The People of Jesus

The People of Jesus

We're ending our series in Luke's Gospel by looking at the first chapters of Acts, which is the continuation of Luke's telling of the Jesus Story. In Acts 1 Jesus promises to send the Spirit to empower his disciples to be his witnesses. In Acts 2, the Spirit arrives, the church is born, and the mission of Jesus continues in and through his people. From the very beginning, the church is marked by Spirit-wrought unity, Jesus-centered humility, and Family-like community. This week, Rodney McAuley joins us to talk about his ministry of racial justice and reconciliation in the church.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Acts 2:1-13

1. Read Acts 2. What stands out to you about the coming of the Spirit? What is Peter's message? How do the people respond?

2. What role does the Holy Spirit play in the creation of the church community?

3. What role does Peter's sermon play in the creation of the church community?

4. What role does the people's repentance play in the creation of the church community?

5. What practices does the early church commit itself to? Think about your own community. In what ways are you similar or dissimilar?

April 30, 2023 - Steve Hart and Rodney McAuley

The Promise of Jesus

The Promise of Jesus

In Acts, Luke continues the narrative of the work of Jesus. The tomb is empty, Jesus is alive, and as he ascends to his throne in heaven, he gives clear direction about how his followers are to continue his work. His ongoing mission in the world depends on this community of failures. Everything Jesus came to do is now being entrusted to his Church. But, here’s the catch, the disciples can’t seem to get it right. They don’t have what it takes. They are confused, scared, and prone to give up easily. We are sent to bear witness to the Story - his life, death, resurrection; the forgiveness of sins; repentance and baptism; a new kind of human life together - but we can’t make it very far past the resurrection before we start flopping again; missing what Jesus is really saying. This is why the work of the Holy Spirit is so important. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will empower them (and us!) to live out the mission. All they are to do is wait, expect, pray, and depend. Not on their own strength, but on the power of God!

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Acts 1:1-11

1. Read Acts 1. Notice how quickly Luke moves to the work of the Holy Spirit. What is your reaction to discussions about the Holy Spirit? What bias do you read into these first couple chapters of Acts based on your personal history?

2. We see confusion, faithfulness, and boldness coming from the disciples in this chapter. How do you relate to the disciples in this chapter?

3. What is your reaction to Jesus’ command to bear witness? Are you willing to go to the ends of the earth?

April 23, 2023 - Gabe Shippam

The Commission of Jesus

The Commission of Jesus

The gospel according to Luke ends with the Risen King Jesus showing up among his perplexed, fearful, and anxious community of disciples. In Acts - which is Luke's Volume 2 of the Jesus Story! - Luke tells us Jesus spent 40 days with this community, teaching them about the Kingdom of God. In this week's text we get a sample of what Jesus taught. First, he wanted them to know him in all his resurrection glory, and to trust his work on their behalf. Second, he wanted them to understand what he had accomplished and made possible. Third, he wanted to prepare them to be his witnesses, proclaiming and demonstrating the Good News to the ends of the earth. And finally, he wanted to know the power of the Spirit who would accomplish all of this through them. All of this sets up the movement of the gospel that unfolds in the book of Acts, eventually reaching all the way to us!

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Luke 24:36-49

1. What seems to be the biggest shock to the disciples upon seeing the Risen Jesus?

2. What is the message, mission, and means given to the disciples by Jesus?

3. What does it mean to be a witness? What does that look like in your life? In the life of your community?

April 16, 2023 - Steve Hart

The Resurrection of Jesus

The Resurrection of Jesus

"He is not here, but has risen." With those words, the world shifts. Jesus is the center of history, and his resurrection is the hinge point. Yet, when the angels announce the resurrection, nobody understands it, and nobody believes it! But by the end of the story, the whole community of disciples is saying together, "He is risen, indeed!" That’s what Easter is all about: The facts of the resurrection (He is Risen!) become the energizing reality of a disciple’s life (He is Risen, Indeed!). The facts tell us why we can believe it, and the second tells us why we should!

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Luke 24:1-12

1. What does the text tell us about the experience of the women, the apostles, and all the rest of the disciples? Do they believe the words of the angels?

2. The angels remind the women that Jesus himself told them he would rise. What is the significance of that fact? What difference does it make that Jesus knew what was coming for him?

3. The resurrection is not only factually true, it is also personally powerful! It is hope that propels service, freedom that allows us to live honestly, and a wide-open welcome for failures and flops. Why is the resurrection good news to you?

April 9, 2023 - Steve Hart

The End of Jesus

The End of Jesus

None of the Gospel writers spend much time describing the actual crucifixion of Jesus. There are very few gory details, though crucifixion was brutal, shameful, and excruciating. Two details almost all the writers include are the darkening of the day and the tearing of the temple curtain. Both carry a great deal of theological weight, helping us to understand exactly what is happening in the final moments before Jesus lets go of his life. The darkness symbolizes that God's judgement against evil is falling on Jesus - the great and terrible day of the Lord has come, but to God's Son and not to us. The torn curtain symbolizes the end of all that has separated us from God and opening of access to his presence - we are no longer separated from God, but welcomed to draw near.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Luke 23:44-56

1. What does Luke seem to be emphasizing? How do the people respond to the death of Jesus?

2. Read Joel 2:31, Amos 8:9, & Zephaniah 1:15. What do you notice? How does this connect to Luke's statement about the darkness?

3. Read Hebrews 10:11-18. What does the torn curtain symbolize?

4. If all this is true - God's judgment has fallen on his Son, and full access to God has opened up - what ought to be our response?

April 2, 2023 - Steve Hart

The Heart of Jesus

The Heart of Jesus

As Jesus appears before the last person who can spare him from being tormented on the cross, he refuses to plead for his life. Why? Because he WANTS to go to the cross. And when they nail him to the beam and hang him up to die, and they hurl insults at him, he holds no grudge. Instead he prays "Father, forgive them." The sins of mankind (including yours and mine) meant that the cross was necessary - so while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Luke 23:13-25

1. Barabbas is an insurrectionist and murderer - he wants to overthrow the ruling kingdom for his version of a better one. Discuss the ways that you are like Barabbas in your rejection of the Savior and God’s Kingdom? How has Jesus set you free to worship Him and live in God’s kingdom?

2. In what way does Jesus’ power, authority, and sovereignty demonstrate his kindness in this passage? 

3. During this sermon it was said, “The most important question for Christians is what you do with your sin.” In what ways do you hide, try to handle yourself, or pretend your sin is still not there? How do you instead practice freedom in Christ, knowing that Jesus has paid the ransom for your life?
   

March 26, 2023 - Jon Schuler

The Body & Blood of Jesus

The Body & Blood of Jesus

The story of Judas' betrayal is infamous: One of Jesus' closes companions conspires with the Religious power brokers to destroy Jesus, working in conjunction with Satan himself. For Judas, Jesus was a means to an end, and in this moment he sells Jesus out for a bit of cash. Loyalty, the opposite of betrayal, is being true to someone despite attractive alternatives. While it is easy to point fingers at Judas, the story is meant to lead us to reflect on our own attractive alternatives and the places for which Jesus is a means to an end in our own lives. And yet - thru the very means of Judas' betrayal! - Jesus displays his self-giving loyalty, giving his body and blood for us, accomplishing redemption on our behalf.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Luke 22:1-23

1. While Judas, Satan, and the Religious leaders are conspiring to kill Jesus, Luke makes it clear that Jesus is in charge. How does he make that clear? What is Jesus doing?

2. The Last Supper gives the disciples (and us!) a lens to understand his coming death. How does he tell them to understand it?

3. What are your "attractive alternatives," the ways in which Jesus is a means to an end in your life? What does Judas' story tell us about that?

4. "Satan entered into Judas" is a scary verse. By not living in confession and honesty with Jesus, Judas opened himself up to be influenced by Evil. Contrast that with Jesus' promises in Luke 11: The Father wants to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Take some time to do that!
   

March 19, 2023 - Steve Hart

The Glory of Jesus

The Glory of Jesus

We throw the word glory around but really, what does it mean? A glow, a radiance, or the Holiness of God? We may typically think of being in awe while looking at His image. The Bible seems to give a much fuller picture of the glory of God. One of his character, His benevolent rule, and of the goodness and blessing He spreads. And on top of a fuller picture, the Bible again and again gives examples of Him sharing His glory with man as He commissions us to go and spread his reweaving, shalomic glory across mankind. As we spend our days aching alongside all of creation and working towards the blessing of the earth, we eagerly look towards the day that Jesus, the author of Glory returns and makes all things right and new.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Luke 21:25-28

1. What does it mean to be a follower/disciple/apprentice of Jesus? What does this look like?

2. What places has God given you influence in that you get to go and bless and be an image of God for? 

3. At the end of your life, after spending your days laboring for the kingdom, restoring relationships, loving neighbors, building community, following Jesus’ lead; what will it feel like to see Him coming in the clouds, in His full Glory, returning to rule and set all things right?
   

March 12, 2023 - Scott Cooley