STUDY NOTES

The Acts of the Apostles

A MESSAGE SERIES AT NEW CITY CHURCH (Spring 2016)
WWW.NEWCITYPHX.COM/SERMONS –  OYE WADDELL

The following content is based on the message “The Coming of the Kingdom” spoken on 05/29/16 by Oye Waddell at New City Church in Phoenix, AZ. The following is not meant to be a full synopsis of the message but rather a brief look at the main ideas.  To use this Study Guide effectively you must listen to the message found at  https://newcityphx.com/sermons/.

Leaders using these Study Notes for group study and reflection should read the Biblical text thoroughly before beginning, using this resource as assistance and not relying solely on this material for insight. We encourage all leaders to pray and ask the Spirit for revelation as they lead their respective communities.

THE SCRIPTURE

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. ²⁰But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. ²¹When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, ²²strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. ²³And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Acts 14:19-23

THE MOVEMENT OF ALTERNATE COMMUNITIES

The church began in Jerusalem following Jesus’ ascension in Acts 1:8. From there, Jesus promised that the church would grow throughout the earth. Just as he said, it began to move beyond geographic boundaries. Antioch became one of the centers of the church. These alternative communities in Jerusalem and Antioch were united because of the gospel.

Both communities:

– Experienced the grace of God at work (Acts 2:43-47 // Acts 11:23)

– Believed in the Lord (Acts 2:47 // Acts 11:23)

– Devoted themselves to the Word (Acts 2:42 // Acts 11:26)

– Shared resources with one another (Acts 2:42 // Acts 11:27-30)

• Why do you think it is so important to notice what Jerusalem and Antioch share in common?
• Which of these things do you see at New City Church?
• How does it feel to see us share in the same things as our brothers and sisters in the first century?

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

The mission of the church is seen in Matthew 28:18-20. These alternative communities in Acts lived out Jesus’ mission organically by living out the gospel where they lived, worked, studied, and played. The church also lived out Jesus’ mission by sending church planters to start new churches.

• Why is starting new churches such an important part of mission?

THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH

Paul and Barnabas traveled around to different cities in the region proclaiming the gospel and encouraging the believers. In Acts 14, Paul healed a man by the power of the Holy Spirit. The people in the city believed Paul and Barnabas to be gods and worshiped them. The two of them tore their clothes and pointed to God instead of themselves. However, some people didn’t like their message. They attacked Paul with stones so badly that they thought he was dead and dragged him out of the city.

Nothing could stop the gospel. Paul got up and began to preach again.

• What did it take for Paul to get up and enter the city again and continue preaching?
• What are ways that you can speak the gospel even after persecution?

THE PLANTED CHURCHES

1) Made disciples through both proclamation and demonstration.

• Is there one of these two things that you focus on more than the other?
• How can you strengthen the one that you struggle with more?

2) Nurtured the disciples by emphasizing spiritual growth when they gathered together. From the gathering, they would scatter into the city. There is no way we can live this life outside of community.  We get nurtured as we speak the gospel to each other. Coming to church to just hear a message is not enough. We nurture the disciples through community.

• What growth have you seen in yourself by being apart of community?
• Why is it difficult to show up to church or to Community Group sometimes?

3) Organized the disciples by establishing leaders locally that cared for the church.. Elders were plural. One person can’t lead alone because one person doesn’t have all the gifts.

• What are some ways that you can use your gifts to lead within the church?

WHY DOES GOD CARE ABOUT THE LOCAL CHURCH?

• The local church has a holistic mandate to love God and to love neighbor as self.
• The local church continually equips its people.
• The local church represents a broad spectrum of society.
• The local church is representative of the local community
• The local church ministry is sustainable
• The local church ministry helps in crisis, helps prevent crisis, and helps promote wellness.
• The local church is designed for life-long ministry with its members.
• God has covenanted his love to the local church.

• Which one of these resonates with your heart most? Why?
• How do people respond if the church doesn’t fulfill one of these things?
• What do you think God feels when the church doesn’t fulfill one of these?
• How does it feel to know that God has still promised his love to us even when we fail?
• Take a moment to thank God for his promised love for the church.