ENTUR DV E A e h T S C N t A 2 O & I . 1 T CH C A E F R T E U R R T H E R E S First 15 Guide Making it a priority to spend time in daily scripture reading & prayer. 855 WATERMAN AVE, EAST PROVIDENCE RI • 401.270.6069 BRIDGEPOINTECHRISTIAN.COM We created this First 15 guide to help you make it a priority to spend time in daily scripture reading and prayer. This guide accompanies BridgePointe’s Spring 2019 teaching series, “Now What?” in Acts chapters 1 & 2. Find out more online: bridgepointechristian.com WEEK 1: NEW PURPOSE ACTS 1:1-11, APRIL 28 MONDAY - SCRIPTURE Read through this week’s scripture passage, Acts 1:1-11. Take time to reflect and journal your answers to the following questions. 1. What would change if we saw ourselves (first and foremost) as those sent by God on His mission? 2. In your opinion, what are the main challenges or barriers that keep us from obeying and fulfilling the Great Commission today? What can you do to combat these issues? 3. How can we reach people with the gospel to the ends of the earth? What part will you play? Begin praying today for how God wants to use you. TUESDAY - SONG REFLECTION For this series, we will be singing the song, “Let Your Kingdom Come,” during our Sunday gatherings. Read through the lyrics of this song slowly. Reflect on each phrase. Let Your Kingdom Come by Bob Kauflin Verse 1 Your glorious cause O God Engages our hearts May Jesus Christ be known Wherever we are We ask not for ourselves But for Your renown The cross has saved us so we pray Your kingdom come Chorus Let Your kingdom come Let Your will be done So that ev’ryone might know Your Name Let Your song be heard ev’rywhere on earth Till Your sov’reign work on earth is done Let Your kingdom come Verse 2 Give us Your strength O God And courage to speak Perform Your wondrous deeds Through those who are weak Lord use us as You want Whatever the test By grace we’ll preach Your Gospel till Our dying breath 1. Which lyrics stand out or stir your emotions? Why? Are there any parts that convict you? Why? 2. Listen to the song. You can use the Spotify playlist attached to Sunday’s message. As you listen, read through the lyrics. 3. Play the song again. While you may not be able to sing it perfectly, sing along as you listen. As the words flow from your mouth, be intentional to allow them to be your prayer to God, that He would use us to help His Kingdom come here and now. WEDNESDAY - TAKE ACTION A witness speaks about something objective and verifiable and does so from a personal perspective. Take time today to write your testimony as a witness of Jesus. As you write, consider these two questions: 1. What do you believe about Jesus? 2. How have you personally witnessed or experienced Him in your life? THURSDAY - STORY As part of our Easter service, we asked people to answer the question, “Who is Jesus to me?” This is Orlando’s reflection: “I had a concept of what Jesus was to me, and then life happened. And then, Jesus became the opposite of what I was going through. When I was feeling lonely, He kept reminding me that He was there. When I felt like life didn’t mean anything, He kept reminding me that life was something with Him. When I wanted to walk away and leave, Jesus kept reminding me, stay close to me because I am the only way. I am your answer, I am what you need at this moment. Since that day I haven’t looked back and Jesus has become everything to me. He is my Redeemer, my King, my Prince, my Savior. He’s the reason why I do what I do, He’s the reason why I worship the way I worship. He gave it all for me without me asking Him to do it and He did it because He loves me that much. Today I could truly say that without Him I wouldn’t be anywhere, even close to the man that I am today. In other words, Jesus has become everything to me.” - Orlando Hernandez FRIDAY - PRAYER od, your purpose, not my own, engages my heart. GYour Ressurection has given me new purpose. Bringing glory to your name is my sole desire. I delight in the fact that you are God, and I long that others should know you, feel you and rejoice in you. Lord, use me as you will. Do with me what you will. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done. It is your purpose and Kingdom I long for, not my own. In Jesus’ name. Amen. - Adapted the Valley of Vision WEEK 2: NEW POWER ACTS 2:1-13, MAY 5 MONDAY - SCRIPTURE Read through this week’s scripture passage, Acts 2:1-13. Take time to reflect and journal your answers to the following questions. 1. What is the most dramatic thing you have ever witnessed? Do you enjoy telling people about what you experienced? Why or why not? 2. What, in your own words, does it mean to be a witness? Why do you think Jesus chose that word to describe what His followers would be in the world? 3. How can having the Holy Spirit’s power make a difference in how you share Jesus with others? TUESDAY - SONG REFLECTION Read through the lyrics of this song slowly, reflecting on each phrase. Unstoppable God by Chris Brown | Steven Furtick | Wade Joye Verse 1 Heaven thundered And the world was born Life begins and ends In the dust You formed Faith commanded And the mountains moved Fear is losing ground To our hope in You Chorus Unstoppable God Let Your glory go on and on Impossible things In Your name they shall be done (oh) Verse 2 Freedom conquered All our chains undone Sin defeated Jesus has overcome Mercy triumphed When the third day dawned Darkness was denied When the stone was gone Bridge Nothing shall be impossible Your kingdom reigns unstoppable We’ll shout Your praise forevermore Jesus our God unstoppable 1. Which lyrics stand out or stir your emotions? Why? Are there any parts that convict you? Why? 2. Listen to the song. You can use the Spotify playlist attached to Sunday’s message. As you listen, read through the lyrics. 3. Play the song again. Sing along as you listen. As the words flow from your mouth, be intentional to allow them to be a powerful declaration of faith and a wonderful reminder that our God triumphed over death and darkness. In Jesus’ resurrection, we have a new power through the Holy Spirit that enables us to boldly proclaim that there is nothing impossible for our God! WEDNESDAY - TAKE ACTION Pray for the Spirit to give you an opportunity to share (1) who Jesus is and/ or (2) how you have experienced Him personally. Then... do it! Listen for an invitation or ask permission and then rely on the Spirit to give you the words you need. THURSDAY - STORY “I come from a Charasmatic Christian background, and the Holy Spirit and my dad were BFF’s. I liked Him too, but I didn’t think He liked me because I didn’t have the same connection my dad did. I always felt there was something wrong with me. Over time I came to think that the work of sharing the Gospel only belonged to certain people, people who had a special relationship with the Holy Spirit. Recently, I’ve come to understand that Holy Spirit isn’t a power to be harnessed, but rather God’s presence with all who believe: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” – John 14:16-17 When I heard that we were doing a study in Acts, I immediately got scared. Pentecost. The coming of the Spirit. I haven’t had a vision, seen fire over my head, or prophesied in another language. Studying this was another reminder of my coming up short in the Holy Spirit category. And then I was reminded: the Holy Spririt isn’t some gift a lucky few receive that makes them special. The Holy Spirit, God’s presence with me, is a gift that I get to open everyday. And He first came on Pentecost! That’s worth celebrating. Suddenly it’s a lot less scary, and a whole lot more empowering. I already have that special relationship. God is using me, gently nudging me and guiding me by His Spirit, to be His witness, everyday. I just need to remember to open the gift daily, to ask for the Spirit’s help, to allow myself to be led and guided by Him. That’s a game changer.” - Ulana Chapman FRIDAY - PRAYER ather, who for our redemption gave your Fonly Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious ressurection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his ressurection.