Week 2: Growing Strong in Jerusalem

As we are studying the book of Acts we are drawing an analogy to the growth cycle of a tree. When a seed is planted it is very vulnerable. Birds could come and snatch it up. Rocky soil or weeds could choke it out and kill it. If the tree is going to survive it must be nurtured and have the proper environment so that it can set its roots and grow strong.

Perhaps you have seen a sapling that is tethered to a pole or to guide wires in order to keep it safe against the wind. Landscape experts will tell you that it is actually dangerous to keep these guides on a tree for too long. The young tree requires exposure to strong winds to be able build up resistance. When it is young, thin, and flexible it will bend in the wind, and in the bending will become strong. Eventually it will grow so thick that the wind will not even affect it. If the guides are kept on the sapling for too long it will become brittle, and when the wind blow, the trunk will break instead of bend.

Think about this statement for a moment: New Growth requires support, Mature Growth requires resistance

Last week we saw the young sapling of the church setting its roots. God allowed the church to experience favor with all the people for a season. They set their roots in the Power of the Spirit, the Proclamation of the Name of Jesus, and the Presence of an authentic community. This week the guide wires have been taken off and the winds begin to blow. Throughout its history the church has been barraged with wave upon wave of persecution and resistance. In Acts 3-5 we witness the first of these waves. It is not very strong. It is just enough to wake up the community to reality, and deepen their faith.

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Acts 3

What did the crippled man expect to get from Peter and John?

What did he get instead?

How did this event affect the crowd in Jerusalem?

Create an outline of Peter’s message in vv. 12-26.

What was the key to the man’s healing?

What would happen if the people repented?

What connection is there between Jesus and the promise God made to Abraham?

Notes, Observations, Questions

Power

A wonderful and amazing event happened in this passage. The name of Jesus healed a man that had been born a cripple. Peter and John didn’t have any money to give him, but what they did have blew him away. They had the healing and transforming power of God coursing through them. When he encountered this power he was changed physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

We said that this event was “wonderful” and “amazing.” What do those words really mean? In our culture we use these terms loosely. When we step off of a roller coaster we say that it was amazing. When we see a nice movie we hail it as “wonderful.” Yet, is that really what the words meant in the 1 st century? In v. 10 it says that when the people saw the healed man they were filled with “wonder” and “amazement.”

The word “wonder” is the Greek word “thambos” and has the sense of being filled with awe to the point of trembling and fear. Interestingly, in Mark 10:32ff, after Jesus had just laid out the harsh truth to the Rich Young Man, the disciples experienced “thambos” at his teaching. The band of disciples sobered up as Jesus spelled out his intense plan of self-sacrifice to them. In the Biblical sense, to be “wonderful” does not mean to be warm and fuzzy and make us feel comfortable. It means to be full of things that are so beyond our comprehension that we are full of awe and wonder in the face of their reality.

The word “amazement” is the translation of the Greek word “ekstasis.” This word might sound familiar. From it we get the word “ecstatic.” When someone is ecstatic they are “out of their mind.” Sometimes, in the Greek world, it was actually used to describe a person who was, indeed, insane – or out of their mind. In other cases, however, the same word is used to describe people who had “supra-rational” spiritual experiences in which they were “out of their mind.” In other words, they were caught up into a state of consciousness that was obviously beyond their own rational ability and was obviously coming from an external source. When Peter saw his vision in Acts 10 he was in an ecstatic state (“trance” in the NIV is translating “ekstasis”) When Paul was praying in Acts 22 he was in a similar ecstatic state when the Lord spoke to him and told him to leave the city. When the people of Jerusalem witnessed this healing they became ecstatic.

Based upon these definitions we must conclude that saying the people were filled with wonder and amazement does not mean that they said, “Wow, that was really cool…I wonder if the concession stand is still open.” No. They were deeply moved to the point of being changed. They had encountered the mighty power of the Almighty God. They had touched the hem of the garment of Grace, and in the touching they were changed.

How often do we experience the wonder of God in our lives?

Purpose

The miraculous healing opened a door for Peter to, once again, proclaim the Gospel to the citizens of Jerusalem. It is important to note the significant role that this message plays in the story line of Acts. Chapters 3-5 parallel the ministry of Jesus, and especially the early part of his ministry. Jesus first came to present the Kingdom of God to the Jews for they were the rightful inheritors of the Kingdom. Centuries before God had promised Abraham that he would use Abraham’s family to be the conduit of blessing for the entire world. The leaders of Jerusalem officially rejected Jesus’ offer. Now, Peter, being the representative of the God of second chances, is, once again, offering the Kingdom of God to the Jews. He reminded them (v. 25) that they were the heirs to the promise. That promise was fulfilled in Jesus, and through him the Kingdom of God has been established on the Earth. Only they need to do is repent of their lack of faith, be baptized into the new order, and they will enter into his Kingdom.

As is the case whenever the clean and clear truth is boldly proclaimed, the city was polarized. Many flocked to the light of this truth. Others, however, were hardened and began to plot against the church, just as they had plotted against Jesus.

Just For Kids

Let’s do an experiment. Tie your shoelaces together and try to walk across the room. Is it hard?

Now imagine what it must have felt like to have had crippled legs for your entire life. How must the man in the story felt about himself? How do you think he felt about God?

Now, try to imagine how he must have felt when he was instantly able to walk.

In v. 16 what did Peter say was the key to this man’s healing?

Do you believe that Jesus is powerful enough to do something wonderful like that today? Why or why not?

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Tuesday

Acts 4:1-22

Who came up to Peter and John?

**Please note that these three groups all share a common bond in the Temple. For them, the rituals of sacrifice and temple worship were the center of their understanding of God.

Read Luke 20:27 to find an important fact about these people. How does this fact impact their view of Peter’s message about Jesus?

Why were they upset with Peter and John? (v. 2)

In vv. 8-12 we read Peter’s third great message of the Gospel. As he presents the truth to the leaders in Jerusalem he quotes Psalm 118:22. Read the following verses and try to discover the meaning of the “stone” in this message.

Isaiah 28:16

Zechariah 3:9

Matthew 21:42-44

1 Peter 2:6-8

Romans 9:33

How did the leaders respond to Peter and John? What did they tell them to do (or not to do)? Why?

What was Peter and John’s response to the leaders’ instructions? Why?

Notes, Observations, Questions

We Can’t Help It!

Let’s zone in on one simple phrase that is found in v. 20.

“For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Have you ever wondered why many Christians, perhaps even you, struggle with being afraid to share your faith or to speak boldly about Jesus to people who do not know him? There are many reasons, and it would not be fair to paint with too broad a brush on this topic. However, let’s just entertain one possibility for a moment. Perhaps we are fearful and timid in our witness because we simply have never really experienced anything worth talking about. Or, the experience of life change that we had when we first came to Jesus has faded from our memory, leaving us with nothing more than a lifeless set of ideas that sit dormant in our soul. For many of us our faith is more of a notion that makes sense to our minds, or is a tradition that feels comfortable to us, than it is a reality that has a dynamic, transforming impact in our daily lives.

For example, perhaps you have experienced something like this. There is a movie that you’ve heard people talk about. The reports have been that it is a great movie that will impact you deeply. When you hear the reports you may be intrigued, or even excited, but it is not real. You may tell people about this movie you’ve heard about, but the conversation will be casual. Then, one day, you get a chance to see the movie for yourself. During the viewing your heart is gripped and your adrenaline starts flying. When you exit the theatre things are different. If you truly believed it was a great movie, then the next time you talk about it you will be a different person. You will be passionate about how great it is and be able to give descriptions of your favorite scenes. Your enthusiasm may inspire someone else to see the movie. What is different? You’ve experienced it, it changed you, and you can’t help but to talk about it. It is now a part of who you are.

While discussing a movie is a weak analogy that pales in comparison to the story of the apostles, the point is still valid. The reason Peter and the others were able to stand before their accusers and defy their threats was simple. They hadn’t been coached by an evangelism trainer. They hadn’t received a degree in theology. They had simply been transformed by the power of God. It was real to them and they couldn’t help but to talk about it.

Today, perhaps you could spend some time praying and asking God to show his power in your life in a way that makes it real for you. Or, perhaps you could ask him to help you see the power that is at work in and through you that you are not recognizing as the hand of God.

If our church is full of the life-changing power of God, then we won’t be able to help but to tell everyone about it. When that happens we might find that people start bringing their sick and crippled to us to experience the same power in their lives. Prepare yourself to be used by God.

Just For Kids

What does it mean to be rejected? Have you ever been rejected by someone? What did that feel like? Why?

Look up the word “capstone.” What does it mean? What part does it play in a building?

Do you remember the story of the ugly duckling? When he was a baby chick, he was rejected by his brothers and sisters. He was ridiculed and told that he would amount to nothing. In the end, what happened? He became a beautiful swan.

Jesus’ story is something like that. In our reading today we could say it is the story of the ugly stone, instead of the ugly duckling.

The people of Israel rejected Jesus and didn’t think he fit anywhere in the Kingdom of God. In the end, it turns out that he not only fit in, but was the actual capstone of the Kingdom.

Spend some time memorizing Acts 2:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” This is a very important verse to know about the importance that Jesus plays in the world.

Perhaps you could write the verse out on the board, say it out loud together a few times, and then start erasing one or two words at a time until you can say the whole verse with no helps.

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Wednesday

Acts 4:23-35

What attitude did the disciples have toward God in v. 24?

What question did David ask in vv. 25-26 (Read Psalm 2 for the full context)? Why? How would you describe his emotions in this question?

Who appointed the enemies of Jesus to conspire against Him? (vv. 27-28)

What did the disciples ask God to do for them? (vv. 29-30)

Question to ponder: in v. 31, why was there a shaking and a filling? Weren’t they already filled in Acts 2? What are some possible explanations for this?

vv. 32-35 form the second “portrait” of the first church. Compare this passage with Acts 2:42-47. What is similar? What is different? What is the main attribute of this community that stands out in your mind? Why?

Powerful Prayer

When the disciples walked with Jesus they asked if he would teach them how to pray. The model prayer that he gave them is found in Matthew 6. The basic outline of the prayer is this:

Father, you are the almighty, and I’m not.

It is your Kingdom, and your plan, help me to get in step with you.

Give me my daily Bread

Keep me from evil.

In today’s reading we see the first example of the disciples praying this prayer in a real life circumstance. The church had just experienced their wave of resistance. The religious leaders, their spiritual fathers, had rejected them, accused them of being God-haters, and threatened them with harm if they did not cease and desist. Imagine the emotional turmoil they must have felt in the wake of this rejection. Most of us cannot grasp the level of the seismic shock they were experiencing in the fabric of their worldview. They thought they were serving God, yet the people who claimed to be God’s representatives told them they were evil. To say the least, they were confused and were most probably struggling with fear and doubt.

Notice what happens, though. They pray. In their prayer they follow the pattern of the master. In this prayer we can learn three important attitudes that we should have in the face of difficult circumstances.

It’s God’s plan, not ours

They addressed God as Sovereign Lord. He is the creator of all things. We must never forget that nothing is too big for God. Nothing takes him by surprise. He doesn’t sit way off in Heaven and think, “Whoa, I didn’t see that one coming…now what am I going to do?” No matter how terrible things may get – crucifying your leader, arresting and beating your pastor, losing your job, suffering injustice, etc. – God is in control and does actually have a plan at work.

It’s OK to emote to God

They quoted the greatest whiner in the Bible; David. Sometimes we can get this notion that good Christians don’t experience fear and doubt. Of course we do, we are human beings. The goal is not to be devoid of emotion like some kind of Vulcan guru. Rather, the goal is to follow the example of David; the man after God’s own heart. David was not afraid to openly express his fear, doubt, confusion, and anger to God. He also wasn’t afraid to express it in the forum of his community. After all, we read his heart-journal every time we open the Psalms. Yet, what is different about David as opposed to the average Joe is that David didn’t vent for the sake of venting. David brought his emotions to God, authentically expressed them, and then allowed God’s truth to pour in, flush them out, and leave him with a sense of peace and perspective at the end of the cathartic process. Just study David’s Psalms for a while and you will see that pattern emerge.

The disciples did the same thing. They were confused about the resistance they were experiencing and they expressed their emotion to God. Then they allowed God to deliver them from the fear and confusion and replace it with peace, joy, and perspective.

It’s God’s Work, not our strength

Once they were recalibrated to the plan and perspective of God (thy Kingdom come, thy will be done) then they were able to ask for the proper things. They didn’t ask for vengeance. They didn’t ask for God to remove their obstacles. They simply asked that God would empower them to be courageous conduits of the work that he wanted to do through them. It isn’t about us. It isn’t about our ability to strategically map out a plan to overthrow the enemy and rescue souls. It is simply about surrendering to the will of God and not allowing fear to inhibit us from being the conduit of his power through our lives.

A Booster Shot

Notice what happens after they pray. They experience another, mini, Day of Pentecost experience. The room shook and they were filled with the Spirit. Why did this happen? Hadn’t they already received the Spirit? Had they lost the Spirit? People will debate the answer to those questions until we get to Heaven.

Here is one thought. Perhaps this experience was God’s way of saying, “Don’t worry guys, I’m still with you. You may have been afraid, and you may have been confused, but you passed the first test with flying colors. Here’s a little encouragement and a turbo booster to keep you going.”

Just For Kids

Note to parents: Before you read this to the kids, be sure to get set up before hand.

Find your favorite, parent-approved snack. Make sure there is enough for everyone.

Before you pass out the snack randomly choose (flip a coin or something like that) 25-30% of your kids who will not receive any snacks at the time you pass out the snack. When you first say that it is time to pass them out, don’t give any to those kids who were chosen. See what the reactions are and be ready to teach to them!

It’s snack time at Bible Study!! Let’s pass out some snacks before we read the lesson.

Read Acts 4:32-35. What were the people in that church like? How did they treat each other?

When the snacks were passed out how did the kids who got some feel? How did the kids who didn’t get any feel?

According to our passage, what should you do about the fact that some kids have a snack and the others don’t? Why?

Do you see any ways in your church where some people are in need and others have too much? Think of ways that your church could learn to be better about sharing.

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Thursday

Acts 4:36-5:11

Was it required for Annanias and Sapphira to sell their possessions and give it to the collective fund?

What, then, was the actual offense that Annanias and Sapphira committed? Why was this so bad?

Who was the instigator behind this act?

To whom did they lie?

Read Deuteronomy 6:13-25 (The incident at Massah is when the Israelites whined about not having anything to drink in Exodus 16) Do you see a correlation between the story of Annanias and Sapphira with the children of Israel under Moses’ leadership? Is so, what?

What effects did this incident have on the church in Jerusalem? Do you see this as a positive or negative thing? Why?

What are some ways in which we could get tempted to “test the Spirit” in our own lives?

How could we guard against this?

Holy Spirit

Within this story is nestled a significant theological truth. The Holy Spirit is God. Throughout the Bible there is evidence that God exists as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Many Christians (and opponents of the Christian faith) have argued over whether the Holy Spirit is a separate person like the Father and the Son, or if the Spirit is simply the “energy” that emanates from the Father and the Son. This passage shows us two important points about the identity of the Holy Spirit.

1. The Spirit is a person. You can’t lie to an energy emanation. Yet, Annanias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a personality with which we can have a relationship.
2. The Spirit is God. Notice that Peter interchanges the words. He said that Annanias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit, and in so doing they lied to God.

So, what difference does the knowledge of this make in our lives? It is vital for us to realize that the conduit of intimate relationship with God is the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Father is the Almighty “other than” aspect of God. In His presence we can only tremble and fall on our faces. He loves us, but he is “out there.” The Son is no longer physically present on the Earth. We can’t know him like the disciples did. It is the Holy Spirit that is our intimate ally the dwells within our own Spirit. We are one with God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) because we have the interface with the Spirit. Someday we will be fully united with the fullness of God, but for now we have our intimacy with the Spirit. Praise the Father, that because of his love for us, and through the sacrificial work of the Son, and the power of his name, we have been given the person of the Holy Spirit to live with us and walk with us in every moment of our human experience. Just soak and marvel in that today.

Holy Fear

When a parent trains a small child there is a certain amount of pain involved. The pain exists on both sides of the equation. Here’s how it works. Out of love the parent establishes boundaries to protect the child from foolishness. Out of pride and ignorance the child pushes the boundaries. Out of love the parent inflicts pain into the child’s life to reinforce the boundaries. In the inflicting of pain, the parent feels pain because nobody likes pain. Unfortunately, a small child is not mature enough to understand logical arguments for the establishment of healthy boundaries and can only understand the concrete language of pain.

We can see this parenting pattern throughout the History of God’s parenting techniques as he raised up his child called the Nation of Israel. When God established his Law in the Old Testament for the infant nation, he enforced it quickly and severely with catastrophic events. From our perspective it may seem like God is an evil ogre who only wants to hurt people and steal their fun. (What kid actually thinks their Dad is a nice guy when the swats are being administered, eh?) Yet, now, we can actually see the love and Grace of God even in those extremely painful events.

Today we see this same pattern. Jesus was the new Moses. He came to give a new Law. He didn’t write the law of external behaviors on tablets of stone; he wrote the law of internally transforming love on the tablets of people’s hearts. It is the law of love and Grace. And yet, it is still a law and it is still enforced by the same God who gave the Law to Moses.

One of the most dangerous aspects of Grace is that it can be easily taken for granted and manipulated by evil intent. We have been given great freedom, but that freedom was not given for the purpose of self-indulgence. We have been given freedom to be the open conduit of God’s love through us, in total Surrender to God’s will.

When Annanias and Sapphira tried to manipulate the freedom that they experienced in the “New Order,” God, the Father of this young society, had to establish his authority and strike a healthy dose of Holy Fear into the ranks.

Our society that touts “freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as the highest of all moral values shies away from the notion of a God who can illicit fear in the ranks. We immediately think of the images of millions of Muslims bowing in fear before Allah that we have seen on the nightly news. We don’t want anything to do with a God who would punish. We want a kinder, gentler God. Let’s get one thing straight. Don’t mess with God. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same God who opened up the crevice to swallow up the clan of Achan is the same God who poured out the Holy Spirit on the church.

It would do us well to be reminded time and again that God will not be mocked. Let’s never be flippant with our worship or with our attitudes toward Him. He is the Almighty, Loving, Heavenly Father who loves enough to discipline his children in order to protect them from themselves.

Just For Kids

Do you like it when your parents punish you when you disobey them? Why?

How do you feel when one of your siblings or a friend is punished when they have disobeyed?

What did Annanias and Sapphira do wrong in the story? How did God feel about it? What happened to them?

Do you think other people in the church were tempted to try the same trick that Annanias and Sapphira did? Why?

God loves us very much, and, just like our parents, sometimes it is necessary for him to punish his children when they disobey him. Spend some time talking about why it is necessary for there to be “justice” in a family and in a society.

For example: What would happen if there were no laws and people were allowed to steal and kill whenever they want? What would life be like?

Remember, it is a good thing to have a little bit of Holy Fear when we think about the Almighty, All-powerful God. It is also good to remember that, although God is almighty, he is our loving Father who would never do anything to harm us, only to correct us and teach us how to love him more deeply.

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Friday

Acts 5:12-42

vv. 12-16 forms the third “portrait” of the first church in Jerusalem. Compare and contrast this passage with Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35. What stands out to you about this current description of the church?

What was the result of the presence of this church? (vv. 15-16)

What attitude did the leaders of the religious establishment have towards the church? Why?

How were John and Peter released?

What stance did Peter take in defense of their disobedience (why did they do it)? (vv. 20-32)

Restate Gamaliel’s argument in your own words. (vv. 34-39)

For what reason did the apostles rejoice? (v. 41)

Drawn to the Light

We can consider vv. 12-16 as the continuation of the portrait that Luke began to paint of the church in 4:32. It’s as if Luke interjected the story of Annanias and Sapphira as a colorful, yet important, side note in the middle of the description.

Here is one simple observation from this portion of the portrait. When the church was courageous enough to be the church, to be filled with God’s might presence, even in the face of adversity, then people were drawn to it. They didn’t go out and get people ramped up to come to their meetings. They simply WERE the church. When something is real, then people notice. There was power there and people from all over the region began flocking to them to tap into it. Let’s remember the simple overflow principle. If we keep first things first, create the space in our hearts for the Holy Spirit to have freedom to transform us, then God will overflow from our authentic self and people will encounter the power of God in us. They will either be drawn to it, or they will hate it. But that is not up to us to decide or to worry about.

Delightful Disgrace

When was the last time you rejoiced over being disgraced? Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could get to a place where our highest priority was to be the light of God’s power in our world? Wouldn’t it be great if the fear of rejection, of looking stupid, of losing our position in society, would not choke out the life-giving flowers of God’s Kingdom that long to burst out in a beautiful bouquet in our lives?

Perhaps you could pray a dangerous prayer today. “Lord, please give me the courage to be able to rejoice in suffering disgrace for the sake of your Name.”

Just For Kids

Tell about a time when you were really embarrassed.

Look up the word disgrace. What does it mean?

Why do you think the apostles were happy about being disgraced in front of everyone in Jerusalem?

In our world there are a lot of people who do not like Jesus. These people even want to hurt or disgrace others who do love and follow Jesus. How would you feel if someone tried to make you look stupid or kept you from having freedom just because you loved and talked openly about Jesus?

While we do not usually experience these things in our country, it is important to remember that right now there are people who are in prison simply because they love Jesus. Take some time to pray for those people, and ask God to help you be sure that you would have a joyful attitude, even if people tried to disgrace you for Jesus’ sake.

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