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?

week of 1/7

Unit 29 Session 2

THE WAITING COMMENCES

ACTS 1

The disciples chose Matthias to replace Judas in accordance with the Scriptures and God's leading.

After Jesus explained to the disciples that they would bear witness from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, Jesus ascended to Heaven. As the disciples watched where Jesus had gone, two angels appeared and assured them of Christ's return. All of this led to today's text, where we see the disciples obeyed Christ's command to wait as they prepared for the ministry that would follow when the Holy Spirit arrived.

Points to consider:

✞   Jesus' disciples unite in prayer.

     * Why is it sometimes hard to be 

        obedient to Jesus?

     * How has praying with others helped 

        you to deepen your sense of connection 

        with God and with your community of 

        believers?

✞   Jesus' disciples follow the Scriptures.

     * How does believing the Word of God is 

        true affect how we live?
     * What are ways we can learn to obey 

        Scripture more on a daily basis?

✞   Jesus' disciples trust in God.

     * When making a major decision, 

        what are some helpful tips to 

        help make the right decision?
     * When in your life have you asked 

        for God's leading, He answered, 

        but you didn't want to obey and 

        follow?