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?

week of /

Unit 31 Session 1

THE OPPOSED APOSTLES

ACTS 5

Jesus had instructed His disciples to preach about Him, a mission they strove to be faithful to even when their lives were in peril.

The book of Acts describes the growth of the church from Jerusalem out toward the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). But as the disciples preached, the religious leaders opposed God's will for the gospel to go forth. In Acts 5, these leaders thought they could keep the apostles from preaching by throwing them in jail. However, an angel of the Lord opened the jail so they could escape and continue preaching. The church continued to grow through the sovereign Lord pouring out His Spirit as they came to trust in Christ. But this happened in the midst of persecution and opposition.

Points to consider:

✞   Preaching Jesus requires conviction.

     * Those who oppose the Gospel message are 

        opposing God. How does this encourage 

        you in your Christian witness?

     * How is the apostles' conviction on display 

        here?

✞   Preaching Jesus causes opposition.

     * How should we respond when people 

        are filled with rage because of what 

        we believe as Christians?

     * What does enduring persecution teach us?

✞   Preaching Jesus prompts joy.

     * How does the apostles' joy in the 

        midst of suffering encourage you?

     * Like the disciples, how can we put 

        God's glory first in our daily life?

week of 2/25

Unit 30 Session 5

THE CHURCH PREACHES THE GOSPEL

MATTHEW 9 - 10 ; ROMANS 10

God has sent His people into the world to tell others about Christ.

In Matthew 9 - 10, Jesus taught about the kingdom of God and showed the kingdom's power through deeds of love and mercy. Jesus also set up and commissioned His disciples to follow the example He set for sharing the good news of the kingdom. Romans 10 reveals a glimpse of Paul's heart for evangelism. Paul was the foremost example of evangelism and church planting after Jesus' resurrection. His work spread the church through the known world of his day. Paul echoed Jesus' call for Christians to share the gospel to others.

Points to consider:

✞   God's people are to pray for the world with compassion.

     * How can you be diligent in praying for God to send 

        more workers into the harvest?

     * How can we see evangelism as a privilege?

✞   God's people are to go into the world with assurance.

     * As disciples, what are examples of things we can 

        do to carry out the mission and work of God?

     * How can we take steps toward trusting God in 

        equipping us for evangelism?

✞   God's people are to preach to the world with urgency.

     * Why is it right for God to judge those who reject Him?

     * How can we stress the importance of evangelism to 

        ourselves and others in the church?

week of 2/18

 Unit 30 Session 4

THE CHURCH WORKS TOGETHER

ACTS 4-5

God judged Ananias and Sapphira for lying about the gift they gave, protecting the purity of the early church.

After Peter's preaching and the group's prayer for boldness and for God to act in miraculous ways, the group felt a sense of further oneness, and one of their first actions was to give generously to meet the needs of their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The first picture of generosity was given in Acts 2, where all the believers shared everything they had, even selling their possessions to give to all "as any had need" (v.45). Here in Acts 4, this pattern continued, though not all would be generous.

Points to consider:

✞   God's people practice generosity.

     * How can we, as a body of believers, 

        feel and act more unified?

     * What does it take to sacrifice worldly 

        goods for the sake of needs in the 

        church body?

✞   God's people confront sin.

     * How easy or difficult is it to 

        confront sin in others and why?

     * When confronted with sin, why 

        do we sometimes fall into more 

        sin when we are unrepentant?

✞   God's people display reverence.

     * How do we balance a seriousness 

        for staying away from sin and grace 

        to forgive when sin happens?

     * How can the church instill more 

        understanding of reverent fear of t

        he Lord to its people?

week of 2/10

Unit 30 Session 3

THE CHURCH STANDS FIRM

ACTS 4

When Peter and John were arrested and warned not to preach Jesus, they responded that they could not stop proclaiming the risen Savior.

Much like Jesus Himself, the apostles soon faced hostility from worldly leaders. The Jewish leaders, in particular, were threatened by those who followed Jesus. Jesus' disciples were seen as a rebellious sect who would not submit to the Jewish leaders. In light of the recent healing of the man born lame, Jewish leaders arrested the apostles and questioned them the next day. Peter and John used these questions to once again proclaim the truth about Jesus.

Points to consider:

✞   God's people testify about the risen Savior.

     * How can you more boldly proclaim Christ with 

        the Spirit's power?

✞   God's people refuse to be silenced about 

      the Risen Savior.

     * What happens when we fear people rather 

        than God?

     * What are some ways people face persecution 

        today for telling the good news of Jesus?

✞   God's people pray for boldness to proclaim 

     the risen Savior.

     * How do we cultivate more corporate prayer for 

        the work of God's mission in our lives?

     * What are ways we can respond in obedience to 

        God's plan to bring salvation to others who don't 

        yet know Him?

week of 2/4

Unit 30 Session 2

THE CHURCH MEETS NEEDS

ACTS 3

In healing the man who was lame, Peter and John displayed God's power to him and all those around and pointed to a greater, spiritual healing found in Christ.

As we continue in the book of Acts, we notice brokenness entered the story quickly. The first Christians had been together - sharing their resources and possessions with one another as any had need (Acts 2:42-47). They now moved out into the world, and there they met a man who had been lame from birth. Through this story, we will see how the generosity that marked the people of God in the church spilled over into their care for those on the outside, especially those who were hurting and broken.

Points to consider:

✞   God's people serve others to display God's works.

     * How is our social concern a testimony of our love for 

        Christ?

✞   God's people challenge others to recognize God's Son.

     * How can we remain humble in ministry successes?

     * How can our service point more directly to Jesus?

✞   God's people invite others to experience God's presence.

     * How can we help lead others to repentance?

     * If Christians have been forgiven, why do some often 

        feel weighed down instead of refreshed?

week of 1/28

Unit 30 Session 1

THE CHURCH GROWS

ACTS 2

Both the bold preaching of Peter and the large number of people who trusted in Christ reveal the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of people.

The Holy Spirit came to the first followers of Jesus. They then had the power they needed to take the gospel to the nations (Acts 1:8). This work started with Peter, who boldly and clearly proclaimed the good news about Jesus to the people who had gathered for the Pentecost celebration. God's power through the Holy Spirit was on display, both in the message Peter proclaimed and in the response of those who believed.

Points to consider:

✞   God's people are empowered to proclaim 

     Jesus boldly.

     * What do we learn about what is needed to 

        share the good news of Jesus through Peter's 

        sermon?

     * Why is it important to know our audience to 

        better spread the message of the gospel?

✞   God's people are empowered to call others 

     to repentance.

     * Why do you think Peter combines repentance 

        and baptism as a response to the gospel?

     * How does the Holy Spirit shape your life?

✞   God's people are empowered to live together 

     as one.

     * How can you be part of building up the body in 

        your church?

     * With what attitudes do you perform Christian 

        activity or service?

week of 1/21

Unit 29 Session 4

THE SPIRIT EMPOWERS

JOHN  16 ; ROMANS 8 ; 1 CORINTHIANS 2

The Holy Spirit begins the work of salvation through the ministry of conviction and then continues by guiding the person toward truth and leading those who trust in Christ.

The Old Testament prophets promised a day when the Spirit of God would dwell in God's people (Isaiah 44:1-5; Ezekiel 36:22-32; Joel 2:28-32), and Jesus modeled a life with the Spirit's presence and power (Luke 4:1, 18; Matthew 12:28). Jesus promised that the Spirit would come (John 14:16-17, 26; 16:7) and the church experienced this arrival at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). Today, the Holy Spirit works through all believers, empowering them to live for Christ and assisting them as they proclaim the gospel to all nations.

Points to consider:

✞   The Holy Spirit convicts the world.

     * How is the Holy Spirit a counselor, 

        helper, comforter, and advocate in 

        our everyday life?

     * In what ways have you seen the Holy 

        Spirit drawing others to faith in Christ?

✞   The Holy Spirit guides toward truth.

     * How can we walk in step with the Spirit's 

        guidance?

     * What are you thankful for in regards to 

        the Spirit?

✞   The Holy Spirit leads God's people.

     * How do we put sins to death?

     * How does the knowledge that we are 

        heirs with Christ through adoption by 

        the Holy Spirit give us hope for the future?

week of 1/14

Unit 29 Session 3

THE SPIRIT ENABLES

ACTS 2

The disciples obeyed Jesus and waited for the Holy Spirit to come as promised, an arrival that was marked by great power from God.

For ten days following Christ's ascension to Heaven, the disciples had been in Jerusalem. They were waiting for the Father's promise of the Holy Spirit, which would empower them to be Christ's witnesses to the whole world. During this time, they dedicated themselves to prayer and prepared for the next phase of their ministry by filling Judas' apostolic vacancy with Matthias. Finally, the day arrived, and they were about to experience the power of the Spirit in their lives.

Points to consider:

✞   Jesus' disciples obey Christ.

     * How can knowing that God's 

        timing is always perfect encourage 

        us in our walk of faith?

     * How does obedience to God's Word 

        affect our lives?

✞   Jesus' disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit.

     * Jesus told the disciples that they would experience 

        the baptism of the Holy Spirit. How is the arrival 

        of the Holy Spirit like baptism?

     * Why is it important that Christ's disciples be filled 

        with the Holy Spirit?

✞   Jesus' disciples reveal God's works.

     * How can you develop more relationships 

        with those of various cultures to share 

        the gospel?

     * How should the presence of the Holy Spirit 

        in our lives help us to not fear rejection or 

        hostility when sharing the Gospel with others?