The Book of Acts: The Church Begins
From Pentecost to Paul’s imprisonment, Acts tells the story of the Great Commission becoming a lived reality. The same disciples who once doubted and fled are filled with the Spirit and sent to carry Jesus’ message to the world. Through this 12‑week study, participants will see that God’s mission is not reserved for a few but entrusted to every believer. The Holy Spirit equips ordinary people — regardless of past or place — to join His unstoppable work of spreading the gospel in their everyday lives.
What's Included
When you pull this study into your workspace, these items come with it.
- Lessons60
12 lessons per audience tier across 5 tiers.
- Handouts60
12 handouts per audience tier across 5 tiers.
- Discussion Guides60
12 discussion guides per audience tier across 5 tiers.
- Slides0
Presentation decks for classroom use.
What You'll Study
Empowered to Witness
Acts 1:1‑11; 2:1‑13
The Spirit Comes
Learning Objectives
Participants will recognize that the same disciples who abandoned Jesus were transformed into bold witnesses by the Holy Spirit. They will identify what changed at Pentecost and articulate how the Spirit, not human strength, initiates readiness for mission.
From Waiting to Witnessing
Acts 2:14‑47
The Birth of the Church
Learning Objectives
Participants will understand that the miracle of tongues was contextual empowerment for witness, not merely a private spiritual gift. They will discuss how the Spirit equips believers to communicate Christ in ways their context can understand.
The Ripple Effect
Acts 3–4
Courage in the Ordinary
Learning Objectives
Participants will see that courage in witness flows from new identity in the Spirit. They will examine Peter and John’s testimony and identify ordinary moments in which God can display His power through them.
When the Church Scatters
Acts 6:8–8:8; Esther 4:12-14
Mission Beyond Comfort
Learning Objectives
Participants will grasp that God advances His mission even through disruption or difficulty. They will connect the church’s scattering in Acts with Israel’s exile in Esther and reflect on how God can work through their own “scattered” seasons.
The Spirit Leads the Way
Acts 8:26‑40; Proverbs 16:9
Following the Spirit’s Prompt
Learning Objectives
Participants will learn to discern and respond to the Spirit’s promptings in everyday life. They will explore the balance between wise planning and Spirit-led flexibility, applying Proverbs 16:9 to personal and ministry decisions.
A Surprising Conversion
Acts 9:1‑31
God’s Power to Transform
Learning Objectives
Participants will recognize that no one is beyond God’s transforming grace. They will study Saul’s conversion as evidence that God can turn opposition into partnership and consider how this truth reshapes their view of others and themselves.
Crossing Every Barrier
Acts 10:1‑48
The Gospel for All
Learning Objectives
Participants will identify how cultural or personal barriers can hinder gospel witness. They will study Peter and Cornelius to see how the Spirit dismantles prejudice and will reflect on present-day divisions that need Spirit-led reconciliation.
Sending and Supporting
Acts 13:1‑12
The Church on Mission
Learning Objectives
Participants will understand that sending and supporting are both acts of obedience. They will explore how the Antioch church discerned the Spirit’s call and evaluate how their own communities can participate in God’s mission locally and globally.
Opposition and Opportunity
Acts 16:16‑40
Witness in Hard Places
Learning Objectives
Participants will see how worship and witness intersect in hardship. They will analyze Paul and Silas’s response to persecution and identify ways to embody joy and testimony in their own challenges.
The Gospel in the Public Square
Acts 17:16‑34
Engaging the World
Learning Objectives
Participants will learn how to engage culture with both conviction and sensitivity. They will examine Paul’s method in Athens and practice articulating the gospel using language and reference points meaningful to their context.
Bound but Unstoppable
Acts 27:1‑28:31
Persevering in Mission
Learning Objectives
Participants will understand that God’s mission continues regardless of circumstance. They will reflect on Paul’s imprisonment and identify how their current “location” can become a place of fruitful Kingdom work.
Our Turn to Go
Acts 1:8; 28:30‑31
Continuing the Story
Learning Objectives
Participants will look back on Acts to trace their own transformation from observer to participant in God’s mission. They will articulate personal next steps in embracing the Great Commission through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.
Available For
Sample Content
This study adapts to your church
When you bring this study into your workspace, it adapts to your theological convictions, your teaching context, and your audience. No other curriculum does this.
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