A Glorious Future | All Together Different | Cormac Parker Jr
Have you ever asked God, "Now what?" after a big moment of faith? You, me, and even Jesus' closest followers have been there (Acts 1:6-8). God meets those questions not with frustration but with power, purpose, and community. As we trust in His Spirit and His perfect timing, we step forward together. What's your next step today?
KEY VERSES
Acts of the Apostles 1:1-5 NLT -In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teachuntil the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts of the Apostles 1:6 NLT - So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
Acts of the Apostles 1:7-8 NLT - He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 55:9 NLT - For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Acts of the Apostles 1:9-10 NLT - After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.
Mark 16:19 NLT - When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
Acts of the Apostles 1:11 NLT - “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
HEARING WHAT GOD IS SAYING
One of the best ways to hear what God is saying right now is to look at what He has said in the Bible with a few friends. Discovery Bible Study is an easy-to-use way to hear from God, make good changes in our lives, and share with others what God is up to. Grab some friends, pick a verse or story from above, and dive deeper into this week’s message.
Recap
+ Reconnect
To begin the study, each person answers these questions:
- What are you thankful for?
- What is causing stress for our neighbors and people around us?
- What can we as individuals or as a group do to help?
+ Recap
- Have someone retell the story from your previous meeting.
- Did you live out your response from last week?
- Did you tell anyone else about the story from last week?
Discovering What God Is Saying
+ Read and Retell the Bible Story
- One person reads the story out loud to the group.
- Someone else in the group retells the story in their own words as they remember it, and others fill in what’s missing.
+ Read and Look
- Read the passage again (different version if possible)
- What does this passage say about God, Jesus, or His plan?
+ Read and Look Again
- Have 1-2 more people retell the story as if they were telling a neighbor outside their home.
- What does this passage say about people in general?
Doing What God Is Saying
+ Consider
- What in me needs to change to better DO what God is showing me today?
- How will you respond to/obey this passage in a tangible, perhaps even costly ways in the next 47 hours?
- Have someone record these for prayer time, and for the beginning of the next meeting.
Sharing what God is saying
+ Praying Together
- Take prayer requests
- Pray together
+ Share
- Who in your life needs to hear this story?
- Who could you invite to study the Bible like this?
Become a Partner
Every time you give in Jesus’ name, you make a difference in others AND you make a difference in your own life! Partnering together in generosity helps accomplish things together that could never be accomplished alone! You can partner together in giving today with a single gift, or schedule recurring giving using your checking account, debit, or credit card.