The Compass

A Daily Personal Reflection & Small Group Discussion Guide

by John Hay, Jr.
Senior Pastor, West Morris Street Free Methodist Church

Series: Anticipating Pentecost
Week's focus: Don't Leave Jerusalem
Scriptures: Acts 1:1-8, 14
Week of: May 28, 2006

TRACKING THE WORD IN WORSHIP
What's at stake for us in Jesus' challenge that his disciples stay in the city?

1. The toughest place to be is in the middle of a yet-to-be-fulfilled PROMISE.

2. The only way to see a promise fulfilled is to go THROUGH the MIDDLE.

3. How to handle the sometimes long "in-between" journey from promise to fulfillment:

(1) Don't ABANDON the project or the people who committed to it with you.

(2) FOLLOW the Promise-maker's instructions.

(3) Keep hope alive in frequent FELLOWSHIP.

(4) Motivate your MEMORY of the Promise-maker and His mission.

(5) Pray as if your life--and fulfillment--DEPENDED on it.

GUIDED JOURNALING / DISCUSSION
Explore these questions in personal devotions or group discussion

1. Describe one or two situations in which you found yourself in the middle between promise and fulfillment. Think about promised gifts, anticipated milestones, goal-oriented projects, or developing relationships. What are your feelings or emotions when your somewhere a long way between "start" and "finish?" What have you done (or what can you do) to help yourself and others through the middle? Discuss or journal your responses?

2. Read Acts 1:1-5. What all did Jesus do before he was taken up into heaven (ascended)? Why do you think he did these things? To whom did Jesus show himself "after his suffering" and before he ascended? Why do you think Jesus instructs his disciples to not leave Jerusalem? What difference would it make? Discuss or journal your responses.

3. Read Acts 1:6-8. Even after all Jesus had said and done, his disciples were anticipating the immediate overthrow of the Roman government and corrupt Jewish leaders and a restoration of the Kingdom of Israel. Instead, what does Jesus tell them about the timing of God's Kingdom? Who sets these times? Instead of worrying about timing and receiving a kingdom, what does Jesus promise the disciples will receive? What will they be and do (and where) when this promise is fulfilled? Do you think this applies to us today? How?

4. Read Acts 1:9-11. What happened as Jesus was talking to his disciples? What promise do they receive from the two men dressed in white? Has this promise yet been fulfilled? Discuss or journal your responses.

MARKINGS LEFT BY PREVIOUS TRAVELERS
Consider what other believers have explored about Pentecost

CHRIST & PENTECOST. "Beware of a Christless Pentecost as much as of a Pentecostless Christianity." - R. Stanley

WHAT WE TURN TO. "What men turn to is more important than what they turn from, even if that to which they turn is only a higher moral truth; but to turn to Christ is far more important than to turn to higher moral truth: it is to turn the face towards Him in whom is all moral truth; it is to turn to Him in whom is not only the virtue which corresponds to the known vice from which the penitent wishes to flee, but all virtue; it is to turn the face to all holiness, all purity, all grace. It was this repentance which the apostles preached after Pentecost." - Roland Allen

THE BEGINNING OF RESTORATION. "The proper place of Pentecost in the divine drama of Love is that it was the chronological and historical 'beginning' (Acts 11:15) of the restored experiential love-life relationship of the Triune God with all mankind, when the Spirit of Christ was poured out to dwell in the spirits (cf. Rom. 8:16) of those receptive to God's love." -- James A. Fowler

RESPONSES & OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE
Want to explore The Compass with others? Have questions?

If you'd like to connect with others who are working weekly with The Compass, e-mail me or call the church office (317.632.8311)

If you have questions about Scriptures or some of the questions, or just want to share what your are discovering through The Compass, you are welcome to e-mail me.

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