Weird Noises and Crazy Preachers

THE WARM-UP:
Why is it important to get together with other Christians? What are you waiting in anticipation for God to do in your life?

READ Acts Chapter 2
(For the Leader: The gift of Speaking in Tongues has unfortunately been a divisive issue in the modern church. I would like for it not to take over the conversation as we study this section. Here is one point that might make people think, yet stop any division. In Genesis, God confused the languages because of sin at the tower of Babel. In Acts, God is restoring languages through His Holy Spirit, to defeat sin. It is an act of redemption reaching out to multiple peoples instead of just the Jews. Feel free to scripturally answer honest questions, but keep it from becoming a debate.)

The disciples were waiting, just as Jesus had told them to back in Chapter 1 (vs.4). The Holy Spirit shows up, just like Jesus said He would. The emphasis here isn’t on all the signs, but that God gave HIS Spirit to ALL His people to witness and prophesy. The Holy Spirit living in us gives us the boldness to share Jesus Christ with other people; even those people we normally wouldn’t want to talk to. Without the power of the Holy Spirit, people are never brought to faith in Jesus Christ!
Peter, who is most remembered for denying Jesus on the night of His trial, preaches his first sermon. (Vs. 14-41) Having never been to Bible College or Seminary, we can’t be too hard on Peter. His sermon only was able to lead about 3,000 people to the Lord when he gave the altar call. We see the power of the Holy Spirit working in people’s lives to start the church! Imagine a church plant that has 3,000 people show up the first day!
Then in the last part of the chapter, Vs 42-47, we see how all the believers came together to help each other out. They took care of each other in very real and tangible ways. In verses 42 &46, we see that the early church took part in the “breaking of bread”. This can have two distinct meanings. One is communion or the Lord’s Supper. The other meaning is that they ate together just as here in our Home TEAM we connect through eating together. (Leader: Feel free to celebrate the Lord’s supper at the conclusion of this lesson – some good scripture to read for that is 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

THE TEAM WORK-OUT:
1. How can you apply Peter’s message to your own life?
2. Are we looking out for other believers?
3. Do you know the power of the Holy Spirit?