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?