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It's Time To Stand Up | Jentezen Franklin

Sunday, August 11



Scriptures

Acts 2:12-17, 22-24, 36-38, 1 Corinthians 1:21, Romans 10:14, John 1:46

Leaders, prior to group it’s recommended everyone read Acts 2:1-41.

Introduction (5 Minutes)

Welcome to our Group Guide for "It’s Time to Stand Up," by Pastor Jentezen Franklin. In Acts 2, Peter stood up and preached, but he didn’t stand alone; he stood with other apostles. It takes more than a preacher to bring revival. It is time for every believer to stand up for what is right and preach the gospel!

  • What do you remember about this message that was preached? What stood out to you?

Icebreaker (10 Minutes)

Share a moment when you had to stand up for something you believed in, whether it was easy or challenging.

Follow-Up: How does that experience relate to Peter's boldness in Acts 2, when he stood up and preached to the very people who had crucified Jesus?

The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit (10 Minutes)

In Acts 2:12-17, we see the beginning of the church, where God fulfills His promise by pouring out His Spirit on all people.

Acts 2:12-17 NIV

12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowers believers to speak boldly about the saving power of Jesus Christ.

As we look around at the state of our nation and the world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges we face. Yet, the Bible offers us a powerful reminder that there is hope found in Jesus Christ alone.

This message, empowered by the Spirit, is what the world desperately needs. It’s not by human efforts or wisdom that the world will be saved, but by the power of Jesus Christ working through us. The Spirit equips us to be His witnesses, to spread the message that Jesus is the only One who can bring true and lasting salvation to our world.

  • How does the promise of the Holy Spirit's outpouring in Acts 2:17 encourage us to engage with the world today?
  • In what ways can we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us to share the message that Jesus is the only hope for our nation and the world?
  • Reflect on Peter's remarkable boldness in standing up and preaching to the very people who had recently crucified Christ.

Witnessing the Divine (10 Minutes)

Peter’s message in Acts 2:22 is a powerful reminder that Jesus was not just a man; He was accredited by God.

Acts 2:22 NIV “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.”

These miracles, wonders, and signs were not merely displays of supernatural power but served as divine validation of Jesus’ mission on earth. As stated in Colossians 1:15, Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God.

Peter emphasized that the people he was speaking to had witnessed these miracles themselves, making them firsthand witnesses to God’s work through Jesus. 

Reflecting on this passage, consider how the miracles of Jesus affirm your own faith. Think about the moments in your life when you have witnessed or experienced God’s presence—whether through answered prayers, unexplainable events, or the quiet assurance of His love.

  • How do these experiences reinforce your belief in Jesus and His divine mission?

Reflect on these questions as a group:

  • Can you recall a specific moment when you felt God’s presence in your life? How did that experience impact your faith?
  • In what ways have you seen evidence of God’s work in your own life? How does this strengthen your belief in Jesus?
  • Have there been times when you doubted God’s presence or power in your life? How did you navigate through those doubts?

Embracing God’s Call to Repentance (10 Minutes)

Acts 2:36-38 NIV

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter’s answer is clear and transformative: “Repent and be baptized.” Repentance is more than just feeling sorry for our sins; it is a complete turning away from sin and turning toward God.

  • How would you define repentance?

Baptism follows as an outward expression of an inward change, symbolizing the washing away of sins and the beginning of a new life in Christ.

But Peter doesn’t stop there. He promises that those who repent and are baptized will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift is not just a one-time experience but the ongoing presence and power of God in our lives, guiding, comforting, and empowering us to live out our faith.

As you reflect on this passage, consider the depth of God’s grace offered to you through Jesus Christ.

  • How has repentance led to change in your life? Why is change essential in our walk with God?
  • In what areas of your life do you need to repent and turn back to God?
  • Have you experienced the transformative power of repentance and baptism? If so, how has it shaped your faith journey?

The Power of Preaching: God's Wisdom Over Human Wisdom (10 Minutes)

The Bible teaches that the message of the cross is both the wisdom and power of God for salvation. In 1 Corinthians 1:21, Paul contrasts the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God, highlighting that human understanding cannot comprehend the divine plan of salvation.

1 Corinthians 1:21

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

Here, Paul emphasizes that God's method of salvation—through the preaching of the gospel—may seem foolish to the world, but it is the power of God to save.

Paul further expands on this idea by stressing the necessity of preaching for people to come to faith:

Romans 10:14

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

This verse challenges us to recognize the vital role that sharing the gospel plays in God's plan for salvation.

  • Why does the world often view the message of the cross as foolishness, and how can we as believers respond to this perception?
  • What practical steps can we take to ensure that more people hear the gospel, according to Romans 10:14?

In the message, Pastor Franklin talked about the other apostles standing with Peter. Let’s highlight and discuss the different types of people who stood with Peter in Acts 2:

- People who love Jesus (like John)

- People who are wealthy (like Matthew)

- People who evangelize (like Philip)

- People who stay (like Matthias)

- People who show up (like James)

- People who have a testimony (like Thomas)

Personal Reflection (10 Minutes)

Invite each person to take a few moments of silence to reflect on how they can "stand up" in their own life.

  • What is one practical step you can take this week to stand up for the gospel, either personally or by supporting someone else?

Conclusion

Close the session with a time of prayer.

Pray for courage, boldness, and a renewed commitment to stand up for the gospel.

Resources

YouTube

Audio Podcast