JANUARY 4, 2026 STUDY GUIDE
Acts: This is Your Business!
Acts 1:6-11
It's the first Sunday of 2026. What are you asking God to do in and through your life this year?
As you open God's Word, take a few moments and read Acts 1. In your study group, talk about the following three questions:
What is the ministry and role of the Holy Spirit?
How are you living as the Lord's witness?
What do you believe about the second coming of Jesus?
This new sermon series is about the Lord and His church. What excites you about your church? Is the Lord pleased with your involvement in your church? How do you want your participation in your church to grow in 2026?
2026 will be a year filled with mountains and valleys. You need godly people in your life. These people can pray for you, bear your burdens, and grow your faith. The Lord's church matters.
What is the Lord teaching you in Acts 1?
1. What is the Lord Positioning His Church to Experience (Acts 1:6-8)? Jesus gave His life for the church. Your local church isn't an entertainment center or a country club. Your church has a divine mandate to share the gospel locally, nationally, and globally. Who do you know in need of forgiveness and a personal relationship with Jesus? Is your church healthy? How would you describe a healthy church? Share your answers.
2. What is the Lord Leading His Church to See (Acts 1:8-9)? The Book of Acts reveals the activity of Jesus and the movement of the gospel. Is your local church seeing the Lord at work? Are lives being changed? Are people turning everyday conversations into gospel conversations? Your church must fulfill the Lord's purpose, serve in Jesus' power, and claim Jesus' promises.
3. What is the Lord Calling His Church to Do (Acts 1:8-11)? Your local church can be active or inactive, obedient or disobedient. What is the Lord calling your church to do in 2026? What is the Lord leading you to do this year? You and your church need to read the Word, pray without ceasing, rely on the Spirit, leave the building, and comprehend the urgency. You and your church can't waste time.
As you finish this week's study guide, take a few final moments and pray for your church. Here are five specific requests to pray this week:
Pray for your pastor, ministry staff, and workers.
Pray for your church to reach people and disciple them.
Pray for your church to be healthy and united.
Pray for your church to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit
Pray for your church to realize the urgency of being a witness for Jesus.
We'd love to have you worship with us in person this Sunday. You're always welcome at FBC Clarksville. For the many people who cannot join us in person, we thank you for worshiping with us online. We rejoice in the many people who connect with us from all over the state, nation, and world.
May 2026 be an incredible year for you and your church!
View all of the "Acts" Sermon Series Study Guides at fbct.org/acts.
JANUARY 11, 2026 STUDY GUIDE
Acts: Which Church Should I Join?
Acts 2:42-47
Is joining a church that important? Many people believe the local church is outdated, irrelevant, and boring. Jesus gave His life for the church. He even promised to build His church (Matthew 16:18).
Take a few moments and discuss these questions:
When did you join your church?
Why does your church matter to you?
How is your church reaching people?
The Book of Acts is about the birth of the church and the advancement of the gospel. Luke, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He was a physician by trade. However, Luke was a gifted historian, too. As you read Luke's sacred writings, you'll encounter the sacrifice of Jesus, the risen Lord, and the local church.
As you study God's Word this week, take a few minutes and read Acts 2. If you met a person who was new to your community and was looking for a church, what would you say to him or her? What are biblical non-negotiables when looking for a church?
1. A Church that Teaches the Bible. The early church was devoted to the apostles' teaching. Those men and women were hungry for God's truth. The church doesn't exist to entertain its members. God calls His pastors and teachers to declare the whole counsel of sacred truth (Acts 20:27). What signs indicate your church is devoted to God's Word? How are you satisfying your appetite for biblical truth?
2. A Church that Worships the Lord. The early church worshiped the Lord in spirit and truth. Those men and women adored, celebrated, and glorified the risen Savior. The church isn’t called to become a country club for members only. A worshiping church is God-focused, Jesus-centered, Spirit-led, and Word-driven. What is worship like in your church and life? How are you participating as God desires?
3. A Church that Loves the Family. The early church was loyal and committed to one another. Those men and women sacrificed “stuff” to meet the needs of each other. People were more important than possessions. The local church will have issues and disagreements. However, God’s people are family. How does your church model the traits of a loving family? Why is the local church important to you?
4. A Church that Helps the Needy. The early church wasn’t selfish; they were sacrificial. Those men and women put the needs of other people before their own. The church didn’t have a needy person among the family. That’s an amazing witness. For a church to be that generous, you must be intentional and involved. How do you and your church meet the needs of people? Is there a needy person in your church?
5. A Church that Reaches the World. The early church witnessed people being saved every day. Those men and women turned everyday conversations into gospel conversations. As persecution increased, God’s people scattered and shared Jesus. The church is called to “go and tell.” How is your church reaching the nations with the gospel? Who in your life needs to hear the gospel from you?
As you lean into the new year, it’s important for you to invest your spiritual life into a local church. You need a church, and a church needs you.
Here are five decisions for you to consider in 2026. What is the Holy Spirit leading you to do?
* Do you need to trust Jesus as Savior?
* Do you need to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism?
* Do you need to join the family of a biblical church?
* Do you need to increase your involvement and participation in your church?
* Do you need to help a needy person by meeting a need or sharing the gospel?
If possible, you’re always welcome to connect with us at FBC Clarksville. If you live outside of our community, we encourage you to find a Bible-believing local church. You need God’s people, and they need you.
Thank you for connecting with us online. Please share with us how the Lord is leading you and working in your life.
View all of the "Acts" Sermon Series Study Guides at fbct.org/acts.
JANUARY 18, 2026 STUDY GUIDE
Acts: A Powerful Sermon!
Acts 3:1-10
How many sermons have you heard in your life? That's probably hard to number. It's wise to sit under the faithful teaching and preaching of God's Word. God promises that His Word will never return void (Isaiah 55:10-11). Thank the Lord for faithful preachers who rightly divide the Word of truth week in and week out.
History is filled with great sermons. Can you name a few preachers whom God has specifically used in your life? Do you remember a specific sermon? Was the way he lived his life a powerful sermon?
The Bible is filled with powerful sermons. Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. Major and minor prophets preached God's Word with boldness, conviction, and power. Peter, after being empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, preached the Word with courage. Paul appealed to Timothy, his young protege in ministry, to "preach the Word."
Take a few minutes and read Acts 3. Peter preached a simple message to a lame beggar. That sermon, as God worked, changed the man's life. Do you recall a sermon that God used to change your life?
What biblical insights from Acts 3 make up a powerful sermon?
1. The Church's External Focus (Acts 3:1-3). Peter and John went to the temple early one afternoon. It was the hour of prayer. The two men hadn't yet entered the sacred space when they met a lame beggar, asking them for money. Is serving the Lord with other people a priority? Are you actively engaged in practicing the spiritual disciplines? Are you aware of hurting, suffering people?
2. The Church's Evangelistic Involvement (Acts 3:4-6). Peter and John made eye contact with the beggar and got his attention. Peter preached a powerful sermon to a hurting man and a crowd of people. Peter and John didn't give the man money; they gave him Jesus. What's your approach to helping people? How does your church balance meeting physical needs while sharing the gospel?
3. The Church's Eternal Difference (Acts 3:7-10). Peter and John saw the Lord change a man's life. The man entered the temple walking, leaping, and praising God. The people were filled with wonder and amazement. Peter and John quickly gave all the praise to Jesus. When did you last see the Lord change a person's life or soul? How did you glorify the Lord?
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob is still using people, changing lives, and being glorified. A personal lesson from Peter and John is never to take the credit for what God did. All the praise must go to Jesus!
Here are three final discussion questions for you and your group. After you answer them, take a few moments and pray together.
Why is it valuable to pray, study, and serve with another believer of the same gender (as you see with Peter and John)?
What evidence do you see that says your church is externally focused, meaning your church is reaching people outside the walls of your church building?
How do you need to praise Jesus now for His activity, grace, and presence?
Thank you for taking the time to study God's Word. We're honored at FBC Clarksville that you'd connect with us. We hope you'll join us for Bible study and worship on Sunday.
Have a blessed rest of your week.
View all of the "Acts" Sermon Series Study Guides at fbct.org/acts.
JANUARY 25, 2026 STUDY GUIDE
Acts: A Prayer Meeting to Remember
Acts 4:23-31
What do you do when you love someone? You talk to the person, and in the presence of other people, you talk about the person. Do you love Jesus? Are you talking to Him, and are you talking about Him with other people?
Early believers loved Jesus. Those men and women talked to the Lord, and they talked about Him with other people. You couldn't silence or stop the early believers from making much of Jesus. Threats, persecutions, and imprisonment made them bolder and stronger in the faith. God used the witnesses of those courageous men and women.
Take a few moments and read Acts 4. As you finish the reading, answer the following three questions that relate to the biblical text:
What caused Peter to be bold in his preaching and teaching?
What does Acts 4:12 teach about the exclusivity of Jesus for salvation?
What difference does a praying church make?
A question surfaces from Acts 4 about prayer and the gathered church. What happens when the church prays?
1. We Support One Another (Acts 4:23-30). Peter and John were uneducated, common men. Sharing the gospel story cost them. Obedience to Jesus meant riots and prison. After being released, they gathered with the church and prayed. Biblical fellowship is about support. How do you see your church family supporting one another? How do you support hurting people in your church?
2. We Love One Another (Acts 4:32). God's love permeates the pages of the Bible (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Love flowed from the early church. People were more important than possessions. A lost world needs to witness a loving church. Love meant they prayed, they gave, and they cared. How is love on display in your church family? How have you experienced the love of God's people?
3. We Challenge One Another (Acts 4:33). A faithful Christian life isn't an easy life. God often gives His servants difficult assignments in hard places. Following the anointed prayer meeting (Acts 4:31), the apostles testified about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Grace flowed down as they shared. How is your church family challenging you to obey the Lord? Do you run to or from challenging situations?
As you wrap up this week's Bible study, here are three prayer prompts for you and your group. Take the time to pray over these needs, believing with confidence that God moves when His people pray.
Pray for your pastor, ministry team members, and lay leaders. These men and women need God's favor, leadership, and power.
Pray for the younger generation to be bold in their faith and obedience. God wants to use these young people to make much of Jesus and advance His gospel agenda.
Pray for your church family to be devoted to prayer as Jesus commands. The Bible says that the Lord's house is to be a house of prayer (Isaiah 56:7).
Thank you for studying God's Word with us this week. We have Bible study groups for all ages on Sunday morning. We'd love for you to join us for worship on Sunday, too.
May the Lord bless you and your walk with Him!
View all of the "Acts" Sermon Series Study Guides at fbct.org/acts.