Sermon Bible Study Guides

Acts Overview - 22nd October 2021

This Bible Study will be a bit different from our normal Bible Study Guides because it covers an entire book of the Bible instead of a chapter or a few verses. If you have time, it may be a great help to read back over the entire book and see what things you didn't notice the first time around. It takes a little more than 2 hours to read Acts, so if you set aside 20-30 minutes a day, you can finish in a week!

OBSERVATION
What does it say?

1. Flip through the book of Acts for 10-15 minutes.
   1. What do you think are some of the most important events?
   2. Who are the major characters?
   3. Do you notice any repeated themes or ideas throughout the book?
2. Read Acts 1:1-11; 28:23-31
   1. Do you notice any similarities between the beginning and the end?
   2. Any repeated words or ideas?

INTERPRETATION
What does it mean?

1. How would you outline this book (e.g. what is the structure?)
   1. Look for changes in the main characters or geopgraphy.
   2. Does Acts 1:8 help you see the structure of Acts? Why or why not?
2. Take a few minutes and write a one-sentence summary of the whole book. Compare with others.
3. Maybe this was your first time reading the book of Acts, or perhaps it was your 100th.
   1. What are some new things you have learned?
   2. Did anything new stand out to you?
   3. What events from the book do you think are most important for Christians today?
   4. What was your favorite part of the book?

APPLICATION
How should it change us?

1. How has this book changed you or challenged you in the last 28 chapters?
   1. What do you want to remember most about the Christians in the book of Acts?
2. What's one verse you can memorize from the book of Acts?
3. Since we began studying Acts, have you been able to share the gospel with anyone?
   1. If so, how did it go? What do you need to do to continue to be a witness for Jesus?
   2.  If not, what's been holding you back? 
4. Who is someone that you can share your one-sentence summary with?

Acts 28:1-31 - 15th October 2021

OBSERVATION
What does it say?

1. Read Acts 28
2. What characters are mentioned? Any new ones?
3. How do people treat Paul throughout this chapter?
4. What are repeated words/phrases?
5. What chapter in Isaiah is quoted? (It may help to read more of that chapter for context)
6. What questions do you have after reading through the chapter?

INTERPRETATION
What does it mean?

1. What is the conclusion of the native people on Malta about Paul? (v4,6)
   1. What did the natives believe about their god to think that Paul would be punished for wrongdoing?
   2. Has Paul been worshiped like a god before in Acts?
   3. Do you think that Paul helped them to understand the true God, even though there is no written record of it here?
2. "Brothers" are mentioned in vv14-15, and then Paul addresses "Brothers" in vers 17.
   1. Do you think these are the same groups of brothers or different?
   2. Why would Paul consider these different groups "brothers"?
3. Why does Paul say he is imprisoned in verse 20?
   1. How is this different than other purpose statements Paul has given in Acts? (e.g. 23:6)
   2. What is the "hope of Israel"?
4. Why does Paul continue to use Moses and the Prophets to convince people about Jesus?
   1. What Old Testament books would be included in "Moses and the Prophets"?
   2. Read Jesus' words from Luke 24:25-27, 44-49.
   3. Who does Jesus say that the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms are written about?
   4. Why do you think that some Jews were convinced and some Jews were not (v.24)?

APPLICATION
How should it change us?

1. Paul aimed to convince his listeners about Jesus in verse 23.
   1. When is a recent time that you have aimed to convince someone about Jesus? What was their response?
   2. Mack Stiles defines evangelism as "teaching the gospel with the aim to persuade." What can you do to grow in your ability to persuade others about Jesus?
2. Why do you think that not everyone is convinced by Paul in verse 24?
   1. Does it encourage you or discourage you in evangelism knowing that not everyone will believe what you say?
   2. What does it look like to trust God with the results of your words?
   3. What is a current "hindrance" to you in teaching about Jesus with boldness? How can you grow in that?