A Study of the Book of Acts

The book of Acts is a fascinating story of how the world was turned upside down by the earliest people that embraced Jesus as Lord.

In some cases over the years, people have looked in Acts for examples of how to organize church in our day and time, but Acts is about much more than just blueprint for how to do church. It is a collection of stories about the work that Jesus continues after he returns to heaven. It is a story about God establishing a kingdom on earth. It is about people who took their call to follow Jesus so seriously that they risked and sometimes lost their lives.

At one pivotal moment in the life of the church, early Christians discerned a path together (Acts 15). They shared their discernment stating, “it seemed to good to the Holy Spirit and to us.” A statement like that is deeper than one isolated decision-making moment. It grows out of a belief that God is actively involved in God’s world and it happens as the church is spending time together, committed to growing into a close-knit community.

Our calling is not to pretend like we are God and bring about the kingdom by ourselves. Our calling is to be faithful witnesses and participants in the unfolding work of God.

Over the next 10 weeks we will pay attention to the movements of the Spirit in Acts 1-15 that lead up to this crucial moment of discernment. And as we do – we will seek to help each other identify and participate in the ongoing work of the Spirit that continues in our day and time.

As you read through the story that Luke tells in the book of Acts, I pray that this reading guide will be serve as a helpful resource in drawing you back into the work that God is doing in you and in the world. - Doug

Week of January 5th

• READ Acts 1

• READ Acts 2

• READ Acts 3

Week of January 12th

• READ Acts 4

• READ Acts 5

• READ Acts 6

Week of Week of January 19th

• READ Acts 7

• READ Acts 8

Week of January 26th

• READ Acts 9

• READ Acts 10

• READ Acts 11

Week of February 2nd

• READ Acts 12

• READ Acts 13

• READ Acts 14

Some Suggestions For Reading:

1. The goal of this reading guide is to read slowly through the book of Acts - there is no need to rush. To help us read slowly we will only cover 2-3 chapters per week. You can read the chapters multiple times per week or you can read them once. Either way - as you read - pause in between chapters and briefly reflect on the text.

2. Another approach would be to divide the weekly reading up in 7 parts and read it in 7 smaller daily pieces. This might mean that you read only a few verses on one day. If you do read this way - you might want to read each days verses multiple times with some reflection time in between.

Possible Reflection Questions:

1. What is the Spirit saying to you through this passage?

2. What, if anything, do you need to do about what the Spirit is saying?

3. How might today’s reading speak to our life together at Monterey?

MISS A SERMON?