08/02/2013
4W's DGroup Guide
Make Him Known
Download PDF: http://goo.gl/XCetM
Watch Message: http://www.ccf.org.ph/make-him-known/
WORSHIP
Suggested Worship Songs:
• Great God
• Cover the Earth
• With One Voice
• Whom Shall I Fear
• Hallelujah to the Lamb
WELCOME
Greatest Moment
What is the greatest thing that ever happened in your life? What was your immediate response to it?
WORD
Acts 1:7-8
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Foundations of Christianity
The Book of Acts marked the spread of Christianity to the known world. The early followers of Jesus were unstoppable in their witnessing because of the following foundational truths which motivated them:
1. The Reality of who Jesus is
The foundation of Christianity rests entirely on who Jesus is. He is not comparable to any other great religious leader. He is the only One who ever claimed to be the Son of God, the Savior of the world—one who has the authority to forgive sins and to give eternal life.
The truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection empowered the first century church to spread the gospel like fire. If Jesus’ resurrection were not real, then our faith is nothing and everything we are doing is a waste of time. But if Jesus died and rose again, then our labor is not in vain and has eternal value. (See proofs in Acts 1:3)
2. The Reality of the Kingdom of God
Jesus spent His last days on earth teaching His disciples about the Kingdom of God. Jesus is King in this kingdom and those who received Him as Savior and Lord are His subjects. But this kingdom exists not just in our hearts. It is also a literal geographic future kingdom that will be consummated in His second coming (Read Dan 7:13-14; Rev 11:15). Jesus wanted His disciples to focus not just in the present but in the future kingdom. He wanted them to gain an eternal perspective.
The Kingdom of God is real and it is near. Jesus, its Judge and King, is coming soon. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we preach the gospel (2 Tim 4:1-2).
3. The Reality of the Spirit of God
The Christian life is not hard, it is impossible. We cannot live it out by ourselves. In order for the disciples to carry out their mission, Jesus reminded them that they needed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. They needed supernatural power. The book of Acts begins and ends with the Holy Spirit empowering the early disciples to share the Good News in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Jesus wants us to be His witnesses. It is not our job to force people to believe. We are simply commissioned to tell people about our personal encounter with Him. Every follower of Jesus has a story to tell. The challenge is this: Will you make Jesus known right where you are and with the people whom God has placed in your life?
Discussion Questions:
(Leaders: Please choose questions that are appropriate to the level of spiritual maturity of your members)
1. Recall. What are we called to do according to Acts 1:8? What is our role as witnesses?
2. Reflect. If the greatest thing that ever happened in your life is your personal encounter with Jesus, how are you fulfilling His command to be a witness to others?
3. Respond. What is God calling you to do now? What intentional systematic program are you willing to do to be a witness of Jesus to others?
WORKS
Bloom Where You Are Planted
Pray and write down the names of people you intend to share the gospel with this year using the “geographical” pattern given to us by Jesus, in Acts 1:8.
Jerusalem - Where you are i.e. family, school, office. There is no need to wait for a special calling to be a missionary; you can begin right where you are right now.
Judea - People who are culturally similar to you but are in a different place or location; satellite churches of Filipinos here and abroad.
Samaria - People who may be geographically near but culturally different from you i.e. Aetas, Muslims, strangers that you come across with
Ends of the earth - Places and people groups that require crossing geographical, linguistic and cultural barriers to reach for Christ.
