Study Questions - Let those who KNOW tell those who DON'T

Date: November 28, 2004
Passage: Acts 1:1-11
Message: Let Those who Know Tell Those who Don’t!
Theme: Mission
[Upon my return from visiting Ames family in Japan]

Share experience when you felt completely like an alien? What did you discover about yourself from it?
How well did you cope?

Think about Owen, Sarah, Rachel and Jessica Ames.
What things would they be experiencing in a new culture / language?
What sorts of things can we do to help them?
They are depending on us so much. How can we make sure we do not lose sight of their needs?

Read Acts 1:1-11
The disciples were stuck in their thinking that Jesus had come just to establish the kingdom of Israel. In v8 Jesus shifts their horizon to take in the whole world.

How big is your ‘Kingdom view’ right now?
Is it confined to ‘Jerusalem’?
Is it a kingdom that revolves around what I do, where I go and who I live out my life with?
Does it extend to those who are outside my world?
Does it reach into those who are poor, unwanted, forgotten?

Does it extend to the ‘uttermost parts of the earth?
How much do you pray for things that far away?
How much are we involved in people’s lives in other cultures?
How do we encourage, support, inspire those who have gone on our behalf to tell that they know to those who don’t?

What is a witness? V8
What are we witnesses of?
What are we to tell?
Who are we to tell it to?
How well do you think you are doing as a witness?

Very often we are overcome with a feeling of guilt. We feel like we should be doing more. We ought to be more faithful. We could’ve done better.
What does v8 reveal about our motivation and empowering for being a witness?

Share an experience when you were able to witness for Jesus?
Pray for one another as we go and tell what we know to those who don’t!