Acts 1                 Download Word Document Acts 01 SG.doc

The Writer

The writer of Acts (Luke) addresses the book to Theophilus.  The name Theophilus means "friend of God".  So really Acts is written to any one who is or wants to be a friend of God.  It is written to you.  Through the book God tells us how a friend of God will act, what a friend of God looks like, what a friend of God has to deal with, and what a friend of God will experience. 

The word 'apostle' means a pioneer of any great moral reform.  You can be an apostle today if you follow the leading of God and act like a friend of God.  It says in verse 1-3 that God chose the apostles.  He chose you too.  He wants you to act like Him.

Chapter One

Chapter one contrasts what disciples are like and what Judas was like.  In learning the differences and choosing to be a disciple, we can prevent ourself from falling away.

Verses 1-14 describes things about the disciples –

Write the descriptive trait that you see that a disciple of Jesus has in the following verses.

1.      Ch. 1:3______________________ - A true disciple has a living experience with God.  No doubt about it, you know Jesus is alive because you spent time with Him today.

2.      Ch. 1:3_______________________ - A true disciple is learning constantly from Jesus about what He wants them to know.

3.      Ch. 1:4_______________________ - A true disciple enjoys being with other disciples, not to criticize but to fellowship in unity.

4.      Ch. 1:5_______________________ - A true disciple will wait for God's answers and solutions.  The opposite of waiting is quitting and God's friends are not quitters.

5.      Ch. 1:6________________________ - A true disciple asks God the tough questions and accepts His answers.

6.      Ch. 1:8_________________________ - A true disciple is full of the Holy Spirit and witnesses of the wonderful work of God in their life.

7.      Ch. 1:11_________________________ - A true disciple accepts the challenge to quit standing around and do what ever God has said.

Verse 15-26 Describes Judas' experience in contrast to the disciples’ experience.  Judas, was a disciple too, but he took a wrong turn.  We could learn from his disastrous mistake.

Write a trait of Judas on each line, as you think about how he was in each of the following verses:

1.      Ch. 1:16_________________________ - Judas was living a double life.  While hanging out with Jesus and the disciples, he also was secretly united to the enemies of Jesus.

2.      Ch. 1:17_________________________ - He was a church member in name, but his life didn't reveal the characteristics of the other disciples.

3.      Ch. 1:17__________________________ - He was involved in ministry, which shows you can be involved in ministry without being totally committed to God.

4.      Ch. 1:18___________________________ - He thought more about the money than he did the people.  He was in it for what he could get.

5.      Ch. 1:18____________________________ - It says through transgression he fell away.  He forgot the verse that the wages of sin is death and that sin always leads us to the pit of destruction.

6.      Ch. 1:19_____________________________-  His witness was a negative witness and ever after his legacy has been a negative example.

7.      Ch. 1:20_____________________________ -  Judas probably didn't think he could be replaced while he was alive.  It was a pride thing.  But he was replaced.

We have two choices, according to this chapter.  We can be a disciple or a Judas.  Both were in the church, both involved in ministry.  How can I tell which direction I'm going?

I am a disciple if:

1.      I am seeing Jesus as alive in my life.

2.      I am being taught by him about the things concerning the kingdom.

3.      I enjoy assembling together with believers and united in thought.

4.      I am waiting for God to fulfill his promises and not quitting until he does.

5.      I am asking God my questions and accepting His answers.

6.      I am being filled with the Spirit and witnessing for Him.

7.      I am obedient to whatever Jesus tells me.

I might be a Judas if:

1.      I am uniting with the enemies of God.

2.      I accept church membership without living the life of discipleship.

3.      I am involved in a ministry.

4.      I focus more on what I can get than what I can give.

5.      I don't see the danger of my transgressions.

6.      I have a negative influence on people for God because of my sin.

7.      I think I can't be replaced.

Think it through.  Choose to be an apostle, a moral reformer.  Choose to be a disciple and live the life of discipleship.  There is nothing more fulfilling than being a friend of God.

Write what it means to you to be a “friend of God”.