His Followers: Unveiling Jesus' Vision and the Birth of the Church

Today we focus on: His followers, yesterday, today, and forever 1. Jesus vision for reaching the world 2. The Holy Spirit comes in power 3. The church is born .. but first a brief recapitulation of the previous evenings

Recapitulation session 1 A brief introduction to the Bible We asked questions about your expectations of the Fellowship If God is the creator of the universe, do you think God cares about you? Do you want to explore God s Word, the Bible? Do you want to know more about God s salvation plan for everybody? navigation through the Bible an introduction to "The Hope" movie The Hope, chapter 1 in the beginning" Genesis 1 Six days of creation God said: it is good Creation of Adam and Eve God said: it is very good

Session 2 Genesis 2 and 3 The Hope, chapter 2 The choice" Man works in a garden. He may eat from all trees except from one, the tree of . otherwise he will surely . knowledge of good and evil die woman The man needs a companion and God made him a . The Hope, chapter 3 The deadly disease" We discussed the existence of Satan, mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. Satan tempted Eve and Adam to disobey God s command not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil . The consequences of disobedience: death, which means separation from God. The sinful nature stays will all people. God provides animal skins for Adam and Eve as a covering (Gen. 3:21) as a picture of what Jesus would do for us. God prophesies that a deliverer will crush Satan s head (Gen. 3:15).

Session 3 The Hope, chapter 4 Prelude to the promise We discussed in detail the trouble with sin: separation between a Holy God and sinful man (all humans), personal disobedience and conflict/blaming (Adam and Eve), murder in the family (Cain and Abel), violence in the world for generations of descendants, self on the throne of our lives instead of Christ, rejection of God, idolatry, immorality, all kind of evil. Noah (Genesis 6 and 7) We discussed a Holy God s judgment through the flood and God s merciful salvation (ark) for one man and his family. The tower of Babel (Genesis 9-11) We discussed God s command (fill the earth), man s response (build ourselves a city to make a name for ourselves and not be scattered), and God s action (confuse their language and scatter them over all the earth).

Session 4 The Hope, chapter 5, Blessed to be a blessing God s main attributes : Love (His desire for a relationship), Holy (His standards), Just (does not tolerate disobedience/sin, imposes a penalty), Full of Mercy (capacity to forgive, provides a way out) God s promises to Abraham: land, descendants, being a blessing, through him all the nations will be blessed. Abraham s crisis of faith (no child),) Abraham s crisis of love (sacrifice of his son, picture of Jesus sacrifice as a substitute; Now I know that you fear God ).

Session 5 The Hope, chapter 6, People of the Promise The life of Joseph as an perfect example or type of Jesus (rejected, falsely accused, forgiving, saving) God delivers his people from slavery in Egypt through Moses; death of firstborn and God s plan of salvation, Passover, sin sacrifice, connection with Jesus atoning sacrifice. Session 6 The Hope, chapter 7, Called to Walk in the Ways of God God gave the law to Moses, animal sacrifices, building of the temple

Session 7 The Hope, chapter 8, The Promised One The birth of the promised deliverer, Jesus as a child, the baptism of Jesus, the temptation of Jesus The Hope, chapter 9, The Ministry of Jesus Conflict between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan Jesus calls His disciples Jesus origin, Jesus compassion, Jesus power, Jesus authority, Jesus fulfillment of prophesies, Jesus claims, Jesus healing of the sick, Jesus disagreements with the religious leaders Central theme of Jesus teaching: repentance > submission to God s rule > eternal life

Do you remember the two main stories we discussed in session 8? 1. Jesus death (The Hope, chapter 10, God s love and justice intersect) Who put Jesus to death? .. .. and .. . the religious leaders the Roman rulers God The main reason was, that Jesus claimed to be .. The evening before His death He took the . .. with His disciples Passover meal While Jesus hung on the cross He spoke with the Father and he said something about those who killed him (Luke 23:34) ? What? Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. 2. Jesus burial and resurrection on the third day (The Hope 11 He has risen) tomb Women went to the .. on the third day. They had an encounter with an . . and ran back to . What did Jesus followers discover at the tomb on that third day (John 20:1-9) ? Jesus appeared to many people after His resurrection and explained to His followers all what had been foretold in the .. angel Jesus followers empty Scriptures

Open your Bibles at the Book of Acts (page 1657) and watch the movie The Hope, chapter 12 online in English or in Chinese or on DVD Fifty day period between Jesus resurrection and Pentecost Intensive teaching Acts 1:1-3 ..about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Command and promise of a gift Acts 1:4-8 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit . 8 .. you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Jesus ascension and promise of return Acts 1:9-11 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. Men of Galilee, they said, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.

The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost Read Acts 2:1-13 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: Aren t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, What does this mean? Some, however, made fun of them and said, They have had too much wine.

2:1-13

Then Peter explained all what had happened, in a marvelous speech (Acts 2:14-41). The people asked: What shall we do? (verse 37) Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (verse 38) This was the birth of the Christian church. We read in verses 41-47: Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d_k59 S0Vxk

Personal invitation Watch: invitation in English or invitation in Chinese or on DVD

Discussion time