Acts 1: How to Get the Most Out of Life

252 – Acts 1: How to Get the Most Out of Life

Learn all you can about Jesus

In my first book I told you,
Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was
taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions
through the Holy Spirit.  During the
forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time,
and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to
them about the Kingdom of God. ACTS 1:1-3
NLT

Live every day fueled by God’s
Spirit

Once when he was eating with them, he
commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he
promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few
days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” ACTS 1:4-5 NLT

Then Jesus returned to Galilee,
filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.
LUKE 4:14 NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this
kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. GALATIANS
5:22-23 NLT

So if you sinful people know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to those
who ask him. LUKE 11:13 NLT

Focus
on what Jesus has called you to do

So when the apostles were with Jesus,
they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and
restore our kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set
those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive
power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses,
telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.” ACTS 1:6-8
NLT

But the Lord answered her, “Martha,
Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.” LUKE 10:41 ESV

Stay
in close relationship with people who know and love Jesus

After saying this, he was taken up
into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into
heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you
standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven,
but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of
half a mile. When they arrived, they went to the upstairs
room of the house where they were staying. Here are the names of those who were
present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew,
James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James). They all met together and were constantly
united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and
the brothers of Jesus. ACTS 1:9-14 NLT

When Christians really believe they
gather, when they doubt they scatter

Community Group Bible Discovery Discussion Questions

  1. Have someone in your group retell the story/passage in their own words as if they were telling it to a friend.
  2. What does this teach me about God?
  3. What does this teach me about people?
  4. How does this passage change the way I treat people?
  5. How will I respond this week? How does this passage change how we live?
  6. What other questions do you have about this passage?
  7. Who will I share this with? Do you know anyone who needs help? How can this group help them?

My Notes