Rooting Path · New Testament Survey · Lesson 4: Acts: From Jerusalem to the Ends of the Earth
This lesson in one sentence: The Holy Spirit came, and the gospel went out from Jerusalem circle after circle to the ends of the earth—and it reached us too.
Timing (about 60 minutes)
- Opening5 min
- Read Together10 min
- Practice Together15 min
- Discussion20 min
- This Week5 min
- Pray for One Another5 min
Opening
Who told you the gospel the first time you heard it?
Read Together
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 · WEB
42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
Acts 2:42 · WEB
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 · WEB
Practice Together
Write the nine events from Acts on slips of paper: the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the martyrdom of Stephen, Philip and the Ethiopian official, the conversion of Saul, Cornelius and his household, the church at Antioch, the three missionary journeys, the Council at Jerusalem, Paul’s arrest and journey to Rome. Have the group put them in order, then check against the timeline. For each, say two things: where had the gospel reached by now? Who carried it there?
Discussion
- “we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard” (Acts 4:20)—what made the disciples ‘unable not to speak’? What about you?
- Persecution scattered the disciples, and “those who were scattered abroad went around preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Have you experienced something hard that ended up pushing you somewhere new?
- Peter said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism” (Acts 10:34). What kind of person does our group find it hardest to open up to?
This Week
This week, read Acts 1–2, or Acts 9–10. Afterward write one sentence: once the Holy Spirit came, what was different about the disciples?
Each person says whether they read Acts 1–2 or Acts 9–10 this week.
Closing
Read Acts 1:8 together. Each person silently prays for someone they would like to hear the gospel; the leader closes in prayer.
Tips for the leader
- Speaking in tongues at Pentecost, the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the mode of baptism: use the lesson’s standard wording—ask your own church. Don’t debate them in the group, and don’t comment on other churches’ practice.
- Don’t go through Paul’s three journeys stop by stop. Members who want to read more can be pointed to the seven-lesson Bible figure course on Paul.
- When talking about ‘who to share the gospel with’, don’t give members assignments, and don’t compare who shares more.
General principles for leaders
- The leader is not a teacher but someone who walks alongside everyone.
- Give everyone a chance to speak; with someone who talks a lot, you can gently say, ‘Let’s also hear from friends who haven’t spoken yet.’
- Don’t rush to give answers. If someone is silent, wait a few more seconds.
- For a question you can’t answer, you can say, ‘I don’t know either; let’s look it up together,’ and note it down for next time.
- What is said in the group stays in the group.
- At the opening, the leader can give their own answer first, showing that it can be simple and honest.