Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm
Rev. Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
WEBPAGE: victoryfellowshipministries.com
arod4God@neo.rr.com FACEBOOK: Roderick Grabski
Session ONE: OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE - ACTS
I. GATHERING & PRAYER CONCERNS
II. COURSE CONTENT
- Sign-up Sheet for Refreshments / Offering Envelopes
- Go Over Tentative Class Schedule
III. COURSE OBJECTIVES
-To Glorify God in our study of His Word
-To Edify our own knowledge and understanding
-To Outline and Study Paul’s Missionary Journeys
-To Place an Historical Context on Paul’s Epistles in the N.T.
-To Illustrate prominent themes in the Book of Acts
Rise of Christianity
Struggle To Include the Gentiles in the emerging Church
Role of the Holy Spirit in guiding & strengthening the Church
M.A.T.C.H.
Dynamics of Luke’s first-person account
(‘We” sections in chapters 16, 20, and 27. Flow from Luke to Acts)
Emerging Church not a threat to the Roman Empire
Over ½ of ACTS accounts for the ministry of Paul
-To Point Out how the Early Church embraced the Great
Commission through Persecution and Dispersion
-To Show how the study of the Book of Acts is not only
relevant, but crucial for the modern Church
IV. Introduction to the Book of Acts
Author
According to church tradition, Luke wrote the book of Acts, just before 64 A.D.
If he did, the book is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Evidence within Acts supports authorship by Luke:
Just as his Gospel opens with a dedication to Theophilus, so also does Acts.
Vocabulary and style are very similar in the two books.
Though it does not prove that he wrote Luke-Acts, frequent use of medical terms agrees with Luke’s being a physician.
By his use of “we” in narrating parts of Paul’s journeys, the author of Acts implies that he was a traveling companion of Paul.
Purpose
The main purpose of the Book of Acts in the Bible is to provide a historical and theological account of the early church's formation and the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. It shows how the Christian message, empowered by the Holy Spirit, expanded beyond its Jewish roots to a diverse, global faith. The book also serves as a bridge between the Gospels and the apostolic letters, offers an apologetic defense of Christianity, and provides guidance for Christian living, prayer, and community.
Geographical setting
V. THE CHURCH
- The Pendulum Effect in Church History
- The Nature of Ministry
- The New Apostolic Paradigm
- Biblical References to the Holy Spirit
VI. APPLICATION
1. Consider the many Churches in our world today. What do you think are the attributes of the ones that are the most productive for God’s Kingdom?
2. Acts emphasizes the Holy Spirit as the primary force empowering believers and guiding the church's mission.
How do you rely on the Holy Spirit in living out your faith?
NEXT SESSION: The Beginning of The CHURCH
-Read ACTS 1:1-26 to prepare for class
