College SS 5-12-24

1. Tell me about a time where you had to wait that you look back on now and realize that it made a big impact on your life

No one likes to wait for God to move, but why is waiting often important for us?

Does waiting for God mean doing nothing?

NO, we can work to improve while we wait for God’s direction

Setting

Jesus has ascended into Heaven

Then two angels appeared and noticed they were standing there watching with their heads to the sky. They called out their idleness in vs. 11. What did they say?

So what now? Jesus told them to go and wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit

So they went and kicked back on the couch? NO! They knew they were supposed to wait, but also recognized there were things they could do in the meantime. So they worked in the silence, knowing it would not be forever.

what did they do first?

They Prayed

Acts 1:12–14 ESV

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

The disciples stayed in Jerusalem and waited in obedience to Jesus’ command in Vs. 4. Showing their Genuine faith.

Why do you think that this would have been hard for them?

Why is it sometimes hard to be obedient to Jesus?

Acts 1:14 ESV

14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

This was huge because they were going from people who could just talk to Jesus, to now relying more on Prayer than ever before! Sure they had prayed, but always with Jesus there to guide them. Now they had to rely on Prayer as the #1 means of communicating and finding direction.

They had truly become the Priest Hood of Believers

before Jesus was the “Priest”, now He handed that role over to His people to do his work. ALL BELIEVERS!

How has praying with others helped you deepen your connection with God and with other believers?

We are all called to be vessels for God’s word, and the way we gain direction on how to do that is thru Prayer

and the study of God’s word.

Which brings us to the next thing they did.

They Trusted the Scripture

Acts 1:15–19 ESV

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

How do you think their knowledge of the Scripture, caused them to process the betrayal of Judas?

How does believing the Word of God is true affect how we live?

Acts 1:20–22 ESV

20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “ ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “ ‘Let another take his office.’ 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

So if they truly believed the scripture, what did they have to do next? (Replace Judas )

What are ways we can learn to obey the Scripture more on a daily basis?

What was the last thing they did?

They Showed their trust by Preparing

Acts 1:23–26 ESV

23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Some choices in life are easy. One’s right, one’s wrong. It doesn’t take much.

But what does this passage say about tough decisions that seem to have multiple “good” answers?

When making a major decision, what are some helpful tips to help make the right decision?

It’s important to remember that the apostles were working with two major disadvantages. 1) They didn’t have the Holy Spirit to Guide them yet. 2) They Didn’t have the New Testament.

Would casting lots (or rolling dice) be the best way to handle this situation today? No. But this was their way of putting their faith in God after they had prayed.

When in your life have you asked for God’s leading, He answered, but you didn’t want to obey and follow?

Application Questions

How has God proven His word is true as tyou have trusted in the Scriptures’ promises?

In what area of your life are you frustrated or doubting what God can do? And how can you confess it to Him today?

How are you Prayerful and active in furthering the Church and the Kingdom of God?

Prayer requests?