The first followers of Jesus were some of most effective missionaries to ever walk the earth and the book of Acts describes these pioneers and there missions.  As followers of Jesus we too should be about bringing the same good news to the world around us. If we are truly followers of Jesus we will automatically inherit this adventurous pioneering spirit, but we must begin putting it into practice.

• Who do you know that seems to be possessed with a “pioneer” spirit? What do they do that makes them a pioneer?

Read Acts 4:1-4. There are three distinct themes that reflect this pioneer spirit that we observe in these first believers. The first was the willingness to get up and go and in doing so leaving comfort behind. One of the consequences of being filled with the Spirit of Jesus is the inclination to take risks for the kingdom of God, especially when we begin to see our world through the eyes and aspirations of God.  (Read Acts 1:8)

• Describe a time your commitment to Christ caused you to get up and go and leave a comfortable place in your life or lifestyle.
• Have you ever felt discontented with the cultural status quo, or with an obvious injustice or inequality?  Explain.

Read Acts 4:12-14 and Acts 17:6. Secondly these early followers almost always created controversy or tension in the culture with their lives and teaching. Jesus as well always brought prophetic tension between the system of the world and the way God intended it to be. To do so took courage then and it does today, but we are called to come against the evil in this world and bring the power and love of God into all situations.

• Has your Christian life or lifestyle ever created a controversy with a co-worker, non-Christian friend or family member? Explain.
• Have you ever taken a courageous stand for Christ or Christian values in the face of immorality or open antagonism? Explain what happened.

Read Acts 4:32-35.  The last characteristic of these pioneers was their commitment to a sacrificial lifestyle. They were committed to live more simply that others might simply live. Jesus continues to call us to live our lives with eternity on our minds. By giving our lives, Jesus said, we find true life and help bring others to this same eternal life we have found in Christ.

• Name things that our cultural tells us to seek that in the end we really can’t keep or hold on to.
• Which one do you seem to continual struggle to control?
• What step do you need to take to better develop God’s pioneering Spirit in your life: 

          ____To be willing to get up and go and leave my comfortable place
          ____To become more courageous in displaying my Godly values in the world around me.
          ____To simplify my lifestyle so that others might simply live.