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Old Testament
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ACTS
THE WITNESS OF AND CHALLENGE TO THE CHURCH
LECTURE 20
Students will identify the roles played by Peter, John, Ananias, Sapphira, Barnabas, Gamaliel, the Hellenists and Hebrew widows in the early church.
Content of Lecture
1. The Earliest Days of the Church (TN1)
A. The Coming of the Holy Spirit (2:1-41)
Today's Lecture - Outline of Acts continued
B. A Thesis Paragraph on the State of the Early Church (2:42-47)
A few minutes might be given to reviewing this passage as a basis for discussing characteristics and priorities of the early church.
C. A Crippled Beggar Healed (3:1-26)
1. The Healing(3:1-10)
2. Peter's Sermon(3:11-26)D. Peter and John before the Sanhedrin (4:1-31) (TN2)
1. The Arrest of Peter and John (4:1-7)
2. Peter's Defense and Witness (4:8-12)
3. The Apostles Warned and Released (4:13-22)
4. The Church's Praise and Petition (4:23-31)E. Christian Concern Expressed in Sharing (4:32-5:11)
1. Believers Share Their Possessions (4:32-35)
2. The Generosity of Barnabas (4:36-37)
3. The Deceit of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11) (TN3)F. The Apostles Again Before the Sanhedrin (5:12-42)
1. Miraculous Signs end wonders (5:12-16)
2. The Arrest and Trial of the Apostles (5:17-33)
3. Gamaliel's Wise Counsel of Moderation (5:34-40)
4. The Apostles' Rejoicing and Continued. Ministry (5:41-42)G. The Hellenists' Presence and Problem in the Church (6:1-7) (TN4)
The Hellenists were probably Jewish Christians coming to Jerusalem from the Diaspora and therefore under suspicion because of their speech and background.
Assignment
Read Acts 6:8-12:24 and be able to identify what was controversial about: (a) Stephen's ministry, ((b)) Peter's work with Cornelius, and (c) the developments at Antioch, Syria.
TEACHER'S NOTES
TN Begin class presentation with students responding to questions from the previous assignment.
TN1 The outline shown is a continuation of the outline of Acts taken and adapted from Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 9, pp. 244-245. The previous lecture concluded with the coming of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1-41.
TN 2 Note how the preaching of Peter end John was particularly offensive to the Sadducees. First, in "teaching the people" the apostles were assuming a provocative authority. Second, they were teaching that Jesus, who had been condemned by the Sanhedrin, was resurrected. This would be especially hard for the Sadducees to hear since they did not believe in the doctrine of resurrection.
TN3 Note that Ananias and Sapphira were condemned for lying to the Holy Spirit (5:3) and not because they did not give all their profit to the church. We are not told why they died (whether as a result of Peter's shocking confrontation of God's judgment). Luke's inclusion of this episode underscores the necessity of puny and integrity in the infant Christian movement
TN4 The two-fold problem in the church concerned
(1) tension in the fellowship resulting from discrimination or insensitivity and
(2) pressure on the leadership created by the church growth which placed greater responsibility on the Apostles.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
DQ What kind of problems exist in the modern church which create tension within the fellowship or pressure on the leadership?
DQ Would the selection of individual church members to share the ministry of church leaders be an effective way of addressing contemporary problems in the church?
DQ What would be some challenges and potential benefits of involving the "non-professional" more directly in ministry?
DQ Is the dramatic evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit which was so prominent in the church of Acts, sell apparent in the modern church? Where is there evidence of the Holy Spirit today?
DQ Which of the following characterize the Christian of Acts? Which characterize modern Christianity? Culture-transforming Bold Evangelistic Intense Compassionate-sensitive to human needs Generous Spirit-directed Materialistic Dynamic How do you account for any differences?
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