week of 4/28

Unit 32 Session 4

IMPRISONED FOR THE GOSPEL

ACTS 12

God responded to the church's prayers and delivered Peter from prison.

A year had passed since Peter's appeal to the Jerusalem church to accept God's salvation of the Gentiles. Luke provided a few details of this time, including the fact that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26). The stoning of Stephen caused many Christ-followers to scatter to avoid persecution. Their relocation served as a catalyst to spread the gospel message beyond the mostly Jewish religions surrounding Jerusalem. But persecution continued. Yet God remained faithful in delivering His people.

Points to consider:

✞   Praying to the Lord for Deliverance

     * How can we cultivate more prayer 

        in our lives?

     * When trials come our way, how 

        does prayer help?

✞   Following the Lord for Deliverance

     * What truths about God do you think 

        Peter clung to while he awaited 

        his trial?

     * How can we grow in our trust in God 

        that we can have peace even when 

        things don't seem to go the way 

        we expect?

✞   Praising the Lord for Deliverance

     * Why are there times when we 

        pray for something and yet doubt 

        that it could happen?

     * How can we be encouraged by 

        the suffering and deliverance 

        of God's people around us and 

        throughout the world?

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?