Thoughts on Study Questions from Acts Ch 2and 3 from 7/29
My Sunday school class/Life Group is studying the book of Acts. I posted these questions this Monday and encouraged you to jot your thoughts down.
It's Wednesday. This post consists of some comments from the class discussion.
If you’d like a PDF file of the questions, email me at crd.author@gmail.com
Chapter 2
V42-47
Which characteristics [of the church immediately after Pentecost] would be easiest for the church of today to attain? which the hardest? Why?
Here's a photo of what our whiteboard looked like at the end of the class discussion. I'll try and interpret below. As you will read, it ended up as a hybrid discussion of church characteristics both then and now.
Not exactly an ASIDE.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
This was brought up toward the end of our discussion time. Answers included
Something that you be (are part of) or attend (building)
The Spirit of God in believers coming together.
EASY - Why
BREAKING BREAD - It was fun. It was a common activity among Jews.
PRAYER - It comes spontaneously. You can pray alone.
TEACHING - Jews were used to being taught. Teaching happened a lot in Jewish society.
PRAISE GOD - Jews did this as part of their worship in the Temple.
ATTEND CHURCH - Jews did this regularly. Now they were anticipating what God would do next.
These are EASY because they liked being together.
HARD - Why
BEING OF ONE MIND - Jewish practitioners were divided (Pharisee, Sadducee, Scribe, Priest, common people). The early church ultimately practiced a form of "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in ALL, LOVE."
PRAYER - It's hard to do sometime when you're in a difficult situation. Intercessory prayer was unknown to the common worshiper. Public prayers were common, private not so much. These prayers were not rote prayers. Many of these prayers were relational.
EVERYTHING IN COMMON - Hard today with obligations we have. Humans are often not good a listening and obeying.
TEACHING - The NT church included women.
FOUND FAVOR OF ALL THE PEOPLE - This is probably the most difficult to do in today's society.
ACCEPTANCE OF "DIFFERENT" PEOPLE - Today it's common to exclude people "who don't sound or look like me." While that may be unintentional, it is a HARD thing to overcome.
ATTENDANCE - Jews were used to worshiping on the Sabbath in the Temple or synagogue--they had a lifetime of experience. It was a preconceived notion. It's HARD today with the loss of the idea of Sabbath in this country.
There were no definitive conclusions reached. I'd asses the overall discussion as "we could be doing better."
Here's a photo of what our whiteboard looked like at the end of the class discussion. I'll try and interpret below. As you will read, it ended up as a hybrid discussion of church characteristics both then and now.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
This was brought up toward the end of our discussion time. Answers included
Something that you be (are part of) or attend (building)
The Spirit of God in believers coming together.
EASY - Why
BREAKING BREAD - It was fun. It was a common activity among Jews.
PRAYER - It comes spontaneously. You can pray alone.
TEACHING - Jews were used to being taught. Teaching happened a lot in Jewish society.
PRAISE GOD - Jews did this as part of their worship in the Temple.
ATTEND CHURCH - Jews did this regularly. Now they were anticipating what God would do next.
These are EASY because they liked being together.
HARD - Why
BEING OF ONE MIND - Jewish practitioners were divided (Pharisee, Sadducee, Scribe, Priest, common people). The early church ultimately practiced a form of "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in ALL, LOVE."
PRAYER - It's hard to do sometime when you're in a difficult situation. Intercessory prayer was unknown to the common worshiper. Public prayers were common, private not so much. These prayers were not rote prayers. Many of these prayers were relational.
EVERYTHING IN COMMON - Hard today with obligations we have. Humans are often not good a listening and obeying.
TEACHING - The NT church included women.
FOUND FAVOR OF ALL THE PEOPLE - This is probably the most difficult to do in today's society.
ACCEPTANCE OF "DIFFERENT" PEOPLE - Today it's common to exclude people "who don't sound or look like me." While that may be unintentional, it is a HARD thing to overcome.
ATTENDANCE - Jews were used to worshiping on the Sabbath in the Temple or synagogue--they had a lifetime of experience. It was a preconceived notion. It's HARD today with the loss of the idea of Sabbath in this country.
There were no definitive conclusions reached. I'd asses the overall discussion as "we could be doing better."
How do we know this church was evangelistic?
"And The LORD added to there number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:47b
"And The LORD added to there number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:47b
We got this far this week.
Chapter 3
V1-10
What is meant by “the hour of prayer”?
Where is the “Beautiful Gate”?
How much did Peter change his habits after Pentecost?
What is most interesting to you about the description of the crippled man?
If you were the cripple, how would you react to Peter’s response to the cripple’s request? Why?
Describe the sequence of the cripple's expectations, emotions, and understanding.
What does the former cripple do?
V11-26
Who was "amazed" and "astonished" by the healing of the cripple?
How does the reaction of those in the previous question to the “cripple” differ from that of the people in the crowd?
Peter's 2nd recorded sermon. What is similar to the first?
According to Peter, how is the authority of Christ demonstrated in this miracle?
How does Peter's tone change in v17?
What is the OT context of the quote from Moses?
What "big three" OT characters does Peter refer to in his sermon? Why is each chosen?
How does Peter end this sermon?
Can you think of an example of God's power at work today/in your lifetime like it was in this chapter?
This Friday, my Expression of Faith is Fellowship (With Believers?)
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