SESSION 5 RETURN TO UNITY. 134 SeSSion LifeWay

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1 SESSION 5 RETURN TO UNITY 134 SeSSion 5

2 The Point Walking with Christ brings us together in unity and purpose. The Passage Acts 4:31-37 The Bible Meets Life When two strangers meet and discover they share a common interest (such as a sports team or a hobby), they can quickly develop a bond. The church offers the greatest point of connection a shared relationship with Christ but sometimes we re at odds with each other. That s not how it s supposed to work. When Christians individually experience a renewed love and unity with Christ, they should also experience a unity with each other. The Setting Pentecost saw the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus followers, Peter boldly proclaim the gospel to an international crowd, and 3,000 people come to faith. A short time later, Peter and John encountered a lame man in the temple courtyard, whom they healed. That event, coupled with the disciples preaching, resulted in the arrest of Peter and John. Upon their release, the two gathered with other believers and prayed for boldness to proclaim the gospel. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 135

3 What does the Bible say? Acts 4:31-37 (HCSB) Boldness (v. 31) The disciples had previously prayed that God would enable them to speak the truth with boldness in spite of the threats against them (see 4:29). God directly answered their prayer with a demonstration of His power. 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God s message with boldness. 32 Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. 33 And the apostles were giving testimony with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles feet. This was then distributed for each person s basic needs. 36 Joseph, a Levite and a Cypriot by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement, 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles feet. 136 SeSSion 5

4 THE POINT Walking with Christ brings us together in unity and purpose. GET INTO THE STUDY DISCUSS: Question #1 on page 113 of the PSG: When have you felt united with others in a common cause? 10 minutes Notes GUIDE: Direct group members to The Bible Meets Life on page 114 of the PSG. Introduce the theme of unity in Christ by reading or summarizing the text or by encouraging group members to read on their own. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point at the top of page 114 of the PSG: Walking with Christ brings us together in unity and purpose. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): Use the following activity to add some physical movement to your group and reinforce the theme of finding unity in Christ. Encourage group members to gather in smaller groups based on their answers to the questions below. Everyone who shares the same answer should gather as a unified group. Once the groups are formed, allow a minute for members to talk about their shared preferences. > > > > > > > > What is your favorite sport? What is your favorite color? What s the best restaurant within 5 miles of your group? In what state were you born? ENHANCEMENT: Use Pack Item 9, Shaken, to help group members connect with the Scripture passage for this session. PRAY: Transition into the Scripture discussion by praising God for the blessing of community. Ask that the Holy Spirit would grant you understanding as you explore the topic of Christian unity. TIP: Running short on time? Skip to Live It Out. Always leave time for application. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 137

5 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Acts 4:31 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God s message with boldness. GUIDE: Encourage group members to read the first paragraph on page 116 of the PSG in order to set the context for Acts 4. Note: The first two paragraphs on page 139 of this Leader Guide also provide helpful background information. ALTERNATE QUESTION: When have you seen someone demonstrate boldness for Christ? READ: Acts 4:31 on page 115 of the PSG. Read the text out loud or ask a volunteer to do so. DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 116 of the PSG: What factors help people feel united? DO: Direct group members to complete the activity Unity and Diversity on page 117 of the PSG. If time allows, encourage volunteers to share their responses. Below are several demographic terms used to identify different groups of people within a population. To get a sense of the diverse range of people in your church, circle any of the following groups currently represented in your congregation. Male Child Black/African American Married Young Adult Full-time Employee Female White/Caucasian Widowed Teen Asian/Pacific Islander Part-time Employee Single Senior Unemployed Hispanic/Latino Divorced Adult What are some common beliefs and principles that unite these different groups in your congregation and community? TRANSITION: As we continue to verses 32-33, we ll see that a unified experience with the Holy Spirit led to unity within the early church. 138 SeSSion 5

6 THE POINT Walking with Christ brings us together in unity and purpose. Acts 4:31 Commentary The Book of Acts details the beginnings of the early church. Jesus had told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were empowered by the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). The proclamation of the gospel would not depend on their own passion or ability to share it, but on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples obeyed and gathered in one place to await God s sending of the Holy Spirit. When the day of Pentecost arrived, the Holy Spirit came upon them as Jesus had promised, and 3,000 people came to faith in Christ through Peter s preaching. In Acts 4:4 we re told that an additional 5,000 men came to faith in Christ through Peter s preaching at the temple. As the apostles continued to preach and large numbers of people continued to be saved, those responsible for Jesus death among the Jewish authorities felt threatened. They arrested Peter and John and ordered them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus (see 4:18-20). Instead, the apostles prayed for boldness to continue preaching the gospel (see vv ). [Verse 31] This verse is the direct answer to the apostles prayer for boldness in Acts 4:29-30, which is why it begins with the words when they had prayed. The first sign that God had heard their prayer was that the place where they were assembled was shaken. Shaking ground in the Old Testament indicated that God was uniquely present in a given situation. For example, in Exodus 19:18, the whole mountain shook violently when God appeared on Mount Sinai to speak to Moses. In Isaiah 6:4, the foundations of the doorways shook as the prophet encountered God in the temple in the year that King Uzziah died. By appearing to the apostles with the shaking of the earth, God gave them tangible evidence that He was present and that He would answer their prayers. A second evidence of God answering prayer was that everyone in the room was filled with the Holy Spirit. This was not a second Pentecost, which was the pouring out of the Spirit on the apostles in answer to Jesus command for them to wait for power from on high. However, this filling of the Spirit was a fresh empowerment of the disciples for their witness to the world. The direct result of the Spirit s filling in Acts 4:31 was that the disciples began to speak God s message with boldness. The word boldness in secular usage often indicated the idea of freedom of speech or being willing to say anything in candor. The disciples prayer for boldness was not merely a desire that they would not be afraid to speak God s message, but that they would have a freedom to publicly declare the gospel to those who needed to hear it. Their boldness was directly tied to their proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 139

7 5 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Acts 4: Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. 33 And the apostles were giving testimony with great power to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. READ: Acts 4:32-33 on page 115 of the PSG. RECAP: Highlight the first paragraph on page 118 of the PSG: When individual believers are filled with God s Holy Spirit, they can t help uniting with one another. The Spirit makes all the difference. When the Holy Spirit gets involved with individuals, a church, a community, or a nation, He will produce change and it will be change that lasts. SUMMARIZE: Call attention to the numbered list on page 118 of the PSG. Encourage group members to think through the two mindsets demonstrated by the early followers of Christ: ALTERNATE QUESTION: How would you describe the purpose of the church? > > > > They were one in heart with a mutual generosity. They were one in mind and purpose. DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 118 of the PSG: How have you seen mutual generosity impact your church or community? Note: It s possible that group members will wander into a discussion about socialism or utopian societies, given that the members of the early church were so free with their possessions. The second paragraph on page 141 of this Leader Guide offers clarity on that perspective. TRANSITION: As we conclude with verses 34-37, we ll see further evidence regarding the power of unity within the church. 140 SeSSion 5

8 THE POINT Walking with Christ brings us together in unity and purpose. Acts 4:32-33 Commentary [Verse 32] This verse begins with a reference to the large group of those who believed. Luke widened the circle from the apostles and disciples of the upper room at Pentecost to all those who had believed in Jesus. As the circle of believers grew, the unity they shared in Christ remained strong. Luke described this unity as being of one heart and mind. Some scholars have described this as fulfilling the Greek ideal of common ownership of property and everything held in common, which reached back to the ideals of the Pythagoreans and Plato. In reality, these early believers were simply responding to the Holy Spirit s presence in their lives. How do we know the disciples were not creating a utopian society where everything was held in common? The phrasing of the verse helps make this clear. The attitude of the body of believers was that no one said that any of his possessions was his own. The key is that the possessions were still their own, even though they did not count them as so. In a communal or utopian society, private possessions become the property of all. Luke clearly indicated that the believers voluntarily gave up what was still their own possessions. The church did not nullify the right to own private property. Each person continued to own property until it was found to be necessary to sell it for the common good, and even then it was a voluntary decision. [Verse 33] The presence of the Holy Spirit, the unity of the believers, and the concern that they showed for one another enhanced the proclamation of the gospel by the apostles. While all the believers were giving evidence of their faith in Jesus, the apostles explained the gospel from the Old Testament Scriptures through preaching. The preaching of the apostles was described as their testimony. In legal terms, this referred to a person s testimony as a witness in a court of law. As witnesses to the ministry of Jesus, the apostles spoke with authority about His life, death, and resurrection. Luke described the preaching of the apostles as occurring with great power. The Greek word for power comes from the root to be able. The English word dynamite comes from the same root. When used of the disciples, this power indicated the presence of the Holy Spirit (see Luke 24:48-49) and the miracles that the apostles did (see Acts 4:7). The specific content of the apostles preaching was the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They had witnessed the life of Jesus and they had also seen Him die. However, what set their message apart was their witness to the resurrected Jesus. Christ had come back to life. They saw Him alive after He had died. The result of the apostles witness was that great grace was on all of them. God blessed their witness and many new believers came to faith. As they came to faith, they grew in unity as a new community of believers. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 141

9 15 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Notes Acts 4: For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles feet. This was then distributed for each person s basic needs. 36 Joseph, a Levite and a Cypriot by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement, 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles feet. READ: Acts 4:34-37 on page 115 of the PSG. DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 119 of the PSG: What s your initial reaction to these verses? GUIDE: Encourage group members to consider what it means to surrender to the Holy Spirit by reading through the second paragraph (including the bullet list) on page 119 of the PSG. RECAP: Highlight the third paragraph on page 119 of the PSG: ALTERNATE QUESTION: What can we surrender to contribute to the unity and purpose of the church? Verses give us a specific example of one believer s generosity. Barnabas sold a field and brought the proceeds to the apostles for distribution. We ll look more closely at Barnabas s mission and work in our next session. For now, however, let s note how Barnabas surrendered his life, exemplifying the mindsets noted earlier in verses DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 119 of the PSG: How should these verses guide our actions and attitudes today? Note: Consider dividing your discussion of this question into two sections: 1) How should these verses guide our actions as individuals, and 2) How should these verses guide our actions as a group? GUIDE: Refer back to The Point of this session: Walking with Christ brings us together in unity and purpose. If you have time, encourage volunteers to share any final thoughts or questions. 142 SeSSion 5

10 THE POINT Walking with Christ brings us together in unity and purpose. Acts 4:34-37 Commentary [Verses 34-35] The phrase there was not a needy person among them clearly refers back to the ideal of Deuteronomy 15:4. The members of the church who had means voluntarily met the needs of poorer members by sacrificing their own ownership of property to help the poor. This provision started as the believers sold their land. The fact that they sold it voluntarily must be emphasized. The remarkable quality of the early believers was their generosity and their sacrifice, which created a strong sense of community and fostered unity among the group. After selling their land, the people brought the proceeds and laid them it at the apostles feet. Since this was voluntary, the emphasis was not on the apostles authority to receive the funds but their God-given responsibility to use it wisely in caring for the needs of the poor in the community. Specifically, the apostles distributed the proceeds for each person s basic needs. The tense of the verbs (imperfect tense) throughout this passage indicate a continual process, not a one-time occurrence. The church did not decide one day that everyone should sell all property and bring the proceeds to the apostles. As the poor had need, believers were selling, laying the proceeds at the apostles feet, and the disciples were distributing the proceeds. [Verses 36-37] Luke highlighted two types of people involved in the process. He positively spoke of Joseph, also known as Barnabas. Negatively, he told the story of Ananias and Sapphira, who sold their land but lied about the proceeds (see 5:1-11). Barnabas would later appear as a companion of Paul on the missionary journey to Cyprus and Asia Minor. Luke also referred to Barnabas as a Levite, which might confuse the reader at first because they were not able to own land in the early days of the Old Testament (Deut. 10:9; Num. 18:20,24). However, that probably did not apply in the days of Acts because the priestly families of Jeremiah had owned land earlier (Jer. 32:6-15). The sacrifice of Barnabas highlighted the meaning of his name, Son of Encouragement. Like others in the Christian community, Barnabas brought the money, and laid it at the apostles feet. Rather than helping others on his own, he did so through the ministry of the local body of believers in his community. He did not give his money to the church, but through the church. He trusted that the apostles would not keep the money for themselves, but that they would distribute the money as needs had arisen among them. As the early church experienced opposition, they prayed for boldness to continue preaching. With the common purpose of winning their world to Christ, the church grew stronger in unity and sacrificially helped one another as needs arose. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 143

11 5 minutes LIVE IT OUT Notes GUIDE: Direct group members to page 120 of the PSG. Encourage them to consider the following ways to strive for unity within your church and community: > > Yield. Surrender yourself each morning to the lordship of Christ and let Him fill you with His Holy Spirit. > > Pray. Pray daily for unity in your church and among believers in your community. Ask God to remove all barriers to unity and make your church family one in heart and mind. > > Share. Take a bold step to confirm that you ve surrendered everything to Christ. When you see someone with a need this week, do whatever you can do to take care of it. Wrap it Up TRANSITION: Read or restate the conclusion from page 120 of the PSG: God uses our unity in Him to bring revival to our lives and churches and that leads to spiritual awakening in our nation. May God through His Holy Spirit impact you in such a way that unity abounds in your family, church, and community. PRAY: Conclude the discussion by asking the Holy Spirit to move in a powerful way throughout your community, and especially within your local church. Ask that He would bless your congregation, and the members of your group, with a desire to strive for unity as followers of Christ. 144 SeSSion 5

12 My group's prayer requests Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, boomers, and singles) are available at BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. And for free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife. Common Ground I don t belong here. That was my first thought when I walked into the room labeled, Singles. I had recently relocated and was interested in building relationships in my new church home. On that particular Sunday morning, I was greeted at the church entrance and asked what kind of class I wanted to attend. After a short discussion, the greeter led me to a small classroom upstairs. To be honest, I felt like I d been dropped off in the lost and found box for Christians. Other than being single, I thought, What else could I possibly have in common with these people? To continue reading Common Ground from HomeLife magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 145