We Are Upper Room People

April 14, 2024

When Jesus gathered His disciples in the Upper Room, they were confronted with the price He would pay for their redemption. After the Resurrection, Jesus again met His Disciples in the Upper Room, and it was there that the church was born. Join us for part two of This is Us, where we will discover that Jesus-centered communities are built by people who live in the Upper Room.

Listen to Podcast

Passages

John 6 & Acts 1-2

Principle

Jesus centered communities are built with ##upper## ##room## ##people##.

Five Characteristics of Upper Room People:

They are devoted to ##prayer## and the ##Word##.
They are committed to ##one## ##another## and their ##community##.
They participate in ##God-sized## ##tasks##.
They are ##generous## with their ##time## and ##resources##.
They are ##attractive## and ##welcoming## to ##outsiders##.

Practice

##Aspire## towards the ##Upper## ##Room##

Small Group Questions

Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couple or family devotion, or with a small group.

HANGOUT

If you live in a traditional two-story house, what is the most significant difference between the first and second floors? Where are you more likely to entertain guests, on the first or second floor? Why? Jesus spent a lot of time on the ground level, healing, feeding, and teaching the crowds. But He issued a higher calling to those who wanted to be His disciples.

HEAR

Read Luke 22:7-13 (Preparing the Upper Room)

Where did Jesus want to meet with His disciples for the Passover?
This is one of many times Jesus called His disciples away from the crowds. (Read Mark 6:30-31, Luke 5:15-16; and Luke 22:39-40.)
Why did Jesus frequently separate Himself and His disciples from the crowds?

Read Luke 22:14-20 (The Events of the Upper Room)

What did Jesus do with His disciples in the Upper Room? What would have happened if He had tried to do this among the crowds who had gathered to welcome Him to Jerusalem?
Read John 6:26, 54-56, and 66 to see the crowd’s response when Jesus made this offer to them.
What did the crowd want? What did Jesus offer? What was their response?

Read Acts 1:3-5, 8, 12-14 (Back to the Upper Room)

Why did the disciples gather in the Upper Room? What were they to do there? Where were to go from there?
What is the difference between the crowds gathered in the “lower room” and the disciples waiting in the “upper room”? What motivates each group?
How can Aspire Church help people move from the lower to the upper room?

HUDDLE

Are you a part of the crowd in the lower room or among the disciples in the upper room? What is your next step on the way to the upper room? Talk about it, invite accountability, and take time to pray together.

Daily Reading

As you read each passage, look for connections to this week’s sermon and small group discussion. Invite the Holy Spirit to be your teacher as you seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Day 1: Luke 5
Day 2: Luke 22
Day 3: John 6
Day 4: John 13
Day 5: John 20
Day 6: Acts 1
Day 7: Acts 2