week of 4/21

 Unit 32 Session 3

WELCOMED BY THE GOSPEL

ACTS 10 - 11

God confirmed that salvation had come to the Gentiles through the giving of the Holy Spirit, Who unites all who believe.

God initiated a series of events in the lives of Peter (a Jewish Christian) and Cornelius (a Gentile, soon-to-be Christian) that would result in a colossal paradigm shift for the early church's mindset and conduct. Ten years after Christ's commission, the gospel spread throughout Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. But now it was time for the truth about Christ to reach the nations. The mystery of the gospel, as Paul liked to call it, needed uncovering. Namely, God's heart is for every tribe, tongue, and nation to hear the gospel message. The good news of Jesus is for all people.

Points to consider:

✞   God accepts all people who believe 

     the gospel.

     * How ought the truth that God does not 

        show favoritism shape the life of a 

        Christian?

     * What can we learn about sharing the

        gospel from Peter's message?

✞   The Spirit's presence unites people 

      who believe the gospel.

     * What is evidence of the presence of the 

        Holy Spirit among God's people today?

     * Why is baptism important for the 

        believer?

✞   The church celebrates when people 

     believe the gospel.

     * How can I make an effort to share 

        the gospel with those who are lost, 

        even if they seem extremely different 

        from my friends in the church?

     * How have I seen God move in my 

        own story of repentance?

week of 4/14

Unit 32 Session 2

CONVICTED BY THE GOSPEL

ACTS 10

Through Peter's vision and the Lord's calling to meet with Cornelius, God revealed that the Gospel is for all people.

Acts 10 begins the longest episode provided by Luke. It still took place in Judea, but the Gospel message was about to bust through barriers in a big way. The prominence and importance of this narrative is such that we cannot overstate. If Peter did not have the teachability and obedience to follow God's lead, Christ's church may be in a quite different place today.

Points to consider:

✞   The Lord prepares people for the Gospel.

     * How can someone be a devout religious 

        person who fears God, but not actually 

        have salvation?

     * How do we know when God is giving 

        us instruction?

✞   The Lord calls His people to act in faith 

     and share the Gospel.

     * What actions do some Christians and 

        churches today think fall outside the 

        accepted Christian culture?

     * What are other ways Peter could have 

        responded to God's message and call?

✞   The Lord transforms people by the 

     power of the Gospel. 

     * How do we safeguard ourselves from

        putting the focus on ourselves instead 

        of Christ in ministry?

     * Understanding adoption, how can I 

        extend the grace of God today to 

        someone whom I consider different?

week of 4/7

Unit 32 Session 1

CHANGED BY THE GOSPEL

ACTS 9

The miracles of Peter were done in the name of Jesus Christ so that people would believe in Jesus for salvation.

In the book of Acts, the first part primarily focuses on the apostle Peter, and all God did through His ministry to propel the Gospel to the ends of the earth. After a quick detour to demonstrate the power of God through the conversion of Paul, Luke turns his attention back to Peter, here in Acts 9, for a few more episodes before he pivots completely toward the telling of the ministry of Paul.

Points to consider:

✞   The Lord provides peace to His church.

     * How did the Holy Spirit help build 

        the church?

     * Why do you think it's difficult to depict 

        the work and personhood of the Holy Spirit?

✞   The Lord brings healing through His church.

     * What would happen if you gave credit to 

        people for miracles instead of Christ?

     * What are ways we can more clearly 

        demonstrate that Christ is the One working 

        through our church, that people may 

        turn to Him?

✞   The Lord restores life within His church.

     * Why did Jesus need to demonstrate 

        His great power and authority through 

        His apostles?

     * What truths can we learn from these 

        miraculous events?

week of 3/31

Unit 31 Session 5

THE HUMBLE SAVIOR

PHILIPPIANS 2; HEBREWS 4; 2 CORINTHIANS 5

The Son of God provided salvation through His humiliation on earth.

Philippians 2:5-11 teaches great theological truths about the humanity and divinity of Jesus. However, when we only focus on this section apart from the rest of the letter, we miss out on what Paul was showing the Philippians. The church at Philippi faced a very serious crisis - there were divisions that were threatening the unity of the church. Their common faith in Jesus should have united them, however, they were divided. Thus, Paul wrote this portion to show that Jesus' humiliation should bring His people together. Paul was calling them to unity through the gospel.

Points to consider:

✞   The Son of God humbled Himself to take on flesh.

     * How have the world around us seen or not seen 

        the humility and unity that are supposed to define 

        Christians?

     * How does knowing Jesus is fully God and fully man 

        encourage me in my Christian walk?

✞   The Son of God humbled Himself to die on the cross.

     * How was Jesus' death on the cross the ultimate act of

        humility?

     * How does Jesus' humility destroy our pride?

✞   The Son of God humbled Himself to bring forth victory.

     * How does knowing Jesus is victorious encourage us in 

        our evangelism efforts?

     * What are ways we can honor Christ, knowing He 

        humbly died and took on our sin, giving us His 

        righteousness?

week of 3/24

Unit 31 Session 4

THE SCATTERED CHURCH

ACTS 8

Persecution did not stifle the Gospel but rather served to spread the Gospel as the church advanced its mission of proclaiming the Gospel to all people.

Back in Acts 7, Luke recorded the account of the first Christian martyr, Stephen. Saul was there to witness the execution, and persecution would only increase as the early church grew. But the Lord was not shocked by this persecution; He was still ruling and reigning over all. He had a plan and a mission to spread the Gospel beyond the borders of Jerusalem. The Lord would use this persecution to further the Gospel as the church continued to spread to the ends of the earth.

Points to consider:

✞   The church experiences persecution.

     * How do we see the Gospel spreading 

        around the world today?

     * What are some examples of those today 

        with misguided zeal for the Lord?

✞   The church continues proclaiming Jesus.

     * When in our own lives do we find it hard to 

        believe that God's plan will prevail?

     * What are some examples in your life where 

        God brought about joy in the midst of suffering?

✞   The church grows by the Spirit's power.

     * Where do you have opportunities to share the 

        gospel that you haven't?

     * What are some other tips you can think of to 

        help share the gospel effectively?

week of 3/17

Unit 31 Session 3

THE MURDERED SERVANT

ACTS 6-7

Stephen preached the gospel with wisdom and boldness and was faithful to Jesus even at the end of his life.

Persecution of the early church was increasing in the book of Acts. The leaders in the early church had been imprisoned, beaten, and threatened with murder, but so far none of them had been put to death. However, all of the opposition boiled over in Acts 6-7. The religious leaders took extreme measures to stop the spread of the gospel. Stephen's account teaches us that even through suffering, God is sovereign and on His throne. Stephen preached the gospel faithfully, yet the religious leaders responded with hate and murder.

Points to consider:

✞   Sharing the Gospel requires wisdom.

     * Why is it important to have both wisdom 

        and the Spirit?

     * What lies against the gospel, God, the Word, 

        or His people are prevalent today?

✞   Sharing the Gospel requires boldness.

     * What are some examples of things we might 

        find "salvation" in other than Christ?

     * Why is it important to acknowledge our sin 

        and disobedience as  main part of the gospel 

        message?

✞   Sharing the Gospel requires sacrifice.

     * What kinds of sacrifice do believers endure 

        today to spread the good news of Christ?

     * How should Stephen's response serve as a 

        model for how we respond to those who 

        persecute Christians?

week of 3/10

Unit 31 Session 2

THE DIVIDED BELIEVERS

ACTS 6

When strife threatened to divide the early church, the church acted quickly and selected additional servants to preserve unity.

The book of Acts tells of the growth of Christianity in the early church, partly due to the way in which Christians cared for people from all backgrounds. From the beginning, a defining characteristic of Christian service has been caring for people physically, spiritually, and financially. In Acts 6, the early church faced a problem of caring for widows in the church, specifically the Hellenistic widows. For a variety of possible reasons, the Hellenistic widows were being neglected. Our text in Acts 6 is going to explain how the early church's work would cross different barriers.

Points to consider:

✞   Division and strife threaten the church.

     * Why is it important that all widows be 

        treated equally in the early church?

     * What protections can churches put in 

        place to make sure that those in need 

        are being cared for?

✞   Diversity of roles strengthens the church.

     * What possible needs in the church can you 

        think of that aren't usually being filled?

     * How might you be able to serve your church?

✞   Acting in unity advances the church.

     * What does the selection of these men teach us?

     * How can unity advance the church today?