UNSTUCK: WEEK 4 Wayne Alguire (October 24, 2021) FROM UNCERTAINTY TO EXPECTATION & PURPOSE After Jesus rose from the dead, He assured His disciples of their mission & purpose despite their uncertainty.

TEXT Acts 1:1-8, 2:14

TALK ABOUT IT 1. What usually happens when someone is gripped with uncertainty and distraction? 2. Why does it matter that God sends His Spirit to empower people into their mission and purpose? 3. How do others benefit when you overcome your uncertainty and discover your purpose?

LOOK TO THE WORD “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do … After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive…and spoke about the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:1-3

• Why does Luke write the works of his Gospel and the book of Acts? • Judging from his introduction here, what did Luke believe about Jesus?

“On one occasion… he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about….you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5

• In what context is Jesus sharing this teaching? Why is it important? • Why is the baptism of the Holy Spirit a gift from the Father?

• What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? “So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the Kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6

• Why is the kingdom of Israel important to Jesus’ disciples? • How did they understand the kingdom? How has Jesus described ‘the kingdom

of heaven’/’the kingdom of God’? (HINT: think about his parables) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

• What does the ‘power’ from the Holy Spirit do? • Why does Jesus needs witnesses to go out?

LOOK INWARD Wayne opened his message saying, “Let’s live in expectation that God is at work and the best is yet to come.”

• When was a time that you were filled with expectation for something in your life? (e.g. a special event, a welcome visitor, etc.)

• What does it feel like to experience great expectations? Wayne said, “The Spirit marks the beginning of the Christian experience. The Spirit is the power of our new lives in Christ. The Spirit unites the Christian community in mission for Christ.”

• How have you experienced the Spirit as: o … the beginning of your experience? o … the power of new life? o … a unifying presence for the mission of Jesus?

“Then Peter stood up … and addressed the crowd; ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you...” Acts 2:14

• Peter moves from the role of follower to empowered leader. How did the Holy Spirit impact Peter?

• What do you believe the Holy Spirit can do to empower you? How are you asking the Spirit to work to empower you in your life?

LOOK OUTWARD Jesus sits with His disciples, after He has been resurrected, and is still teaching them around a table: reminding them of what to do and how to follow.

• Why is it important to keep reminding each other how to follow Jesus? • Who is one person that you could invite to sit around the table and share stories

about how God is at work? Wayne said, “Peter, the one who got it wrong so many times…[went] from trying to stop Jesus, to violently defending Jesus, to sadly denying Jesus… [and] has now made the turn.”

• Because Peter makes the turn, 3000 people come into Jesus’ kingdom. How might one person in your life be impacted if you ‘made the turn’ and ‘got unstuck’?

SO WHAT? Know with certainty that you have received the Spirit’s power.

You are Jesus’ representative & His witness and your mission is to go and tell everyone, everywhere about Him.

BREATH PRAYER Holy Spirit, give me purpose in my uncertainty. Amen. WEEKLY PRACTICE Story : Take an opportunity to write a one-paragraph version of “your story” by answering these questions. 1) What was your life like before you met Jesus? 2) What has it been like since you met Jesus? 3) How has Jesus brought purpose into life? CAMPUS LAUNCHES

• Find an opportunity to serve and create a feeling of “home” for everyone who gathers

• Reach out and invite someone to watch the online experience with you, then talk about it

GROUPS PAGE Make sure to visit trinitykelowna.ca/groups to find a group, start a group or register your pre-existing group. And don’t miss out on great leadership equipping

NEVER STOP PRAYING • Thank God that He can be trusted as we ‘make the turn’ • Praise God for the chance to gather in-person and online • Pray for continued support and encouragement to our healthcare and community

organizations that are supporting the recovery from COVID-19 • Pray for increased opportunities for people to connect into purposeful community

like community groups and household meals • Pray for the Next Gen Retreat taking place Nov 12-14 at Gardom Lake Bible Camp • Pray for our Young Adults as they welcome in new staff member, James Bak, and

launch their ministry year with community groups