Bible Studies – Page 35 – New Connexions Church

Prayer – take it or leave it…

You’ll be helped in this study by taking time to pick up on the accompanying sermon Not an optional extra

Acts 1:12-14

What does it mean they all met together and were constantly united in prayer? How does this compare to the prayer life of New Connexions (please spend some time in honest discussion on this)?

Acts 4:23-31

What does it mean that God is sovereign – how should this affect our prayer life?
What Psalm did they quote and what were the main points in their prayer?
How can we use the Bible in our prayer life? Can you give any examples of how you have used the bible to aid your prayer life?
Describe the likely outcome of a life led by a Christian who doesn’t prioritise prayer – how does this contrast with a life led in obedience to God?
What lessons have you learnt from this study that could aid your prayer?

Some questions based on Acts 1:1-11

Here is the sermon these questions are linked to: The ascension… So what?!

Do we know anything about who wrote Acts and to whom it was written, and why? if so what, and does it matter much?
What do we know about the time that Jesus spent with His disciples during that period of 40 days after the Crucifixion (from this account and others)
What do the disciples mean by restoring the kingdom? (cf Ezekiel 38ff, Isaiah60ff, Matthew 13, Revelation 19ff)
How far away did Jesus go, and why did He have to go?
What does the bible tell us about Christ’s return and the significance of the Mount of Olives?
How does a good understanding of the ascension help us in our Christian walk?

Missed the sermon? Never mind, you can pick it up here: GO!

Read Matthew 28: 11-20

In the first 5 verses discuss how each of the characters mentioned responded to the resurrection, i.e., what did they do, what did they say and why?
In the sermon those first 5 verses were described as what (in comparison with the last 5). Discuss as a group why it is important:
1. to be aware of what the enemy wants;
2. understand the enemies tactics;
3. to fully understand the enemy is defeated?
Some doubted… discuss.
Jesus delivers his “commission” sandwiched between a statement (verse 18) and another encouraging instruction (verse 20b). discuss what difference that should make to us.
Talk through the instruction to Go and… (verses 19 and 20a), considering as you go: what is a disciple, how do you make disciples, what is baptism and why is it important? Why in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

If you’ve not picked up the sermon on this passage yet, you can find it here – UP AGAINST IT!

We’re looking at Acts 4: 1-22.

When did this account happen? As a group sketch out a rough timeline between ‘Good Friday’ and this account.
What do we know about the characters mentioned in this description.
Can we learn anything about how the authorities were dealing with the resurrection of Jesus, and how they were explaining it?
Discuss healing. Does God always heal, never heal or sometimes heal today, and why does He do it, or not…?
There were a lot of brief points thrown out in the sermon, which were considered helps for us today. Can you recall any? Or list a number of your own as a group?
After discussion, spend some time in prayer focussing on the persecuted church, and our own situation as people called to be “Salt & Light”