Acts 3

Study Guide 118: Acts 1-4 THE ADVENTURE BEGINS Overview The “ New Testament church” has fascinated Christians through the ages. The excitement, the vitality, the depth of fellowship portrayed in early Acts has attracted us. Many have sought to recapture those days: some by a reemphasis on the Spirit, others by restructuring the church as an institution. No one can duplicate any moment in history. Yet as we study these first chapters of Acts we do discover principles which will vitalize Christian experience. We probably will not need to abandon our old. But we will need to make a fresh commitment to the God who worked so powerfully in the men and women of the early church. He lives today, and He is fully able to work just as powerfully in us. FILLED. The events at Pentecost have been the focus of much theological debate. The text says the Holy Spirit filled the followers of Jesus. Specific signs were associated with that particular filling. There was a rushing, violent wind. Visible tongues of fire rested on each person. And when a crowd gathered each foreigner heard Jesus’ followers “ speaking in his own native language” (Acts 2:8). To understand the works of the Spirit it is important not to identify the Spirit’ s “ filling,” or the Spirit’ s “ baptism,” with any one of these signs. “ Filling” is not itself tongues, or visible fire. For definition we have to go to key passages in the New Testament epistles.

Commentary I remember very clearly walking with five-year-old Paul the day he started kindergarten in Dallas, Texas. Paul was proud and excited — his first day at school! How grown-up he felt, and how grown-up and confident he looked. He was taking an important step into life’ s great adventure. Each of us has times like this. For parent and child such moments are a strange mixture of excitement and loss. A whole phase of life is being left behind. We move on, sad, and yet somehow happy to meet the unknown. It must have been very much like this for both Jesus and the disciples after Christ’ s resurrection. Their years together were past. The agony of the cross was history, swallowed up in the joy of Resurrection. During the 40 days after Christ rose, as Jesus still met with the disciples, both the Lord and the 11 must have been torn. Both knew the disciples would soon be launched on the greatest adventure the world has ever known, stepping out into the unknown to share Jesus with their whole world. They may have desperately wanted Jesus to remain with them. Yet, deep inside, the disciples must have known that they had been prepared for just this mission. They stood poised, hesitating, and yet eager to move on.

A New Focus While the faith of Israel served as a foundation for the new faith about to break on a world unaware, what would happen during the months and years ahead was unknown to the disciples. This must have been hard for them. Usually we’ re most comfortable in familiar surroundings and situations. We can see this in the disciples. For 40 days Jesus spoke with them about His Father’ s intention to build His own kingdom in man’ s world. Jesus also encouraged His disciples: “ Wait for the gift My Father promised. . . . In a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5). Jesus did not push His followers unprepared into an adventure too great for them; He reminded them that He had promised them power. Even so, the disciples still looked longingly at the old patterns of thought and life. “ Lord,” they asked, “ are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) This was a revealing and an important question. The Old Testament had foretold Jesus’ coming, but the dominant impression the Jews had received was of His coming to be their King. They had visions of the Messiah rescuing them from Gentile dominion and giving them the exalted political and military position promised by the Old Testament prophets. Jesus’ death had been doubly shocking to His followers. Not only had they loved Him, but they had also firmly expected Him to crush Rome’ s political and military power and to establish Israel as the dominant world power. The believing Jews in Old Testament times knew that God rules over the whole world of men. Therefore, His sovereignty over history itself was recognized. But the Old Testament saint longed for the day when the hidden authority of Yahweh would be revealed to all, when the Lord’ s Messiah would rule visibly over the world of men. So even the Twelve who were closest to Jesus were disappointed as He continued to teach and preach and heal instead of confronting the Roman Empire. Jesus had gently taught His followers that the Old Testament also spoke of the Messiah suffering and dying for men’ s sins. Christ’ s ministry was leading Him to a cross rather than a crown. But up to the very end, the disciples still had visions of their Camelot: a New Jerusalem, with Jesus (and themselves) ruling the world. The death of Jesus had crushed that hope momentarily. But when Jesus arose, the vision of power and glory again caught and held their imaginations. “ Are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” clearly reflects their longing for the life they had dreamed of so long. Jesus’ answer was gentle (Acts 1:7-8). First He pointed out that the prophesied kingdom would come, but that its coming was distant rather than “ at this time.” God will keep His promises, and this world will know Jesus’ rule. But for now life is to have a different focus for Jesus’ followers. That focus, stated in utmost simplicity, is this: “ You will be My witnesses.” Jesus Himself is the focus, the center of the believer’ s life. The meaning of our lives, the reason that our time on earth can be a great adventure, is summed up in the fact that Jesus is real, and that our every action can be a clear demonstration of the vital impact of the living God on human experience. This was something that the disciples had not yet grasped, but soon would. Jesus, living within them, would Himself transform their experience. Then everything they were as individuals and as a community would witness to His presence. These words, “ You will be My witnesses,” were the last ones Jesus spoke to the 11. As a silent crowd of disciples watched, Jesus rose up, soaring away until the clouds hid Him from sight. Two angelic messengers completed Christ’ s answer to the earlier question. “ This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). This present time, during which the focus of our lives and the heart of our adventure with God is summed up in Jesus, will come to an end. As Old Testament days came to an end in the cross, our age will come to an end when Jesus returns — to establish the kingdom promised in the Old. Yes, that day will come. But for then the disciples had to turn away from the Mount of Ascension and return to Jerusalem to see what new thing God had in store. There they waited, gathering for prayer. Waiting for a challenge, and a joy, that they could not yet imagine! LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT As you deal with the disciples’ question about Jesus’ intention to restore the kingdom “ now,” you may wish to copy and distribute the chart (below) which summarizes the basic relationships between the Old Testament and New. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN Jesus told the disciples what He wanted them to do. They were to be witnesses “ in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Each Christian can witness to Jesus. To help boys and girls think about how they too can show love for Jesus, draw four concentric circles. Label the inner one Jerusalem, the next Judea, the next Samaria, and the last “ Ends of the earth.” Explain that Jerusalem was home to the disciples (re-label the inner circle “ home” ). Re-label the next circles too: Judea is neighbors, Samaria strangers, and “ Ends of the earth” other countries. Help your boys and girls think how they can show Jesus’ love in their homes, to neighbors, to strangers, and to people in foreign countries. List their ideas on the chalkboard. You may want to have boys and girls make a “ witnesses” booklet, with a “ home” first page, on through “ other countries.” Each can draw a picture of himself or herself doing one thing from the list of ways to show others we love Jesus. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN A simple project can serve as a reminder to young children that Jesus who went to heaven will return. Give each a piece of construction paper. Punch and reinforce two holes, one at the top and the other at the bottom. Let the children decorate with a crayoned hillside at the bottom, and clouds at the top. Place a loop of yarn through the holes. Tape or staple a picture of Jesus to the yarn. By pulling on the back of the loop, the figure will move up from the hill to the clouds, or down from the clouds. Your children can print “ Jesus will come back (Acts 1:11) “ on their projects as a reminder of Christ’ s promised return.

Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments Unity: in ultimate goal, the “ glory of God.” Divergence: in emphasis Old TestamentNew Testament Theocratic purposeSoteriological purpose

1. God will rule the world through the Jewish Messiah’ s reign.1. God will save individuals and society through the Jewish Messiah’ s work.
2. The nation Israel is emphasized.2. The believing individual and community (the church) are emphasized. Harmony: in teachings The theocratic emphasis of the Old does not rule out concern for individuals (see Daniel 4:1-37; Ezekiel 18:1-32; Nahum 1:6-7; Jonah 4:1-11).The revelation of the fullness of God’ s salvation as it relates to individual transformation does not abrogate the emphasis of the Old (see Acts 1:1-26; Rom. 9-11). Unification: in Christ Jesus, the promised King of the Old Testament prophets, is also the Redeemer of the New Testament! In His person all of God’ s purposes will be fulfilled. The Day: Acts 2:1-21The days of waiting passed (Acts 1:12-26). The little company of believers, numbering about 120, met daily. On one of these days, they chose Matthias to take the office which Judas had abandoned by his betrayal of Jesus. Judas, overcome with remorse and yet unwilling to turn to Jesus for pardon, had thrown the 30 pieces of silver for which he betrayed the Lord down on the temple floor and, rushing out, had hanged himself. Now another must take his office as an apostle. Searching among those who had been with Jesus since the beginning of His ministry and who had also been witnesses to the Resurrection, the little company found two candidates. Following an Old Testament practice, they then let God choose between the two by casting lots (much like our drawing of straws). The company of the Apostles was thus returned to its original number of 12. Apostles. The word apostle means “ one sent out.” In secular Greek it often referred to a ship or naval force sent on an expedition, seldom to an individual. Yet the word was chosen by Jewish translators of the Old Testament to reflect a Hebrew word that referred to one acting as another’ s representative. In the New Testament the word is found 10 times in the Gospels, 28 times in Acts, and 38 times in the epistles, usually referring to men appointed by Christ for a special function in the church. While these men are primarily the Twelve and Paul, others are also called apostles. There is no doubt that the apostles were given special authority and power. Not only were they witnesses to the events of Jesus’ life, but they were also authoritative interpreters of those events. As the body of apostolic teaching grew, it became clear that the church was being “ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 2:20). There is no indication in Scripture that the loyal apostles were replaced by others as they died (cf. Acts 12:2). As witnesses and interpreters of the purposes of God in the early days of the church, the apostles stand unique. But as witnesses to the reality of Jesus, the apostles were about to enter into an adventure which they share with all Jesus’ followers of every age. And then the day arrived. Pentecost (Acts 2:1). The Feast of Pentecost was one of the three annual Old Testament celebrations during which the men of Israel came to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. It was a time when Jews from around the world gathered in their ancient homeland and offered sacrifice to the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. Pentecost was a harvest festival, coming at the time of the grain harvest, just 50 days after Passover. Each year the firstfruits of the harvest were offered with joy and thanksgiving, accompanied by the recitation of Deuteronomy 26:3-10 by the worshiper. Pentecost was clearly God’ s choice time for the initiation of Jesus’ followers into their great adventure. Just 50 days before, Jesus Himself had been crucified — and raised again. Now, as an indication of the great harvest of everlasting life that Jesus’ death had won, the 120 believers were about to be touched by the Spirit of God. They were to be the first of a vast multitude, the first of millions upon millions who would follow them into a unique relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The choice of Pentecost was also an indication of the meaning of that new relationship for believers. The first words the Old Testament worshiper uttered at the Pentecost service were these: I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come to the land the Lord swore to our forefathers to give us. Deuteronomy 26:3I declare that I have entered in! This is just what Pentecost meant to the first disciples, and what it should mean to us. Through Jesus, we have entered into everything the Promised Land foreshadowed; we are now free to experience the fullness of all the good things the Lord our God has chosen to give men. And God’ s first gift was the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-21). The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit as a Person, an individual distinct from and yet One with the Father and the Son. As God, the Holy Spirit had various relationships with men in Old Testament times. But the Old Testament also spoke of a coming day when God would enter into a new and special relationship with those who believe. Jesus had spoken often of this. Christ looked forward to a day when He would be back with the Father, and the Spirit “ whom those who believed in Him were later to receive,” would be given (John 7:39). The promised Spirit was to teach and guide believers (Deuteronomy 14:16) and, according to Jesus’ final promise, to bring power for that new kind of life which bears witness to Jesus’ reality (Acts 1:8). In that day, Jesus had said, the Spirit would not simply be “ with” the disciples, but “ in” them! (John 14:17) And Pentecost was the promised day! The Bible tells us that the Spirit’ s coming into believers was unmistakably marked. A mighty wind seemed to rush through the room where the 120 gathered; flames of fire flickered over each head; and as the Spirit filled them, individuals began to speak in languages they did not know. This drew a great crowd of the men who had come to Jerusalem for the Pentecost festival. Each person heard the disciples speaking in the language of the land where he was presently living. “ How is it,” wondered the visitors, “ that each of us hears them in his own native language? . . . We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:8, Acts 2:11) Perplexed and amazed, they asked each other, “ What does this mean?” (Deuteronomy 26:12) All too often that same question is asked today — without listening to Peter’ s response to those first questioners. All too often the answer given is designed to argue for or against the existence of what has been called “ the gift of tongues” in our day. Whatever our opinion might be as to whether God still gives believers this gift, the important point underlined by Pentecost is that now, at last, the Holy Spirit is given! And this was Peter’ s response to those who demanded an explanation of the disciples: “ This is what was spoken by the Prophet Joel: “ In the last days,” God says, “ I will pour out My Spirit on all people.” Acts 2:16-17That great gift which God had reserved till the last days was being poured out freely now. All were to know the touch of the Spirit of God; both daughters and sons would be empowered by Him. Most significant of all, in that day on which the Spirit of God would flow out to touch and fill God’ s own, “ everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). God was moving out beyond the boundaries of Israel to offer to all people that relationship with Himself which is at the heart of eternal life. The disciples themselves did not understand just then all that the Spirit’ s coming meant. They didn’ t see Pentecost as the beginning of the church, as it later came to be understood. They did not realize that the Holy Spirit, living in each believer, would Himself constitute a living link binding each individual to other believers, to form a vital, loving community. But they did know that God’ s new day was now! They did know that the Holy Spirit had filled them with Jesus’ promised power. And they did begin immediately to explain the striking witness that the rushing wind and the flames and the tongues had given to every observer of the reality of God’ s presence in these set-apart men. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT In a minilecture explain the Old Testament Day of Pentecost, reading Deuteronomy 26:3-10. Then ask your group members to read Acts 2:1-21 to discover (1) how Peter explained the events of this particular Pentecost, and (2) the implications of the event that are spelled out by the Prophet Joel.

The Message: Acts 2:22-3:26 Jesus’ last instructions had been to focus on Himself: “ You will be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8). Acts 2:1-47 and Acts 3:1-26 show how clearly the early disciples maintained that focus. The two sermons of Peter recorded here give us a clear picture of the apostolic message and the very heart of the Gospel. What were the basic elements of the apostolic preaching?

1. Jesus, the historical Person. In each sermon Peter began by confronting his hearers with the Person who had lived among them; who was born, lived, performed His wonders, and taught in our space and time, “ as you yourselves know” (Acts 2:22). This was no mythical person, no invention of disciples parlaying the ignorance of gullible crowds into the beginnings of a new religion. Everyone knew Jesus. He had been a public figure, a chief topic of conversation for at least three years. Just 50 days before, He had been executed at the insistence of the Jewish leaders, with crowds of the common people shouting for His blood. Peter’ s words, “ As you yourselves know,” made it very clear. The Gospel is firmly rooted in historical reality. And all Peter’ s hearers knew perfectly well who the historical Jesus was.
2. Crucified. A second element of the apostolic preaching involved confronting the hearers with the crucifixion of Jesus, and even confronting them with their own guilt: “ You . . . put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross” (Acts 2:23).
3. Raised. A third element also involved the statement of historical fact: Jesus was loosed from death’ s bonds and raised up by God, and “ we are all witnesses of the fact” (Acts 2:32).
4. Correspondence with Old Testament prophecy. Peter then went on to point out that each of these historical events happened as God had foretold in the Old Testament. Rather than being a threat to the integrity of God’ s Word, Jesus and the events of His life and death and resurrection are foretold there. What Peter proclaimed was in fullest harmony with God’ s total revelation.
5. The promised Messiah. Peter then went on to interpret the facts he had laid out for his hearers. “ Be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). The conclusion is so clearly correct that his hearers were “ cut to the heart” and begged the apostles, “ Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) This question led into the last element of the apostolic preaching.
6. Repentance and faith. The word repent is a military term meaning make an about-face. The men to whom Peter spoke had refused to accept Jesus as Lord and Messiah. They had hesitated, then passively participated in His execution. Now they were asked to make a clear-cut commitment and symbolize their response of faith by public baptism. And if they did? Then everything that Jesus’ death and resurrection promised would become theirs: full forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. The God they had scorned would welcome even them and, entering their lives, fill them with power to launch out new lives. So, “ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:41). How vital and contemporary these messages are even today. You and I have been invited by God to enter a living relationship with the historical Jesus. The Son of God lived and died and was raised again, all in accordance with the Scripture, that He might today bring forgiveness and power for a new life to all who respond to Him as Lord and Christ. He will be with us, as He was with the first disciples, charging us with the power we need to witness to Him. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT The author lists six elements found in apostolic preaching of the Gospel. List the six elements on the chalkboard. Have pairs work with Acts 2:1-47 and Acts 3:1-26 to record phrases from each sermon by element. When completed, develop a group list. Then discuss: “ Which element seems most important for contemporary presentations of the Gospel? Why? How can we best communicate it to others today?”

Community: Acts 4:1-37When Frank accepted Christ as his Saviour, his parents saw his conversion as a denial of their family religion. At first they argued and ridiculed. Then, as they sensed the depth of their teen’ s experience with Jesus, they increased the pressure. They offered Frank that set of expensive drums he’ d wanted, if only he’ d give up this nonsense! Finally, the Leparises locked their son out of the house. If he would not remain true to the family faith, he would be cut off. The first exciting days of the church saw many experiences similar to Frank’ s. There was change and growth. And there was opposition. The contagious enthusiasm of those who believed in Jesus threatened the secure foundations of many people’ s religious convictions, and uneasy tolerance gave way to hostility. It was then that the little company of believers began to realize that the church was a new community, a community of men and women who could be closer than any family, and who could provide the kind of loving support that believers then — and believers now, like Frank — would always need. Opposition to the message of a living Christ formed quickly. Peter’ s sermon, stimulated by the healing of the lame man (Acts 3:1-26), was only one instance of the disciples “ teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead” (Acts 4:2). Soon some 5,000 men had joined the company of the committed. An annoyed clique of rulers and elders acted. They arrested Peter and John. The confrontation (Acts 4:5-22). Called before the ruling body of Judaism, the apostles were questioned about the miracle of healing which Peter had performed. Boldly, Peter responded. The miracle had been performed “ by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead” (Acts 4:10). Only in Jesus, Peter went on to affirm, could salvation be found; there is no other name or way. Such boldness from uneducated and common men stunned the elite group. Setting the apostles outside, the council conferred. There was no way to deny the public healing. Compromising, the rulers called Peter and John back and commanded them to stop all this talk about Jesus. Again speaking boldly, the two believers insisted that they would obey God rather than men. The frustrated rulers, unable to justify to the people any punishment of Peter and John, threatened them and let them go. The fellowship of prayer (Acts 4:23-31). At this point in time we are introduced to one of the most significant dimensions of the new community’ s life. Peter and John immediately “ went back to their own people and reported” (Acts 4:23). In the brotherhood of the church, Peter and John found others who cared and with whom they could share. Immediately the whole company accepted the burden of the two as their own, and went to God in prayer. Frank had many burdens to share with us too. There was tremendous pain for him, and often that pain brought tears. But he had Christian friends who cared — friends who would listen, who would encourage, and who joined with him in prayer. Frank discovered as a young Christian what the early church learned in its first adventurous days. A Christian is never alone! Not only has the risen Christ sent the Holy Spirit to be with us, but He has also knit us together in a community of fellowship and love. This is one of the most important things we can learn as we begin our exploration of the New Testament. In the Scriptures we see portrayed a church in which those touched by Christ discover a new capacity to love and to care for one another. The church is more than a group of people who agree in their beliefs. The church is a family of brothers and sisters who experience the reality of Jesus’ presence in and through their growing love for one another (cf. John 13:33-34). While some today have not tasted of that reality, this is a real and vital dimension of Christian experience. And God invites each one of us to reach out and know this touch of fellowship. The text of Acts reports that as they prayed together “ they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly” (Acts 4:31). In the fellowship of prayer, God’ s power is poured again into our lives. With one accord (Acts 4:32-37). This is a passage that has captured the imagination of Christians across the ages. “ All the believers were one in heart and mind” (Acts 4:32). Growing together, the early church experienced a unique unity. Possessions were sold by the rich, and the proceeds were distributed to the poor. The sense of oneness was so great that no selfish hesitation kept anyone from reaching out to meet another’ s need. Because concern for the brothers outweighed the value of material possessions, love’ s expression was both practical and free. “ There were no needy persons among them” (Acts 4:34). This early evidence of the reality of Christian community is not necessarily a standard for the church today. But it is not as unusual as we may think. In our own local church just this kind of expression of love often takes place. Yet, the impact of the passage is not to promote some form of “ Christian communism,” but rather to highlight the truth of the writer’ s statement, “ All the believers were one in heart and mind.” We are called to oneness in our shared faith. Oneness with our brothers and sisters frees us to share ourselves as well as each other, to support each other in prayer, and to express love in many vital and practical ways. LINK TO LIFE: CHILDREN How do people in your local church show love for others by helping meet their needs? Many churches have a food pantry stocked for the poor. Others have “ deacon’ s funds” to meet emergency needs. Still others collect clothing or make up food baskets for special times of the year. Why not see if your boys and girls can take part in one of your congregation’ s projects. Perhaps they can help stack food in the pantry, go along to help deliver baskets, etc. It is never too early to give boys and girls the chance to experience what it means to reach out in practical love to others who have needs. Homothumadon: One Accord. A unique Greek word, used 10 of its 11 New Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness of Christian community. Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to “ rush along” and “ in unison.” The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonize in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great orchestra blend under the direction of a concertmaster, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ’ s church. The first use of homothumadon is found in Acts 1:14. There, in the Upper Room, the 11 disciples and a few women were united in prayer. Earlier strife and jealousies that marred their relationships were gone; the disciples were one, waiting for the Spirit’ s promised coming. Then in Acts 2:1 we see 120 believers gathered, focusing together on the Lord as they sensed the Spirit’ s first dynamic touch. The next occurrence is Acts 2:46, as the community (then some 3,000), “ continuing daily with one accord [homothumadon] in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart” (KJV). Again in Acts 4:24 we see the whole company, moved by Peter and John’ s report, as they “ lifted up their voice to God with one accord” (KJV). As those who are Jesus’ own make Him the common focus of their lives and seek to help each other find the Holy Spirit’ s freedom in their lives, homothumadon becomes the mark of Christian community. Sometimes we look back on these early chapters of Acts as though they picture a church that has been lost — as though unity and love and the experience of Jesus’ presence are things that cannot really be ours today. Let’ s not make this mistake. God’ s Spirit is still a present reality. Homothumadon is still possible in today’ s shattered and impersonal world. If we look for a reason for emptiness in our own experience, let’ s look first to our hesitancy to share ourselves with our brothers and sisters. Or look to our failure to let others pick up the burdens of our lives, and bring them in confident prayer to God. The church, the new community Christ formed, is here today. We are the church. And God, the Spirit, is able to take our 11s, and our 120s and our 3,000s and, as we joyfully focus our shared life on Jesus, to orchestrate our lives to His wondrous “ one accord.”

Teaching Guide Prepare What goals does the early Acts picture of the church suggest you should set, and pray about, for your group and your own congregation?

Explore

1. Brainstorm with your group: “ What would we expect to find in an ideal church?”
2. Give a minilecture on homothumadon, and ask your group members to look at Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-35 for evidences of the way “ one accord” is expressed in the Christian congregation. Compare what they suggest with the “ ideal church” description the group has just brainstormed. Then break into groups of five to discuss: “ How do the two lists differ? How are they similar? What should we emphasize in our own relationships for our congregation to be as vital as that of the early church?”

Expand

1. Raise the question of how the early Jerusalem church became the kind of congregation described here. Divide into teams to explore the following themes and passages. Each team is to report to the group specific “ to do” suggestions to strengthen the spiritual life of your group or congregation. The themes and passages are:

(1) The mission of the church (Acts 1:1-26). (2) The power of the church (Acts 2:1-21). (3) The foundational beliefs of the church (Acts 2:22-3:26). (4) The resources of the church (Acts 4:1-31).

2. Or use any of the “ link-to-life” teaching suggestions to focus on a theme of special concern to your own group.

Apply Have each person in your group share their completion of this sentence: “ I am glad that our congregation is like the New Testament church in that it. . . .”