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Notes on Church as People of God in Acts
Tonight's home group is a chance to think together about how together we think of ourselves and live as God's people, the new humanity...!!
Icebreaker:
How have you been engaging with the Bible, and in particular, the Book of Acts over the past couple of months??
Word:
Acts 1:1-8
Acts 1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” [NIV]
Q.1 Did anyone have any questions about this passage or the way in which Jesus fulfilled the promises of God to His people Israel [see notes below]?
Tom Wright - the heart of spirituality and theology in Acts:
“Instead of a renewal which would form them as the re-stored Israel, waiting for God to become their king as so many Jews of the day had hoped, they would experience a renewal which would form them as the restored humanity, celebrating the fact that God was becoming king of the whole world, and knowing that as a reality inside their own selves.”
Acts for Everyone p4
Q.2 Discuss together to what degree we are celebrating this renewal in our own lives and as a home group today?
How should we describe the new humanity?
Very real - Jesus’ reality makes sense of life
Lively! - the Holy Spirit is the common property of the community of believers
Generous! - Jubilee people whose generosity to each other and to the needy reflects God’s generosity in the gift of salvation
Counter-cultural! - a prophetic people signaling the culture to be found in heaven on earth now
Bold! - emboldened by the power of the Spirit for witness
Holy! - abstaining from idolatry in devotion to Jesus
Hopeful! - God raised up Jesus and He will raise up His people on the last day (eschatological)
Q.3 How are we doing at living as the new humanity? - see above
[pray for one another]
Divine Promises to God’s People - Israel
Abraham’s Covenant
1. Seed - Genesis 21:12 ‘through Isaac your descendants shall be named’
Gen. 22:17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.
2. A nation (seeds) - Genesis 12:2 ‘I will make you a great nation’
3. A land - Genesis 12:1 ‘To the land which I will show you’
4. A blessing to the families of the earth - Genesis 12:3 ‘And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’
How does Jesus see these promises fulfilled?
1. Jesus - John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” Hebrews 11:17-19, Matt 23:41-46
2. New flock with Shepherd Jesus John 10:19, Matt 21:43, ‘nation of no understanding’ in Romans 10. 12 apostles, 12 tribes; Jesus as Jacob. Jesus puts little store in person being physical descendant of Abraham.
3. Matt 5:5. inheritance of everlasting life. Literal earth - any bits of land we take for Jesus’ sake. Jesus is our inheritance -last supper. (Abraham only inherited enough land in Canaan to bury his wife).
4. Holy Spirit - blessing to us and to enable us to be a blessing to the nations! Luke 24:47-52, John 20:22-23
How did the Apostles see those promises fulfilled?
1. Jesus - Gal. 3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. Rev 22:16,
2. John 11:50-52, High Priest prophecy about Jesus dying for good of a nation; Romans 2:28,29 circumcision of the heart
3. 1 Peter 1:3,4 our inheritance is heavenly not earthly
4. Gal 3:7-14 those of faith are sons of Abraham; Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law so that in Him the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit is what was promised to be given to the nations through Abraham.
[see for more detail Roger T. Forster, Israel and the Land, booklet published by Ichthus Christian Fellowship]
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Robin Plummer, 12/05/2009 |
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