BSF – AtoZMom's Blog

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 3, Day 2: Acts 3:1-10

September 16, 2019September 14, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF Acts 2019/2020

Summary of Acts 3:1-10:

Peter and John were heading to the temple to pray when they ran into a crippled beggar. He asked them for money and Peter exclaimed, “Look at us!” The beggar did and Peter said he would give the man what he had and told him to walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He pulled him to his feet and the beggar began to jump around and praise God. The people who saw the beggar were filled with awe at what had happened to him.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 3, Day 2: Acts 3:1-10:

3) The beggar walked after Peter told him to in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Those who saw this miracle were filled with wonder and awe.

4) Jesus comes to give us eternal life through faith by grace to forgive us of our sins. The man expected alms. When we have faith and expect things from God, He gives us great things. The man’s life was transformed by Jesus. So, too, can be ours. Jesus has the power to transform our lives.

5) Personal Question. My answer: Everything I do and am. My jobs, my family, my pets, my home, my life.

6) Homeless, fellow believers, all of us at some point really. Those who are hurting, who have lost a loved one, who are suffering.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 3, Day 2: Acts 3:1-10:

In 2012, this lesson entailed reading all of Acts 3 & 4. I am wondering if BSF is going to stop making us read so much of the Bible as one of their many changes, for good or bad. In 2012, I had noted that this lesson was challenging. The questions were about faith and the power of Jesus’ name. I’m missing those…

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 3, Day 2: Acts 3:1-10:

This story is included by Luke to show Acts 2:43 in action: that the apostles would do many signs and wonders. Here is just one of them.

Peter and John are still praying in the Jewish custom since they were going to temple at a certain hour. This is the 9th hour — the hour Jesus cried from the cross, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)

The Jewish historian Josephus described this gate on the temple mount; made of fine Corinthian brass, seventy-five feet high with huge double doors, so beautiful that it “greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold.”

The man was begging at the gate because the Jewish people gave alms to support such people. Peter and John looked at him intently. Normally, people avoid eye contact with beggars.

There is a story about a humble monk walking with a Roman Catholic cardinal at a time in the Middle Ages when the Roman Catholic church was at its zenith of power, prestige, and wealth. The cardinal pointed to the opulent surroundings and said to the monk, “We no longer have to say, silver and gold I do not have.” The monk replied, “But neither can you say, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

Peter’s Faith

At this moment, Peter received the gift of faith described in 1 Corinthians 12:9 – a supernatural ability to trust God in a particular situation.

This wasn’t something Peter did on a whim or as a promotional event; he did it under the specific prompting of the Holy Spirit. God gave Peter the supernatural ability to trust God for something completely out of the ordinary.

What We Learn from the Lame Man

He followed the apostles (Jesus through them).
He used what God had given hime (he walked).
He praised God.

This was all in God’s timing. We know that this man was more than 40 years old (Acts 4:22), and had been crippled since birth. He was a familiar sight at this temple gate (Acts 3:10). Therefore, Jesus must have passed him by many times without healing him. It was for the greater glory of God that Jesus healed this man from heaven through His apostles.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 2, Day 5: Acts 2:36-47

September 12, 2019September 10, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF Acts 2019/2020

Summary of Acts 2:36-47:

God has made Jesus Lord and Christ.

The people asked what should they do and Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus to be forgiven of your sins and receive the Holy Spirit. Everyone of you can receive such a gift. 3000 chose to be baptized that day.

These people were considered the first church. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of the bread, and prayer. They gave to everyone as needed. They continued to meet and eat together and praise God. The Lord grew their numbers daily.

BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 5: Acts 2:36-47

12) Part personal Question. My answer: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” I have done just that many times humbly.

13a) They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All of the believers were together, selling their possessions and goods and giving to anyone who had need. They met together every day in the temple courts to break bread together and eat together, praising God and enjoying each other. The church is unified here as everyone made an effort.

b) Part personal question. My answer: It looks much the same in today’s church, except the selling the possessions part. Instead, we bring our tithes for the church to use to help those in need. In my life, it’s definitely not a daily activity. Instead, it’s on Sunday. I don’t really share my life with anyone except my immediate family.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 5: Acts 2:36-47

I like the picture of how the early Christians had to rely on each other. There were so few of them that they knew they were stronger together, so they drew on that strength to grow their numbers. In today’s world of self-sufficiency, we could definitely take a lesson from the past.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 5: Acts 2:36-47

Cut to the heart

This is a good way of describing the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The people now knew that they were responsible for the death of Jesus (as each of us are), and they had to do something in response to this responsibility.

Peter had some previous experience with cutting. When Jesus was arrested, Peter cut off the right ear of one of the men who came to arrest Jesus (John 18:10). All this was an embarrassing mess that Jesus had to clean up. That showed Peter in the flesh, doing the best he could with a literal sword of human power.
When the resurrected Jesus changed Peter’s life and when the power of the Holy Spirit had come upon him, Peter did some much more effective cutting; cutting hearts, opening them to Jesus. This is what Peter could do in the power of the Spirit, doing God’s best with the sword of the Spirit, God’s Word. Which sword is more powerful? Man’s sword or God’s sword?

Repent

Repent means to change one’s mind or direction of thinking and embrace Jesus as Lord and Messiah. Repent has been rightly called “the first word of the gospel.”

When John the Baptist preached he said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2).
When Jesus began to preach He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
When Peter began to preach, he started with repent.

Be Baptized

In that day, Jews were not commonly baptized, only Gentiles who wanted to become Jews. For these Jewish men and women to be baptized showed just how strongly they felt they needed Jesus.

This day of Pentecost saw an amazing harvest of souls. The church went from about 120 people to 3,120 people in one day.

Many of the 3,000 were undoubtedly pilgrims who came to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost who went back home, traveling far from Jerusalem, taking the good news of Jesus Christ with them. There were huge resources of water available on the temple mount, and pools and reservoirs nearby, so it was not difficult to find a place where the baptisms could take place.

Fellowship

Verse 42: The ancient Greek word koinonia (translated here as fellowship) has the idea of association, communion, fellowship, and participation; it means to share in something.

The Jews had a tremendous custom of hospitality during any major feast like Pentecost. Visitors were received into private homes, and no one could charge for giving a bed or a room to a visitor or for supplying their basic needs. The Christians took this tremendous feast-time hospitality and made it an everyday thing.

Christian Living

God wants us to share our lives with one another.

Christian experience was daily, joyful, and simple.

Historical Note

The group of new believers is a mere annoyance to the Roman Empire, but it does not stop growing. In fact, in less than one generation, Christians will have penetrated Rome, the center of civilization. In an era when new religions are a dime a dozen and disappear virtually overnight, Christianity instead grows — all beginning on one day — Pentecost.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 2, Day 4: Acts 2:22-35

September 11, 2019September 10, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF Acts 2019/2020

Summary of Acts 2:22-35:

Peter is still speaking to the crowd that has gathered on the day of Pentecost. “Jesus who performed miracles was handed over to you for God’s pre-ordained purpose. You killed him by nailing him to a cross. But God has raised him from the dead. David himself prophesied Jesus’ resurrection when he said he saw the ‘Holy One’ at the Lord’s right hand and raised him from the dead.”

It’s as if Peter is shouting, “Even though you idiots killed Jesus He is alive!”

Peter says that Jesus now sits at the right hand of God and pours out what we now see and hear. He has received the promised Holy Spirit. David did not ascend to heaven (for a detailed explanation of this see my previous post here. David is in heaven now but not at the time of his death).

BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 4: Acts 2:22-35

9) God handed Jesus over to man for His set purpose and foreknowledge. The people killed Jesus. God and David knew Jesus would die.

10) David was revered and loved by all so Peter is referencing him to lend credibility to the fact that David knew Jesus would die for them. Peter points out that this Psalm cannot be speaking of its human author, David because David is dead and buried. The Psalm must speak prophetically of the Messiah, Jesus. Peter used this to show the Messiah, who is the focus of Psalm 110, is in fact Divine – He is God.

11) Part Personal Question. My answer: Omniscient, omnipotent, goodness, and grace. God does not forsake and is always with us. All of these. God is good despite what the world says.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 4: Acts 2:22-35

Straight-forward questions today. Peter basically says, “Look, you killed Jesus, the Son of the One, True God but there is hope because God has raised Jesus. All is not lost.”

End Notes BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 4: Acts 2:22-35

Peter refered to what these people already knew about Jesus. They already knew of His life and miraculous works. Often in speaking to people about Jesus, we should start with what

they already know about Him.

It was impossible Jesus should remain a victim of the sin and hatred of man; He would certainly triumph over it.

In the phrase pains of death, the word pains is actually the word for “birth pains.” In this sense, the tomb was a womb for Jesus.

“It was not possible that the chosen one of God should remain in the grip of death; ‘the abyss can no more hold the Redeemer than a pregnant woman can hold the child in her body.’” (Bruce, quoting Bertram)

Jesus bore the full wrath of God on the cross, as if He were a guilty sinner, guilty of all our sin, even being made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Yet, that work was an act of holy, giving love for us, so that Jesus Himself did not become a sinner, even though He bore the full guilt of our sin.

Peter points out that this Psalm cannot be speaking of its human author, David because David is dead and buried. The Psalm must speak prophetically of the Messiah, Jesus.

Fun Fact: This begins the third Old Testament passage Peter used in his sermon, Psalm 110:1. This verse of the Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament more than any other single verse; either quoted or referred to at least 25 times. In this Psalm, David understood and proclaimed the deity of the Messiah.

In this Psalm, King David – by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – recorded that Yahweh, Israel’s covenant God (The LORD), spoke to David’s Lord (my Lord) as God. Peter used this to show the Messiah, who is the focus of Psalm 110, is in fact Divine – He is God.

It is as if Peter said, “You were all wrong about Jesus. You crucified Him as if He were a criminal, but by the resurrection, God proved that He is Lord and Messiah.”

Holy Spirit Poured Out bsf lesson 2 day 3

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 2, Day 3: Acts 2:14-21

September 10, 2019September 10, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF Acts 2019/2020

Summary of Acts 2:14-21:

Peter stood up the with the Eleven Apostles and told the confused crowd: we (the 120 and them) are not drunk. Listen to Joel’s words: God will pour out His Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, the young men will see visions, old men will dream, the servants will prophesy and have the Spirit as well. Wonders will appear in the heaven and signs will appear on earth such as blood, fire, and smoke. The sun will be dark and the moon to blood before the day of the Lord when everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.

BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 3: Acts 2:14-21

6a) All people will receive the Holy Spirit. In the last days.

b) On the basis of God’s word spoken through Joel and Jesus

7) Those who believe in Jesus

8 ) Personal Question. My answer: It really doesn’t.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 3: Acts 2:14-21

Just not feeling this passage to be compelled this morning. This day’s questions are all completely different than last go-arounds. BSF focused more on the remnant and the day of the Lord.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 3: Acts 2:14-21

About Peter’s Speech at Pentecost:

Once Peter starts speaking, the speaking of the tongues stops. Peter is speaking for all and for God now.
Peter now had the courage and boldness that was a complete contrast to his denials of Jesus before being filled with the Holy Spirit.
This was a well-prepared sermon prepared by Peter’s prior life with God and relationship with Jesus. It flowed spontaneously out of that life, and out of a mind that thought and believed deeply.
Acts 2:40 tells us, And with many other words he testified and exhorted them. Like almost all the sermons recorded in the Bible, what we have is a Holy Spirit inspired abridgment of a longer message.

Peter will quote 3 Old Testament verses: Joel 2:28-32, Psalm 16:8-11, and Psalm 110:1.

Joel’s Quote

This quotation from Joel 2:28-32 focuses on God’s promise to pour out His Spirit on all flesh. What happened on the day of Pentecost was a near fulfillment of that promise, with the final fulfillment coming in the last days (which Peter had good reason to believe he was in).

Under the Old Covenant, certain people were filled with the Spirit at certain times for specific purposes. Now, under the New Covenant, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is for all who call upon the name of the LORD.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 2, Day 2: Acts 2:1-13

September 9, 2019September 10, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF Acts 2019/2020

Summary of Acts 2:1-13:

On the day of Pentecost the 120 were all in one place (presumably praying still and waiting for the gift). A sound like a blowing violent wind came from heaven and filled the house where they were sitting. They saw 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 tongues through the power of the Holy Spirit.

A lot of people in Jerusalem heard this sound and came together to see what was happening. They were bewildered because each was speaking in his own language. They asked, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How is it we hear them in our own language? What does this mean?”

Some made fun of them and said they were drunk.

BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 2: Acts 2:1-13:

3) The disciples heard a sound like the blowing of a violent wind come form heave and fill the house where they were sitting. The saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that spearated and came to rest on them. Then they all began to speak in tongues as the Holy Spirit filled them. Inward reality: God/Jesus was with them. Unseen reality same.

4) Personal Question. My answer: Unsure really. I don’t do a lot of church activities anymore since my kids are older so I’m rarely together with believers for such a unity to take place.

5) This emphasized the power of the Holy Spirit. It proved the power of God as well.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 2: Acts 2:1-13:

This is where we see the speaking of tongues in the Bible, which we think of as weird today, but was normal back then.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 2: Acts 2:1-13:

Pentecost was celebrated 50 days after Passover that celebrated the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. Pentecost also marked the day the Law as given to the Jews. They sometimes call Pentecost the Joy of the Law.

OT Pentecost: Jews received Law.
NT Pentecost: Church received Holy Spirit

This was the 10th day that the disciples were waiting. The Holy Spirit is promised to us and worth waiting for.

God often comes in a wind:

Genesis 1:1-2, it is the Spirit of God as the breath/wind of God, blowing over the waters of the newly created earth.
Genesis 2:7, it is the Spirit of God as the breath/wind of God, blowing life into newly created man.
In Ezekiel 37:9-10, it is the Spirit of God as the breath/wind of God, moving over the dry bones of Israel bringing them life and strength.

Jesus would baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11).

The idea behind the picture of fire is usually purification, as a refiner uses fire to make pure gold; or fire can burn away what is temporary, leaving only what will last. The filling of the Holy Spirit is not just for abstract power, but for purity.

In certain places in the Old Testament, God showed His special pleasure with a sacrifice by lighting the fire for it Himself – that is, fire from heaven came down and consumed the sacrifice. Here, we see God sending fire from heaven to show His pleasure and power, but upon living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit rested on Israel as a nation. Here, the Holy Spirit rests on individuals.

The Speaking of Tongues

Not many homes of that day could hold 120 people. It is far more likely that this upper room was part of the temple courts, which was a huge structure, with porches and colonnades and rooms. The crowd came from people milling about the temple courts.

People from Galilee (Galileans) were known to be uncultured and poor speakers. This was all the more reason to be impressed with their ability to speak eloquently in other languages.

Why speak in tongues?

Some think that the gift of tongues was given primarily as a sign to unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:21-22) and as a means to miraculously communicate the gospel in diverse languages. They believe there is no longer the need for this sign, so they regard tongues as a gift no longer present in the church today.
Others argue that the gift of tongues, while a sign to unbelievers as stated by 1 Corinthians 14:21-22, are primarily a gift of communication between the believer and God (1 Corinthians 14:2, 13-15), and is a gift still given by God today.
The idea that these disciples communicated to the diverse crowd in tongues is plainly wrong. The crowd had a common language (Greek), and Peter preached a sermon to them in that language! (Acts 2:14-40)
When tongues is practiced in the corporate life of the church, it must be carefully controlled, and never without an interpretation given by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
The ability to pray in an unknown tongue is not a gift given to every believer (1 Corinthians 12:30).
We should regard the gift of Acts 2 and the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians as the same, simply because the same term is used for both in the original language (heterais glossais). Also, the verb translated gave them utterance in Acts 2:4 is frequently used in Greek literature in connection with spiritually prompted (ecstatic) speech, not mere translation into other languages.

Guide to BSF’s Study of Acts & Letters of the Apostles

September 6, 2019September 1, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF Acts 2019/2020

Hey all!

As many of your are ramping up your study for Bible Study Fellowship’s (BSF’s) Study of Acts & Letters of the Apostles, I thought I’d gather some great resources for you.

BSF’s Website:

http://www.bsfinternational.org

BSF’s Study of Acts:

https://www.bsfinternational.org/studies/our-studies/acts-of-the-apostles

BSF’s Questions, Notes, Lecture, & Audio Access:

https://www.mybsf.org/

BSF’s Prayer Guide for Acts:

http://www.bsfprayer.org or https://bsfprayer.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/PrayerGuide2019.pdf

ACTS prayer model here:

ACTS prayer model

BSF’s Prayer Wall:

Prayer wall

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 1, Day 5: Acts 1:12-26

September 5, 2019September 1, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF Acts 2019/2020

Summary of Acts 1:12-26:

The Eleven disciples returned to Jerusalem from Mount Olives after witnessing Jesus ascend to heaven. Along with women, Mary mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers, they prayed constantly. While waiting for the Holy Spirit to descend upon them, Peter leads the believers (120 in number at this time) in choosing one to replace Judas Iscariot as the Scriptures dictate (Psalm 109:8). So they choose one who has been with them from the beginning by praying and casting lots. Matthias is chosen and becomes the new twelfth disciple.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 1, Day 5: Acts 1:12-26

11) Part Personal Question. My answer: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James, women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’s brothers. They are coming together to support one another and mourn together.

12) They chose a replacement because of the Bible (Pslam 109:8) They prayed before casting lots. They wanted someone credible who had been with Jesus since the beginning.

13) Part personal Question. My answer: He had all of the disciples together, so no one had to bear the death of Jesus alone. We’re stronger together so the disciples could draw upon each other’s strength for the coming days. All prayed together. The replacement was chosen together. There is no strife right now.

Conclusions to BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 1, Day 5: Acts 1:12-26

I love how everyone retreated in prayer. Great lesson for when we suffer a loss. God will comfort you.

End Notes to BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 1, Day 5: Acts 1:12-26

Note the disciples obeyed Jesus here: they did return to Jerusalem and await the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:15 tells us that there were about 120 present.

Peter as Leader of the Disciples

Peter took a natural leadership role among the disciples

Peter’s words show wisdom we did not often see in him before. He began by noting that Judas didn’t spoil God’s plan, he fulfilled it. This is something that only wise and mature disciples can see in the aftermath of evil. Luke’s historical note calls attention to how Judas died. Matthew 27:5 says that Judas hanged himself, but apparently he failed in the attempt, fell, and was killed by the impact of falling from the tree in the Field of Blood.

Peter, quoting from two separate Psalms, showed why God wanted them to choose another disciple to officially replace Judas.

Reliance on God’s Word

This is the first time in the New Testament we read that Peter quoted Scripture.

Desire for God’s Will

Because of the principle of the quoted Scripture, they decided to replace Judas because they believe it is what Jesus wanted, not because it is what they wanted.

Doing What Jesus Would Do

When Jesus chose His disciples, He prayed (Luke 6:12-13). The disciples, following Jesus, prayed for wisdom to know who the Lord would add to their number.

The Casting of Lots

This is the last time the Bible mentions the casting of lots, which is an Old Testament method to discern God’s will. Now that we have the Holy Spirit, we don’t need lots.

The casting of lots may be an imperfect way to discern God’s will, but it is much better than the methods many Christians use today – relying on emotions, on circumstances, or feelings, or carnal desires, and so forth.

Fun Fact: Except for Peter and John, none of the original twelve are mentioned again after Acts 1.

Revelation 21:14 brings up an interesting question. It tells us that each of the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem has the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. When we get to heaven, it will be interesting to see if the twelfth apostle of the Lamb is Paul or Matthias.

STEPS FOR MAKING BIG DECISIONS IN LIFE AS SEEN IN ACTS 1

Obey
In fellowship with others
Pray
In the scripture
God’s will
Common sense with the guidance of the Holy Spirit
Do what Jesus would do
Rely on God

Translate

Tag: BSF

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 2, Day 3: Acts 2:14-21

Summary of Acts 2:14-21:

BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 3: Acts 2:14-21

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 3: Acts 2:14-21