Sabbath School Lesson for June 30-July 6, 2018
Outline of the Lesson
Questions and topics explored this week:
- What led to a belief in the restoration of Israel at the time Christ was born? (Acts 1:6, 7)–Sunday
- What was the mission given to Jesus’ disciples, and how were they to carry it out? (Acts 1:8)–Monday
- How did the experience of their Lord’s ascension affect the disciples, gathered at the Mount of Olives? (Acts 1:9-11)–Tuesday
- What kind of preparation was necessary for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit/Comforter? (Acts 1:12-17)–Wednesday
- How and why did they replace Judas Iscariot? (Acts 1:15, 21-26)–Thursday
Introduction
Following our studies on how we can prepare for the end, it seems appropriate to study what has been called “The Acts of the Apostles”. What amazing things the early church achieved in the three short decades after Christ’s resurrection! The role of the Holy Spirit was invaluable in their efforts to reach the whole world with the gospel.
We too can depend on the Lord to guide and uphold us as we continue the important task of evangelizing the world. After all, the mission to fulfill Jesus’ commission remains the same. This is why we must see ourselves in the men and women portrayed in Luke’s account. They provide us a safe model, at least in principle, as we attempt to be faithful stewards in the troubling times we now live in.
The Gospel of Luke reveals the origin of their work by showcasing the life of Jesus and His ministry. It was through witnessing His style of working with people that the early church based their efforts.
It is thought to be this same Luke, a Gentile doctor convert who worked with the apostle Paul, who wrote the book of Acts to document the endeavors of the early church. These two books comprise almost 27% of the New Testament, making Luke the largest author contributor there, even surpassing the volume of Paul’s writings.
Memory Text: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NRSV
Acts 1 alone, which is the study we take up this week, will include a summary of the whole book of Acts. In this chapter we will learn…
- to be convicted about the mission of Jesus
- to be alert and prayerfully wait for the Holy Spirit
- to be unconcerned about the timing of God’s kingdom, and more concerned about what it is
- to be His witnesses to everyone within our reach
These lessons will be the themes encountered throughout the book of Acts. Be prepared for a wild adventure, as we discover what wondrous works are predicted for our church, which also awaits the Lord’s return.
Sunday: The Restoration of Israel
One can understand somewhat the confusion of the Israelites concerning the Messianic prophecies, when we see that there are two clear images of His work in the Old Testament. In Isaiah alone, for example, we are left with some puzzling questions about His identity:
- At times the Messiah is portrayed as the King of kings, with an emphasis on the glory of His Kingdom (Isaiah 9:6, 7).
- Then there are passages related to the suffering and sacrificial death of the Messiah, with an emphasis on His humility (Isaiah 53:4, 5).
Our human nature likes to dwell, of course, on the first image. So, by the time Jesus did appear in Bethlehem, there were few who would recognize Him, and His birth went almost unnoticed by the world.
A favorite way to view the coming Messiah back then was to fasten on Him their hopes for being released from the despised Roman rule over Israel. Naturally, the beleaguered Jews were ready for a return to the glorious rule that was enjoyed under their kings who followed the Lord.
We must be careful in our predictions today. Let’s not focus on peace in the Middle East and a restoration of the current nation of Israel. We too may be misled about the nature of God’s Kingdom and what the Second Coming is all about. It just may be one of Satan’s attempts to divert the attention of Christians, just like it happened for many of the Jews back in Jesus’ time on earth.
Discussion Questions:
Read Isaiah 9:6, 7 and 53:4, 5. Even today, we find more pleasure in focusing on Christ’s glorious return as King, rather than the destruction of the wicked at the end of the millennium. Why should we keep both events in mind, and how is that accomplished, as we prepare for the end?
Read Luke 9:46 and Mark 10:35-37. What was behind the motives of even Jesus’ most loved disciples? How can misplaced faith lead to misunderstandings of God’s will and be overlooked by even the most faithful followers?
Read Luke 24:21, 25 and Acts 1:6, 7. What emotions were felt by the disciples after Jesus’ death on the cross? What part did faith have to do with these emotions?
Monday: The Disciples’ Mission
To answer the misguided question posed by the disciples about whether Jesus would at that time restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6), Jesus gave them a definite mission to focus on instead (v. 8, our Memory Text).
Their mission included…
- the role the Holy Spirit would play (they would receive power from the Spirit)
- their own role as His witnesses (they needed firsthand experience in knowing Jesus, making them “witnesses”)
- what the mission was and the strategies they would use in achieving it (telling the world about Him, starting at Jerusalem, then branching out to Judea and Samaria, and the rest of the world)
Just as the Holy Spirit anointed Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry (Luke 4:18-21), the disciples would also need an anointing of the Holy Spirit as they began to proclaim their message of the risen Messiah.
Every believer receives an anointing from the Spirit at baptism too, but it was predicted that at the beginning of the New Testament church and at the very end of time there would be a special outpouring of His Spirit for the church as a whole.
In order to be a witness, one must have knowledge of the One for whom you are testifying. For some of the disciples, this meant those who actually walked and talked with Him on earth. For us today, it would mean those who have felt His presence in their lives in a significant way. We too can be witnesses for Jesus, when we acknowledge the role He has played in our life.
It might appear that God is changing plans here, when we look at the third element of their mission in verse 8. But God’s plan is progressive and at times flexible, depending on the circumstances. After all, He is working with human beings, and we are truly the ones who grow and change.
- Now their message of the Messiah will include much more information. They now have seen the sacrifice and suffering that was prophesied in the Old Testament, and can see more clearly how it was needed for our salvation.
- Previously, Israel had been called into existence with the goal of having the nations come to it and learn about God. Now, God’s people would go out into the world themselves to deliver God’s message of salvation.
Discussion Questions:
Read Luke 4:18-21, Acts 2:32, 33, and 16-21. At what special times does the Holy Spirit play a more powerful role? Could this also be true in our individual lives? When do we see Him work most powerfully for us?
Read Acts 1:21, 22 and 4:20. How can we “witness” Christ today, without actually seeing Him? Can we be a witness by just hearing about what He has done? Why, or why not?
Read Isaiah 2:1-5. Why do you think God shifted from the plan of having the nations come to them? Did the mission goal change when they were now told to go out to the nations of the world?
Tuesday: He Will Come Again
The most comforting words we like to hear when saying good-bye to loved ones is that we will see them again soon. Jesus knew that the prospect of His return would be foremost in the disciples’ thoughts too, as He miraculously disappeared from their sight into the heavens above.
Two men in white apparel spoke directly to the disciples after Christ’s ascension occurred. Their message of encouragement was just what they needed to hear, as they sadly saw their Savior leave the earth.
Of course, from the description of having white apparel, we have traditionally believed these “strangers” to be actual angels sent from God for the purpose of bringing comfort to the hearts of the disciples. (Mary, we recall, reported seeing two angels in white sitting in the tomb. This and other examples in the Bible seem to confirm the identity of these comforting angels in white.)
How glorious will Christ’s return be when He returns with thousands upon thousands of angels. It will indeed be a cloud of white that accompanies Him.
Discussion Questions:
Read Acts 1:9-11 and Matthew 24:30. In what ways were Jesus’ ascension and His second coming alike? Why does one seem quieter and less “flashy” than the other?
Read Deuteronomy 19:15. Why might two angels have been sent with this message? Although at times, one angel has delivered a message to certain individuals, why was it important for more than one angel to be present at the time of His ascension?
Read Acts 1:9 and Luke 24:50, 51. How does Luke describe in his gospel more fully how Jesus was “taken up”? Does it leave us with any doubt of its supernatural nature? Why or why not?
Wednesday: Preparing for Pentecost
Although Jesus did not say that the end would come soon, His disciples were encouraged that it would be soon by the implied wording in Acts 1:8, “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” NKJV After all, Jesus had said previously…
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14 NKJV
Surely this highly-charged anticipation, which led to the Spirit being poured out, was also partially responsible for the disciples’ swift and persuasive preaching and spreading of the Word. Today, we would also do well to remember the nearness of His return, and strive to make the event a more prominent focus and mission in our lives.
Besides their enthusiastic desire for seeing Jesus again, the diversity of the group that gathered to wait for the Holy Spirit’s direction, should have our attention. Besides the disciples, which included several women, it was noted that Mary and the brothers of Jesus were present (Acts 1:14).
These family members of Jesus had earlier expressed skepticism and doubt about His identity. Evidently, His resurrection and ascension had turned their thinking around.
So, two things we can ponder here:
- don’t overlook women as likely candidates for receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit
- don’t give up on relatives or friends who might oppose our religious beliefs
Of course, we all have a picture of these disciples, spending most of their time in prayer in the upper room, but interestingly, the account finds them in another activity. Luke adds that they were “continually in the temple praising and blessing God.” (Luke 24:53 NKJV). Let’s remember that witnessing AND prayer are both activities that bring us closer to God.
Discussion Questions:
Read Acts 1:8 and Matthew 24:14. Why would the disciples think that Jesus’ statement would imply that He was coming back very soon, even in their lifetime? For what possible reasons might He not come back when they expected?
Read Acts 1:11, 12. Mark 3:21, and John 7:5. What might have changed Jesus’ brothers opinion of Him?
Read Acts 1:14 and Luke 24:53. In what ways do both prayer and witnessing empower us with more of the Holy Spirit? Why is this? Is it necessary for both of them to be present for the greatest benefit for our churches? How about for our own personal spiritual growth as well?
Thursday: The Twelfth Apostle
There appeared to be only about 120 disciples (Acts 1:15), comprising the initial body of believers at Pentecost. This would constitute an average, healthy-sized church today. One that, if properly managed, could look forward to sustained, future growth.
This relatively small size, however, must naturally have caused them to consider someone to replace Judas Iscariot as a disciple. They would need good leadership candidates as they moved forward with the Lord’s work. Therefore, one of the first tasks they undertook was deciding who would replace Judas.
Two names were considered, Joseph and Matthias, who both fulfilled the qualification of being a eyewitness to Jesus and His earthly ministry from His baptism to the ascension. As was done in the Old Testament, lots were used to make the final choice, with the result of the position falling to Matthias.
This special ministry of apostleship was needed to get the work of the early church started. First-hand witnesses would make the most impact as they struggled to establish themselves as a new community of believers. In addition, these apostles had the mission of preaching, working miracles, and some even wrote Scripture. So, one can see the need for replacing Judas.
Discussion Questions:
Read Acts 1:21, 22 and 4:33. Why were these firsthand witnesses, or apostles, so important in establishing the early Christian churches?
Read 1 Corinthians 9:1, 2 and 15:8. Why is Paul considered one of the apostles, when he never saw Jesus before His resurrection?
Read Numbers 26:55, Proverbs 16:33, Acts 13:2, 16:6-9. Why was the practice of casting lots disregarded by the church after the Pentecost experience? What primary source of guidance has the church relied on since then?
Conclusion
Although Luke’s book has been called The Acts of the Apostles, we might discover that a new title would have equally appropriate: The Acts of the Holy Spirit.
This quarter we will see much of the Spirit’s working as many Christian communities of believers become established in almost every part of the Roman Empire.
The miracles witnessed and the vast influx of new believers and churches will be marvelous to behold. As we remember that the same outpouring of the Holy Spirit has been promised to God’s last-day church, let us not hesitate to prepare ourselves spiritually for a similar experience.
Next Week’s Lesson: Pentecost
To read the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly or see more resources for its study, go to https://www.absg.adventist.org/
All Outlook blogposts by Teresa Thompson, are at http://outlookmag.org/author/teresathompson/
