Because you asked...

Here’s the link to “Stuff Christians like” I quoted from Sunday. Thanks for laughing. http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/

Unstoppable: Acts 2:14-36 Questions for Discussion and Reflection

Compare Joel 2:28 with Acts 2:17. Peter, in his address to the crowd adds the phrase “in the last days” to Joel’s prophecy. What insights do the following scriptures provide about the “last days”?

Isaiah 2:2—
Hosea 3:5—
Micah 4:1-8—
Hebrews 1:2—
1 Peter 1:20—

Peter’s announces that the coming of Jesus ushered in the last days. How will the prophecies in verses 19-20 be fulfilled at the culmination of the last days? (See Matthew 24:29-30)

When will these things take place? (Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32; 1 Thessalonians 5:1; Acts 1:7)

How does Peter sum up the gospel? (Acts 1:23-24)

When did you first encounter authentic Christianity? Where you astounded or did you sneer?

How are you reflecting the character of God? (John 13:35; 1 Peter 1:15; 2:9)

What opportunities do you (does our family) have to “confess His name”?

For whom are you (is our family) making intercession?

As a result of this study, list one specific way in which you (our family) will be Christ’s ambassador this week.

Jersey Shore Will Graham Celebration: Christian Life and Witness Course

Reignite your faith and find power to live a life that radiates God's love. Discover the victory He has for His children and equip yourself to share it with others through this dynamic course. You'll also find practical help in reaching your friends for Christ.

Attend one class each week. All classes are free & no registration is necessary. To qualify to be a counselor at the Celebration, you must attend the Christian Life & Witness Course.

Here are the classes closest to NMBC—

MONDAYS March 28 and April 4 & 11 7–9 p.m. @ First Baptist Church of Red Bank, Red Bank, NJ
THURSDAYS March 31 and April 7 & 14 7–9 p.m. Central Baptist Church 28 E. Highland Ave.
Atlantic Highlands, NJ

For a full listing of classes being offered visit: http://billygraham.org/specialsections/wgc/WGC_JerseyShore_CLWC.asp

In the Bible the phrase “filled with the Holy Spirit” is used to signify God’s Spirit empowering a believer for mission. For example, Joshua was “filled with the Spirit” after Moses laid hands on him empowering him with wisdom to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:9). Micah was “filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD” empowering him with courage to preach God’s message of judgment to a hostile and rebellious nation. Elizabeth, John the baptizer's mother was filled with the Spirit empowering her for worship (Luke 1:41).

In Acts 2 “all” believers were filled with the Holy Spirit empowered to present the gospel to the crowd that had gathered for Pentecost. From that point on every person who repents and believes the gospel is permanently indwelt with the Holy Spirit, “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:13) Unlike Old Testament saints, believers in the New Covenant never fear the loss of God’s Spirit. (compare Psalm 51:11 and Ephesians 1:13) While we who have believed in Jesus need never fear losing the Spirit’s presence, we can “stifle” (or quench) the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Jesus says we do not need to beg God for the Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:13) We should continually seek fresh empowerment (filling) of the Spirit for the mission God has called us to. (Ephesians 5:18)

http://www.campuscrusade.com/downloads/satisfied.pdf

Unstoppable: Acts 2:1-13 Questions for Discussion and Reflection

The festival of Pentecost (from “pente” meaning fifty) was established in Leviticus 23:16 (“You are to count 50 days until the day after the seventh Sabbath and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD”) to commemorate the completion of the harvest. What significance is there to the Holy Spirit being poured out on Pentecost? (see Acts 2:33)

What insights do the following scriptures provide relating to the supernatural manifestations that accompanied the pouring out of the Spirit?

John 3:8—

1 Kings 19:11-12—

Ezekiel 37:9-

Isaiah 6:6-7—

Genesis 11:7—

Compare Acts 2:13 and Ephesians 5:18. What is the connection between being drunk and being filled with the Holy Spirit?

What is the relationship between being filled with the Holy Spirit, the Word of Christ, and the Lordship of Christ in the everyday life of the Christian? (Ephesians 5:18, Colossians 3:16, and 1 Peter 3:15)

What confidence ought the knowledge of the Holy Spirit’s presence to provide to every Christian for everyday life and witness? John 15:26-27and Acts 1:8

Pioneer's Beach Party

Karen Bottari & Carol Finlayson your team rocks! A big thanks to you and your team for last week’s Beach Party. I enjoyed meeting three parents who are new to our church (and Pioneers) and my girls had a blast playing with the almost 70 (68) kids who came out for the night. Parents, if you’ve got children 4 years old through 5th grade bring them out for Pioneers tonight beginning at 6:45. You can learn more about Pioneers and NMBC’s children’s ministries at http://www.nmbchurch.org/ministries/childrens-ministry/.

"Remember the prisoners... the mistreated... " Hebrews 13:3

Sunday we joined with thousands of churches around the world to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ living in Egypt and the surrounding North Africa region. One Egyptian pastor expressed the hope of Christians amid an uncertain and hostile political climate saying, “Egyptian Christians are expressing a deep-rooted faith in God's providence and even enthusiasm over the prayers of Christians around the world… Probably right now we have more people praying for Egypt than ever before in our history. . . . And we know that God is going to answer those prayers."

http://www.persecutionblog.com/2011/01/coptic-christians-in-egypt-need-our-prayers.html Let’s continue to lift our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as our ministry partners serving in the North Africa region in prayer. Here is a list of specific ways you and your family can pray (from the Barnabasfund.org).

1. Praise God that He is all-knowing that in Christ He himself experienced shame, pain and agonising death, as well as the glorious resurrection. Thank Him for His promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Josh 1:5).
2. Pray that all governments will work for justice and righteousness. While Jesus says that in this world we will have trouble, (John 16.33) He does not say that it will always be present in every place.
3. Pray that leaders of liberal democracies will use their influence to find ways to reduce, if not end, persecution in countries where it occurs. Just as Paul appealed to Caesar to seek justice (Acts 25), so Christians can appeal to secular governments.
4. Pray for the growth of the Church where persecution flourishes, remembering that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
5. Pray for strength and courage for those undergoing persecution, and for peace that only God can bring. Thank Him that His grace is sufficient for their needs (2 Cor 12:9). Pray that their faith will not fail, but that their suffering will draw them closer to Him and increase their faith.
6. Pray that the Holy Spirit will enable Christians facing persecution to forgive and love their persecutors (Matt 5:44) and that their Christ-like reactions will have an impact on their persecutors.
7. Pray that the Lord will be at work in the hearts of those who currently persecute our sisters and brothers to bring them to a saving knowledge of Himself, as He did with Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9).
8. Thank the Lord for the privilege of entering into the sufferings of our sisters and brothers, remembering that “if one part [of the body] suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Cor 12:26).
9. Pray that Christians who are experiencing persecution will not lose the ability to accept or trust genuine approaches from those who have formerly persecuted them, as when the believers in Jerusalem had to learn to accept the reality of Saul’s conversion (Acts 9). Pray that the Lord will give discernment, and relief from unnecessary fears.
10. Pray for yourself and for your brothers and sisters in Christ to be spiritually ready for whatever tomorrow brings, be that persecution, respite from suffering or Christ’s return (Matt 24.42).

Unstoppable Presence: Acts 1:9-26 Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Compare the resurrection account in Luke 24:1-8 with the Jesus’ ascension in Acts 1:9-11. What parallels do you observe between these events? How do they differ? What is significant about the promise given by the two men in verse 10?

2. Compare Luke 6:12-16 with Acts 1:13-14. Why was prayer their first response?

3. Read Leviticus 16:8 and Proverbs 16:33. How was the casting of lots used in the past to determine God’s direction? Why do you suppose there is no further mention of this practice in the rest of the New Testament?

4. How does the selection of Matthias in Acts 1:24-26 demonstrate that the ascended Jesus is still leading His followers?


5. How strong of a position are you (or your family) in to be lead by Jesus? (1 weak 8 strong)

Prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17) 1 2 3 5 6 7 8

Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15) 1 2 3 5 6 7 8

Followership (Hebrews 13:7) 1 2 3 5 6 7 8

Wisdom (Ephesians 5:15-16) 1 2 3 5 6 7 8

6. What one of the above growth areas will you focus on this week?

Unstoppable Mission: Acts 1:1-8 Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Compare Luke 1:1-4 with Acts 1:1-3. What specific encouragement does Luke offer Theophilus so that he might have greater confidence?

2. Read Luke 24:46-47. How is Acts 1:8 a bridge between the narrative of the Gospel of Luke and what follows in Acts?

3. Why is Jesus’ introduction, “This is what is written…” (Luke 24:46) significant? (See also Luke 4:4; 4:8; 4:10;19:46; 21:22; 22:37)

4. What is the promise Jesus gives His disciples in Acts 1:5, 8? (See also Matthew 3:11; John 1:33; 14:16-18 and 16:7)


5. What image comes to mind when you think of “witnessing” for Jesus? How does the definition of witness fit with that image?

6. Do you consider yourself as having the “gift of evangelism”? (Ephesians 4:11)

7. How has the life, death and resurrection of Jesus changed your life? Who do you know that needs to hear your story?

8. How will the mission given by Jesus in Acts 1:8 affect your prayer life? your family life? your generosity? your priorities?