March 31, 2009

Disciple 1 Group Meeting

Lesson 24 - The Explosive Power of the Spirit March 31, 2009

Gathering: and Prayer (5 minutes) Prayer Scripture:

Theme:

Theme Word:

Video Segment (20 Minutes)

Listen for the source, means, and the purpose of the Holy Spirit Power

Discuss After Viewing Video

How did the early church experience the presence and power of the Holy Spirit? How do you experience the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in your life?

Scripture and Study Manuel (50 minutes)

Group 1: Acts 2:2-3, How were persons' lives changed? How were their attitudes affected? What did they do with this power?

Group 2: Acts 2:37,38, Assign characters of two and ask them to walk with the character through the events in which the character is involved. They should try to sense the excitement, power, feelings, and reactions of the character as the events unfolded.

Group 3: Acts 5: 1-11, What happen to Ananias and his wife Sapphira after they sold their land and laid only a part of the proceeds at the apostles' feet. Was the money the issue? Why or why not? Then why were they confronted so dramatically by Peter and the Holy Spirit?

Group 4: Acts 7: 2-53, The whole of Israel's history comes into play more than once in Acts. Try to identify what was at stake for these early Christians, Jews within Judaism, claimed by their history, but committed to the message and mission of Jesus. What tension with fellow Jews were built into the situation?

Encounter the Word (40 minutes) Scripture selection: Acts 4:32-5: 11

Ask everyone to read Acts 4:32-5:11 silently and then listen as one person reads it aloud. In threes, study the passage, using these questions:

What does this passage say about God? What does this passage say about human being? What does this passage say about the relationship between God and human beings? (See theological Bible study, pages 40-44 of Teaching the Bible to Adults and Youth.)