listening to Jesus 4 eating with Jesus 6 talking to Jesus, asking him questions 11 listening to angels [God’s messengers] 12 returning to Jerusalem together [following Jesus’ command to wait] 14, 24 praying 16 reflecting on Scripture 16-19, 22 reflecting on their time with Jesus, especially around his death 21, 26 planning to remain together as a group]
2. The Holy Spirit v. 2—Jesus giving instruction through the HS to the apostles 4—“the gift my Father promised” 5—“you will be baptized with the HS” 8—“You will receive power when the HS comes on you.” 16—the HS spoke the Scriptures
3. Jesus 1—“all that Jesus began to do and teach” 2—“he was taken up to heaven”; he had chosen apostles 3—he suffered; he showed himself to the apostles, showed that he was alive [22], appeared for forty days, spoke about the kingdom of God 4—he ate with them; he gave command; he reminded them of a gift he has spoken about 7—he spoke about the future—you won’t know everything 8—you will receive power; you will receive the Holy Spirit; you will be my witnesses 9—he was taken up [2, 22] 11—he will return 21—the newly chosen apostle must have been with us throughout the ministry of Jesus.
What is the potential significance of these elements?
1. The followers of Jesus This group is mentioned more than any other factor in the chapter. The book is named “the Acts of the Apostles.” Jesus intended his followers to play an important role. [8] Jesus’ followers hung together as a group, even after the ascension.
2. The Spirit Even Jesus benefited by having the help of the Spirit [2] The Spirit would be a [the] significant source of power for Jesus’ followers. [8] The action of the Spirit was not something new [16, although perhaps the breadth of the gift would be new—4]
3. Jesus His resurrection is mentioned twice. [3, 22; he was stronger than death] His ascension is mentioned three times [2, 9, 22; he was no longer physically present with his followers] The disciples would be HIS witnesses [8, 22]
The message is Jesus. The messengers are Jesus’ followers. The power behind the message is the Holy Spirit.
Other repeated elements, perhaps of less significance: 4. Prayer 14—The group joined constantly in prayer 24—The group prayed for God to show his will in replacing Judas. 5. Scripture 16—The Scripture had to be fulfilled 20—The psalms that spoke of Judas 6. Baptism 5—John baptized with water; you will be baptized with the HS 22—a man who has been with us since John’s baptism 7. “Witness” 8—Jesus’ followers would be his witnesses 22—the newly chosen apostle must be a witness with us of his resurrection 8. Jerusalem 4—Do not leave Jerusalem 8—You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem 12—The disciples returned to Jerusalem 19—Everyone in Jerusalem heard about Judas 9. Jesus, show us . . . 6—the kingdom 24—the person you want to replace Judas 10. Father 4—the Father promised the gift 7—the Father has set the times and dates 11. Judas—16, 17, 18, 20, 25 12. References to location Jerusalem—see above 8—Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth 12—Mount of Olives—where the disciples had last interacted with Jesus 19—Akeldama—a field where Judas was buried
13. Commands and promises A command—4—Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift [The disciples obey this command.] A promise from Jesus—5, 8—The Spirit will come upon you. A promise from two angels—11—Jesus will come back [In Acts 1, Jesus’ followers did not see either of those prophecies fulfilled, but they did nothing to hinder the fulfillment of those promises.]
Was the second half of v 8 [“You will be my witnesses. . .”] intended to be a promise or a command? Likely both. A command of what they should do A promise of what they could do
This chapter shows that God had a plan. Jesus’ followers were not aware of all that God’s plan would involve, but it appears that in this chapter they did what they knew to do to prepare to play their role in God’s plan.
Application questions:
What is your message? [For whom are you a messenger?] What is the power behind your message?
God has a plan for you, for this Bible study group, for our church. What could/should you be doing to prepare yourself for your part in God’s plan?
WOW! Inductive study, online lesson plans, blogging! I am in the 21st century for sure! Am very excited but have a question -- About how many weeks will the study last?
6 comments:
As a good Bible study rule of thumb, I like to follow the three steps of what is called “Inductive Bible Study:
1. Observation—What does the text say?
2. Interpretation—What did the text mean for its author and first readers?
3. Application—What does the text mean for us today?
In the observation stage of our study, we will use tools others have found profitable:
1. Looking for repetition of key words and ideas in our Acts passages
2. Looking for places where the author compared and contrasted people, events, places, etc.
We may on occasion also use the ‘reporters’ questions: Who, what, when, where, how, why.
Common biblical study focuses on verse by verse or paragraph by paragraph bits of text. I would like us to focus on chapters [or sometimes even larger units of text] as wholes.
In chapter 1 as a whole, what are the significant repeated elements?
1. The followers of Jesus
A. The apostles, e.g.,
v. 2—“the apostles he had chosen”
13—the eleven apostles named
21—It is necessary to replace Judas as an apostle
26—Matthias becomes one of the twelve apostles
B. A larger group of followers, e.g.,
v. 13—“the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers”
14—a group of about a 120
[What kinds of things were these followers doing?
3 spending time with Jesus
3 listening to Jesus
4 eating with Jesus
6 talking to Jesus, asking him questions
11 listening to angels [God’s messengers]
12 returning to Jerusalem together [following Jesus’ command to wait]
14, 24 praying
16 reflecting on Scripture
16-19, 22 reflecting on their time with Jesus, especially around his death
21, 26 planning to remain together as a group]
2. The Holy Spirit
v. 2—Jesus giving instruction through the HS to the apostles
4—“the gift my Father promised”
5—“you will be baptized with the HS”
8—“You will receive power when the HS comes on you.”
16—the HS spoke the Scriptures
3. Jesus
1—“all that Jesus began to do and teach”
2—“he was taken up to heaven”; he had chosen apostles
3—he suffered; he showed himself to the apostles, showed that he was alive [22], appeared for forty days, spoke about the kingdom of God
4—he ate with them; he gave command; he reminded them of a gift he has spoken about
7—he spoke about the future—you won’t know everything
8—you will receive power; you will receive the Holy Spirit; you will be my witnesses
9—he was taken up [2, 22]
11—he will return
21—the newly chosen apostle must have been with us throughout the ministry of Jesus.
What is the potential significance of these elements?
1. The followers of Jesus
This group is mentioned more than any other factor in the chapter.
The book is named “the Acts of the Apostles.”
Jesus intended his followers to play an important role. [8]
Jesus’ followers hung together as a group, even after the ascension.
2. The Spirit
Even Jesus benefited by having the help of the Spirit [2]
The Spirit would be a [the] significant source of power for Jesus’ followers. [8]
The action of the Spirit was not something new [16, although perhaps the breadth of the gift would be new—4]
3. Jesus
His resurrection is mentioned twice. [3, 22; he was stronger than death]
His ascension is mentioned three times [2, 9, 22; he was no longer physically present with his followers]
The disciples would be HIS witnesses [8, 22]
The message is Jesus.
The messengers are Jesus’ followers.
The power behind the message is the Holy Spirit.
Other repeated elements, perhaps of less significance:
4. Prayer
14—The group joined constantly in prayer
24—The group prayed for God to show his will in replacing Judas.
5. Scripture
16—The Scripture had to be fulfilled
20—The psalms that spoke of Judas
6. Baptism
5—John baptized with water; you will be baptized with the HS
22—a man who has been with us since John’s baptism
7. “Witness”
8—Jesus’ followers would be his witnesses
22—the newly chosen apostle must be a witness with us of his resurrection
8. Jerusalem
4—Do not leave Jerusalem
8—You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem
12—The disciples returned to Jerusalem
19—Everyone in Jerusalem heard about Judas
9. Jesus, show us . . .
6—the kingdom
24—the person you want to replace Judas
10. Father
4—the Father promised the gift
7—the Father has set the times and dates
11. Judas—16, 17, 18, 20, 25
12. References to location
Jerusalem—see above
8—Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth
12—Mount of Olives—where the disciples had last interacted with Jesus
19—Akeldama—a field where Judas was buried
13. Commands and promises
A command—4—Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift
[The disciples obey this command.]
A promise from Jesus—5, 8—The Spirit will come upon you.
A promise from two angels—11—Jesus will come back
[In Acts 1, Jesus’ followers did not see either of those prophecies fulfilled, but they did nothing to hinder the fulfillment of those promises.]
Was the second half of v 8 [“You will be my witnesses. . .”] intended to be a promise or a command? Likely both.
A command of what they should do
A promise of what they could do
This chapter shows that God had a plan. Jesus’ followers were not aware of all that God’s plan would involve, but it appears that in this chapter they did what they knew to do to prepare to play their role in God’s plan.
Application questions:
What is your message? [For whom are you a messenger?]
What is the power behind your message?
God has a plan for you, for this Bible study group, for our church.
What could/should you be doing to prepare yourself for your part in God’s plan?
WOW! Inductive study, online lesson plans, blogging! I am in the 21st century for sure! Am very excited but have a question -- About how many weeks will the study last?
I am guessing that this class will include 20-25 sessions. We will play it by ear. What do you think?
That sounds OK to me. I will probably miss a few in March.
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