How to Change the WorldSample

WHERE WE'RE GOING

Imagine you’ve traveled back in time approximately 2,000 years, leaving everything behind to follow Jesus. Throughout your travels, you witness powerful sermons, breathtaking miracles and transformed lives, ultimately leading to the tragic death and supernatural resurrection of your mysterious teacher. Almost as quickly as He rises from the grave, He departs for heaven, leaving you and your friends in charge of continuing the mission He started. Naturally, you would feel just as lost as the disciples at the beginning of the book of Acts, but they would soon discover that they were perfectly positioned to ignite a movement that would alter the trajectory of mankind.

In the “How To Change The World” study, we’re going to take a closer look at the second chapter in the book of Acts and discover four habits that shaped the early church:

1) Seeking God’s Will (Acts 2:1-13)

2) Teaching God’s Word (Acts 2:14-41)

3) Enjoying God’s Grace (Acts 2:42-43)

4) Serving God’s People (Acts 2:44-47)

Prayerfully, through this study, we will learn how to let God change our world so that He can work through us to change the world!

THREE WAYS GOD REVEALS HIS WILL

His Word

These men and women were in the upper room because Jesus told them “not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4). Even though Jesus is not physically walking with us today, we still have the responsibility of obeying His words contained in the Bible. As we take a closer look at two additional avenues God uses to instruct us, we must remember that His will is always consistent with His Word. If it contradicts the Bible, it’s not part of His plan!

His Spirit

When we place our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. He works together with the Father and the Son to guide us, and His direction often comes in the form of internal “nudges”. These nudges help us to fulfill our ultimate purpose of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ.

His People

This miracle marks the beginning of the New Testament Church, and those in the upper room go on to lead the movement for the remainder of the book of Acts. From the start, God has equipped men and women to shepherd His flock. When a Christian is immersed in God’s Word and sensitive to His Spirit, God will often use them to communicate His will to others.

Big Idea

Before we can change the world, we must understand God’s will. His instruction often comes through reading the Bible, internal nudges from the Holy Spirit, and advice from other Christians.

LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS:

Question #1: What is one thing that “jumped out” to you while reading Acts 2:1-13?

Question #2: Why is it so important for us to understand that God’s Word is perfect? As followers of Jesus, what are some practical things we can do to grow in our reading and understanding of Scripture?

Question #3: Which of the three ways God reveals His will (His Word, His Spirit, and His People) resonated the most with you? Is there a particular area of your life where you are struggling to determine His will for you?