The early church’s core mandate was to be witnesses for Christ, focusing on testifying about His identity and work. This witness requires the Holy Spirit’s power, extends to all nations, and is guaranteed by Christ’s ascension and reign. Being a witness involves speaking from personal experience and knowledge while crossing geographic and ethnic boundaries. The effectiveness of this mission comes not from human ability but through the Spirit’s empowerment, as believers share both individually and corporately about Christ’s death and resurrection.
Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean to be a witness for Christ in your daily life?
- How does the Holy Spirit empower us to be witnesses? Share examples from your experience.
- What barriers (geographical, cultural, personal) do we need to overcome to reach ‘the nations’?
- How does understanding Christ’s ascension give us confidence in our witness?
- What’s the difference between simply sharing facts about Jesus versus giving a personal testimony?
- How can we ensure both the quality and scope of our witness are strong?
- What role does suffering play in our witness for Christ?
- In what ways can our church better fulfill its mandate to be witnesses?