3. Read about the thriving church in Antioch in 11: What are the evidences in these verses that Antioch was a spiritually growing church?

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Magnus Newton
5 years ago
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1 Acts 11:19 12:25 March 5, Consider a time in your life when your circumstances looked overwhelming and yet God was at work. In what ways was God your Provider during your trial? 2. Read Acts 11:19. The good news of salvation in Christ was being spread throughout the region and beyond. But what did these evangelical Jews not yet understand about who could receive this gift of salvation? These Jews may not have been to Jerusalem to hear Peter s news in Acts 11:18. Read Acts 11:20. The Hellenists in this verse were probably Greek speaking Gentiles. Who has decided to share the gospel with these Gentiles? What was their message? 3. Read about the thriving church in Antioch in 11: What are the evidences in these verses that Antioch was a spiritually growing church? How do we see the church in Jerusalem specifically demonstrating authority and compassion toward the church of Antioch? What is the new name that was established for Christ s disciples in Antioch? How would you summarize God s provision for the spiritual needs of this new church?

2 Acts 11:19 12:25 March 5, 2015 Page 2 4. Read Acts 11: What is another provision from God that we learn about in verse 27? How will God provide for the future needs of the early church in light of a coming famine? How do we see the unity of believers in these verses? Summarize Jesus prayer for those that would become His church in the future. Read John 17: Amidst the excitement of the growing church was also a growing persecution of this new institution from God. Read Acts 12:1-5. What were the different elements of persecution taking place in these verses? What were Jesus earlier teachings on persecution that would instruct His future church? Matthew 5:10-12 Matthew 5:43-45 Matthew 10:17-20 John 15:18-21 John 16:1-4 and 16:33 How did the church respond to Peter s imprisonment according to Acts 12:5?

3 Acts 11:19 12:25 March 5, 2015 Page 3 6. Read Acts 12:6-10 to see how God provided deliverance for Peter. Luke stresses the thoroughness with which Peter was being guarded against escape. List all the precautions Herod s soldiers had taken to prevent the apostle s escape when you read this entire story. What can we learn about Peter when observing him in this scene, considering James was recently beheaded by Herod and Peter was awaiting a similar fate? What was Peter doing here that he wrote about later in I Peter 5:7? Who did God send to deliver Peter? Describe his entrance and his exit. 7. Read Acts 12:11-19 to know the rest of Peter s story. What does Peter realize about his deliverance according to verse 11 and verse 17? What would those who had gathered in prayer have realized about prayer and the power of God? What have you realized about prayer and the power of God personally? 8. Read Acts 12:20-23 to learn about the end of Herod and his evil reign. What would you say brings about spiritual death when considering Herod s physical death? 9. In contrast to the death of Herod we read about the vibrant life of God s church in Acts 12: What is the result of a people intent on bringing glory to God? Read Acts 12: Do you have a personal prayer request to share with your small group?

4 - March 5, 2015 To be continued.a Study of Acts God is our Provider IN OUR HUNGER Acts 11: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name s sake. He fills us spiritually God fed the church in Antioch through the teaching and encouragement of Barnabas and Saul. He fills us physically God used the generosity of the Antioch believers to meet the needs of the hungry in His church. God continues to feed believers today through His and His and His. IN OUR CAPTIVITY Acts 12:1-19 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. He is our peace- While guards surrounded Peter, God guarded Peter s heart with peace. He is our protection- Peter was protected by the sovereign plans of God. He is our deliverer- Peter was rescued from captivity so he could rescue other captives. In His perfect timing, God enters our prison and us from the chains that bind us. Let s listen to the knocking and God s answers to our prayers. ON OUR JOURNEY Acts 12:20-25 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. He is our compass By refusing to walk along the righteous path of God, Herod found himself at a dead end. With God s compass in hand, the church was led into great blessings and abundance. God has all we need to live an abundant life that leads to His glory. KEY: people, word, presence, frees, celebrate, provided

5 To be continued.acts 11:19 12:25 March 5, 2015 JAMES 1:17 EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, COMING DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS WITH WHOM THERE IS NO VARIATION OR SHADOW DUE TO CHANGE. MATTHEW 6:25,31-34 THEREFORE I TELL YOU, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU WILL EAT OR WHAT YOU WILL DRINK, NOR ABOUT YOUR BODY, WHAT YOU WILL PUT ON. IS NOT LIFE MORE THAN FOOD, AND THE BODY MORE THAN CLOTHING?...THEREFORE DO NOT BE ANXIOUS, SAYING, WHAT SHALL WE EAT? OR WHAT SHALL WE DRINK? OR WHAT SHALL WE WEAR? FOR THE GENTILES SEEK AFTER ALL THESE THINGS, AND YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS THAT YOU NEED THEM ALL. BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU. JOHN 10:16 AND I HAVE OTHER SHEEP THAT ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD. I MUST BRING THEM ALSO, AND THEY WILL LISTEN TO MY VOICE. SO THERE WILL BE ONE FLOCK, ONE SHEPHERD. JOHN 6:35 JESUS SAID TO THEM, I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE; WHOEVER COMES TO ME SHALL NOT HUNGER, AND WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER THIRST. JAMES 5:16b THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS PERSON HAS GREAT POWER AS IT IS WORKING. PHILIPPIANS 4:6,7 DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION WITH THANKSGIVING LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD. AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS. PSALM 138:7,8 THOUGH I WALK IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE, YOU PRESERVE MY LIFE; YOU STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND AGAINST THE WRATH OF MY ENEMIES, AND YOUR RIGHT HAND DELIVERS ME. THE LORD WILL FULFILL HIS PURPOSE FOR ME; YOUR STEADFAST LOVE, O LORD, ENDURES FOREVER. DO NOT FORSAKE THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS. JOHN 10:10 THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY. I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY. JOHN 14:5,6 THOMAS SAID TO HIM, LORD, WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING. HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY? JESUS SAID TO HIM, I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME. JUDE 24 NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM STUMBLING AND TO PRESENT YOU BLAMELESS BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF HIS GLORY WITH GREAT JOY, TO THE ONLY GOD, OUR SAVIOR, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, BE GLORY, MAJESTY, DOMINION, AND AUTHORITY, BEFORE ALL TIME AND NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN.

The Lord is My Shepherd

The Lord is My Shepherd So many of us have trusted the Lord to save us from the fires of hell, yet we are not sure he can safely bring us home. We know he will take us to heaven, but we are not sure he