Ignite – The Acts of the Holy Spirit

Week 7: February 10 – February 16, 2013

We pray that you are blessed and gaining much from your readingthrough the Bible by taking a closer look at the Acts of the Apostles, perhaps also called "The Acts of the Holy Spirit." God's powerful Spirit is evident and active on every page and is the author of the amazing history of Christ's early church. God's people were always in action, moving from place to place, and acting with profound faith in their risen Lord Jesus. And they always acted at His divine direction.

Each day of a particular week you will be invited to read the same 40 or so verses from Acts each day. As you read and re-read these verses each day, you are invited to consider a different question. If you haven't been doing so, may we be so bold as to invite you to make a few notes about your thinking? Perhaps share your thinking with another Christian friend. As you study this powerful record of God's Spirit acting through and among His people, we pray that He will move you to greater faith and action. Read the question for each day before, during and after your reading. Take special note of some of the remarkable "Missional Moments" provided you by God during each section. Consider some of the prayer thoughts offered.

Week7: February 10 – February 16, 2013

Read Acts 8:26-9:31each day this week!

Review Missional Moments in Acts 8:26-9:31

8:29 – “The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot (of the Ethiopian official) and stay near it.”

8:36 – The Ethiopian: “Look here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”

8:40 – Philip traveled about preaching the Gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

9:4 – Jesus to Saul while on the road to Damascus: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?

9:10-12 – the Lord called a disciple named Ananias – “Go and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul . . . in a vision Saul had seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

9:15-16 – “This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles . . . . he must suffer much in my name.”

9:18 – “Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.”

9:20-21 – “At once Saul began to preach . . that Jesus is the Son of God . . those who heard him were astonished and asked, “isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem (against followers of Jesus)?”

9:27 – Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord

9:31 – “the church…enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit; it grew in numbers living in the fear of the Lord.

Questions for each day

Monday - When have you heard these words before? What "pops out" at you today?

Tuesday - At this time in your life,in these verses, what is God saying to you personally?

Wednesday - In these verses, what is God saying to MountOliveLutheranChurch?

Thursday - How do these "Missional Moments" speak directly to you this week?

Friday - What do you think God is saying to our country and world in these verses?

Saturday - How could you apply these verses to the next week of your life, as lived "in Christ?"

Prayer thoughts . . . .

  • Father, help me to see that all people need Your grace, even our enemies and those different from us.
  • Jesus, in today’s uncertain world continue to assure me of your presence now and until the end of time.
  • Holy Spirit, enliven us today through the Word. Remind us of all of it’s truths and promises
  • Heavenly Father, bless and strengthen our members or others known to us who continue a battle with cancer.