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?