NOTES: 1] To revisit the context, re-read MT 3:1-12. 2] MT tells us only Jesus sees the Spirit-dove, & leaves open who sees heaven open & hears the voice. (In JN 1:32, JB too sees the 'dove'.) 3] This sort of event is called a 'theophany', i.e. God revealing Godself in the forces of nature. (cf. Sinai; the Exodus; the Transfiguration; darkness on Good Friday; etc.)

WARMING UP:  Have we ever seen or heard any great event that others round us missed, or vice-versa?

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Identify God at work in anything that's happened this week?

EXPLORING GOSPEL:

13         Have we ever taken as deliberately 'religious' a step as the one Jesus takes when he makes the journey out to JB by the river Jordan to be baptised by him? Are we taking enough responsibility for our own religious life, or leaving that to some- one else? Either way, are we making spiritual growth?

             How important is it that we identify & respond to any initiative God takes in our life (as Jesus responds to an inner calling & goes out to JB at Jordan)? Or, aren't we aware of God taking such initiative in our life? Do we ever resent God taking, or wanting to take, some initiative in our life?

14-15   Why would it be that JB doesn't want to baptize Jesus? (Any clues in vv.1-12?) Given Jesus uniquely sees things from God's point of view, are there times & situations in daily life when we need to over-rule religious logic in favour of letting God's Spirit do something new? Can we think of situations where we or our Church have missed such opportunities? With what result(s)?

             Are we practised enough at discerning the path God wants us to take through life's dilemmas? Are we more used to looking for easier, or more popular ways than those God may beckon us to take? In the end, do we usually defer to God, as JB does, or other considerations?

16-17   Does the fact that we've moved away (or, most of us have!) from a flat earth kind of understanding of the world give us problems in understanding things like heaven opening, the Spirit descending 'like a dove', & a voice from heaven?

            Are we as enthusiastic in our endorsement of Jesus as the Father is in this momentous event? Or, are we more timid, hesitant, non-committal, about him? If any of those is the case, where does that leave a) Jesus?, & b) us?
 
 

NOTES: 1] Read the whole of PS 2 to get the drift of the argument in vv.23-30. 2] 'Predestined' (v.28) classically means 'pre-determined by God', but some see it as an outworking of prophecy, i.e. if we do this, then that will inevitably happen.

WARMING UP: Do we prefer to make our own arrangements for e.g., holidays, or have them made for us?

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Identify God at work in anything that's happened since last week's Group?

EXPLORING ACTS:

23-31    How well do we connect what happens to us in life with the ongoing story of God's people (like Peter & co. connect with PS 2:1-2 here)? If we aren't familiar enough with the Scriptures to be able to consider such connections with confidence, what might we need to do to change that? What bearing, if any, does PS 2 (all of it, not just the verses quoted) have on life today? Or was it only a prophecy pointing forward to Jesus & what happened to him? Is there an underlying principle in Scripture of God being active in all of life without exception? Does that principle still operate all these years later? Whether we understand it or not; whether people like it or not? If there is such a principle, is that any encouragement to us in our discipleship?
             Do we feel under any kind of threat as a disciple today? If so, do we have any expectation of 'signs & wonders' to get us out from under? Is it wise to go looking for them, even manipulating them as some are accused of doing, rather than waiting for God to make his presence felt in his own good time & way? Similarly, when we gather for prayer & worship, should we expect 'shaking' so much that we ourselves make the place rock? If we were to describe what it means to be 'filled with the Holy Spirit' ought we to expect that everyone would describe it the same way? Is 'speaking the word of God with boldness' as common a practice as we should expect in today's church? Does that necessarily mean shouting at people, or demanding one way of looking at things?

32-37    Given there's no record of Jesus teaching or expecting the structured way of life spelled out here, was what the young church attempted then just a good idea / a great ideal that couldn't last? Are there ways we could ensure the good theywere aiming at still happens in our own congregation / community without it being a structured thing? Is it really more a matterof attitude than structure? What is our attitude to making provision for those who need help of any kind in life? Are we as good as Barnabas in giving without strings attached? Why do we so often want to attach strings? So we can pull them?