Spirit-Empowered Ministry in Jesus Name

Transcription

1 SESSION 2 Spirit-Empowered Ministry in Jesus Name Summary and Goal Christian boldness isn t something we simply have to muster up for ourselves; rather, it comes through faith in Jesus and through the gift of His Holy Spirit, who empowers and emboldens us to live for the glory of our Savior. He deserves first place in our lives, and this will be reflected in our actions for His name s sake. If we are convinced that the gospel is true, then we must act on what we believe, praying to God for boldness and then proclaiming what we know to be true. We should find ourselves compelled to say and do bold things for the sake of the gospel. Main Passages Acts 3:1-10; 4:5-31 Session Outline 1. God s people do good deeds and give glory to Jesus (Acts 3:1-10; 4:5-12). 2. God s people reserve ultimate allegiance for Jesus (Acts 4:13-22). 3. God s people pray and preach with boldness (Acts 4:23-31). Theological Theme The gospel spreads through bold and gracious witness to Christ. Christ Connection Once the Holy Spirit arrived, the disciples began proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior. They put on display the power of His kingdom by performing miracles in His name. When confronted by earthly authorities, they reaffirmed their allegiance to Jesus and continued to declare the gospel with confidence that Jesus is mighty to save. Missional Application God calls us to follow the example of the early Christians in how we boldly and graciously proclaim the gospel and minister to those in need. Date of My Bible Study: LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.

2 Session Plan Spirit-Empowered Ministry in Jesus Name For Further Discussion How can boldness be dangerous when not tethered to wisdom? Why is the requirement of boldness not sufficient by itself to make an action wise or justified? For Further Discussion How would you compare the miraculous healing of the lame man with the typical faith healings presented on television? In what ways does the lame man s healing seem credible to you? Pack Item 6: No Other Name Call attention to the quote on this poster. Ask your group to consider it in light of Acts 4:12, and then ask this question: What is the relationship between being saved by the name of Jesus and being called by the name Christian? Introduction Highlight how certain circumstances in our lives require boldness (leader p. 22; personal study guide [PSG] p. 19). What bold acts have you taken in your life, and what were the results? What circumstances led to such boldness? Speak to why boldness is required of Christians in today s world (leader p. 22). Then summarize this session about where our boldness comes from (leader p. 23; PSG p. 19). 1. God s people do good deeds and give glory to Jesus (Acts 3:1-10; 4:5-12). Read Acts 3:1-10 and 4:5-12. Identify the two acts of boldness in Jesus name in the passage: 1) the act of healing the lame man, and 2) the act of bearing witness to the Jewish leadership (leader pp ; PSG p. 20). What will it take from us to make sure that we are doing good deeds in Jesus name? How can our good deeds done in Jesus name lead to others hearing about Jesus? Note the public nature of the lame man s healing and Peter s preaching. (Reference Pack Item 4: Suffering for Jesus to help fill in the storyline of this narrative that Peter and John were arrested for this public spectacle.) Call attention to Peter s revolutionary response to the Jewish leaders interrogation he was not trying to be a hero with his bold stand and defiance of the religious authorities; he was simply telling them the truth about who Jesus is (leader pp ; PSG p. 21). What risks are involved in proclaiming Jesus as the only way of salvation in the world? 20 Leader Guide

3 2. God s people reserve ultimate allegiance for Jesus (Acts 4:13-22). Ask a volunteer to read Acts 4: Comment on the religious leaders failure to recognize the miraculous work being done in their midst. Then connect the Jewish leaders order against preaching about Jesus with other efforts to ban Jesus name and to silence His followers (leader pp ; PSG p. 22). What are some ways you have experienced the pressure to minimize your witness to Jesus? Go over the three things we need to resist the pressure to minimize Jesus. Then ask another volunteer to read Acts 4: Peter and John refused to obey the Jewish leaders because of their role as witnesses to what they had seen and heard. Likewise, we have our own story with the gospel to share with others (leader pp ; PSG pp ). What will it look like for a Christian to have his or her ultimate allegiance for Jesus? Point 3 Option Prior to the group meeting, enlist a volunteer to visit the Voice of the Martyrs website and pull 2-3 prayer requests from there. com Ask the volunteer to share these requests with the group. Then ask groups of 2-3 to spend some time praying for their persecuted brothers and sisters mentioned in the requests. Challenge the groups to pray specifically for God to grant these Christians boldness as needed to suffer for their ultimate allegiance to Jesus. How can your story of hearing and believing the gospel open doors for sharing the gospel with others? 3. God s people pray and preach with boldness (Acts 4:23-31). Read Acts 4: Show the connection between bold prayer and bold ministry as the church prayed for continued boldness (leader pp ; PSG pp ). Do you expect most ministry-oriented prayers are reactive or proactive? Why do you think that is? Why should we pray both in response to circumstances and in preparation for our acts of ministry? Point out how the early church modeled Spirit-filled ministry and how we can follow in their footsteps (leader pp ; PSG pp ). How does praying through the story of God s work in Scripture, in history, and in our lives embolden our prayers? Conclusion Challenge the group to be filled with the Spirit and God s Word, even when the world makes us feel strange or ridiculous for our faith (leader p. 29; PSG p. 26). Apply the truths of this session with His Mission, Your Mission (PSG p. 27). Christ Connection: Once the Holy Spirit arrived, the disciples began proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior. They put on display the power of His kingdom by performing miracles in His name. When confronted by earthly authorities, they reaffirmed their allegiance to Jesus and continued to declare the gospel with confidence that Jesus is mighty to save.... Missional Application: God calls us to follow the example of the early Christians in how we boldly and graciously proclaim the gospel and minister to those in need. 21

4 Expanded Session Content Spirit-Empowered Ministry in Jesus Name the Church Once the heart of creation beats with the heart of the Creator of all the nations, it will be impossible to remain silent. 1 Rodney M. Woo Introduction There are circumstances in our lives that lead us to make risky decisions, to do brave things, because of a sudden burst of boldness and audacity. Many stories of boldness are obvious and familiar, like the mother who sees her child in harm s way and confronts a grizzly bear, a moving car, or a rattlesnake. Something that would normally make a mere mortal cower in fear can be confronted with boldness (and a surge of adrenaline). Firefighters, policemen, and EMS workers often make bold and fearless decisions in moments of crisis. On 9/11, for example, after the buildings were struck and set ablaze, these public servants ran into the buildings that others were streaming out of in terror. The stakes aren t always life and death. It takes boldness to pursue a career of almost any kind, and it takes boldness to try to be an artist or an entrepreneur in light of the fact that so many others fail in these pursuits. Romance and love also require a certain boldness. In a world where marriage seems so fragile and the odds of sticking together seem so slim, it takes boldness to choose to say I do. But in each of these cases, boldness leads to something good. Boldness saves lives. It allows us to follow our dreams and pursue our sense of calling. It leads to love and to reconciliation and to the deep community that can only thrive in a family. What bold acts have you taken in your life, and what were the results? What circumstances led to such boldness? The Christian life demands a certain boldness as well. We live in a world where faith and spirituality are constantly resisted, where the vast majority of the ideas that shape our world treat God as though He were superfluous or nonexistent. To be a Christian in the world we live in today demands a certain kind of boldness in the face of this spiritual resistance. Christians believe some audacious things: God made the world; sin broke it; and God is reconciling it all to Himself through Jesus, His Son, who lived, died, and rose on the third day. Simply confessing this belief makes a stark and bold claim upon the world, and living out this belief demands even more boldness. 22 Leader Guide

5 Session Summary Christian boldness isn t something we simply have to muster up for ourselves; rather, it comes through faith in Jesus and through the gift of His Holy Spirit, who empowers and emboldens us to live for the glory of our Savior. He deserves first place in our lives, and this will be reflected in our actions for His name s sake. If we are convinced that the gospel is true, then we must act on what we believe, praying to God for boldness and then proclaiming what we know to be true. We should find ourselves compelled to say and do bold things for the sake of the gospel. 1. God s people do good deeds and give glory to Jesus (Acts 3:1-10; 4:5-12). In Acts 3 4, we see a story of Spirit-empowered boldness when Peter and John healed a crippled man and had to deal with some of the consequences of following in Jesus steps. 1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon. 2 A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money. 4 Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, Look at us. 5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. 6 But Peter said, I don t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk! 7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. 8 So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him... 5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. 7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: By what power or in what name have you done this? 8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead by him this man is standing here before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. Further Commentary Of the many miracles recounted in Acts, none has more formal resemblance to the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels than this one. There is one major difference Jesus healed by His own authority; Peter healed by the name of Jesus, which was indeed by Jesus authority at work through the agency of the apostles In Acts the miracles were always in the service of the word, confirming God s presence in the spread of the gospel or as a sign that enabled faith. Nowhere is that more evident than in this healing of the blind beggar. 2 John B. Polhill 23

6 Church History Those men who received power from God never used that power as if it were their own but referred the power to him from whom they received it; for the power itself could never have any force except through the name of him who gave it. And so both the apostles and all the servants of God never did anything in their own name but in the name and invocation of Christ. For the power itself derived its force from the same source as its origin, and it could not be given through the instrumentality of the ministers, unless it had come from the Author. 3 John Cassian ( ) 99 Essential Christian Doctrines 64. Personality of the Holy Spirit The Bible not only affirms the full divinity of the Holy Spirit but also His personhood. Many people have mistakenly believed that the Spirit is a force or power, not a person. However, Scripture affirms His personhood by acknowledging that He is treated as a person (Acts 5:3; 7:51; Heb. 10:29), acts like a person (John 14:26, 15:26; Rom. 8:14), has attributes of a person (1 Cor. 2:10-11; Eph. 4:30), and acts in personal ways (Isa. 63:10; Acts 13:2). In addition to these, the Bible also affirms that Christians relate to Him personally (Acts 5:3-4; 7:51). 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved. In this story are two separate instances of Spirit-empowered ministry: the act of healing the lame man and the act of bearing witness concerning Jesus to the Jewish leadership. In each case, Peter and John needed the Spirit to enable their work. Trusting the Spirit s presence and power, Peter offered the lame man healing a profoundly better gift than silver and gold. He offered this gift not for its own sake but in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Healing and health came to this man so that others would hear about Jesus. What will it take from us to make sure that we are doing good deeds in Jesus name? How can our good deeds done in Jesus name lead to others hearing about Jesus? Peter and John may well have seen this very man many times before, since the Scriptures tell us that he was carried to this gate to beg every day. Yet on this day, they turned aside and noticed him. The Spirit of God led them to pay attention, and when they did, Peter was moved to offer him much more than he was asking for Peter told him to stand up and walk and then reached out his hand to help him up. I remember once seeing a televangelist working a line of people who had come for healing. He got to one man in particular and asked him what he needed healing from. The man had a broken collarbone. After a short prayer, the televangelist declared the bone to be healed and invited the man to begin moving his arm around. He did wincing severely with pain. The healing hadn t taken. In a public space, for all to see, Peter told the crippled man to get up and walk, and the man took Peter s hand, stood, and began walking, leaping, and praising God. Then, seizing this amazing opportunity to speak to the gathering crowd that was amazed at the miracle, Peter preached yet another sermon about Jesus being the crucified and risen Messiah, in whose name this healing had occurred (Acts 3:11-26). After being arrested for this spectacle (4:1-3), Peter and John were called before the Jewish leaders to explain themselves. Don t miss the high tension of this moment. They had healed a crippled man in a public setting in the name of a convicted heretic that these leaders had killed. This wasn t merely a theological exam; this was a life-and-death encounter with authorities who had a distinct interest in silencing anyone doing anything in the name of Jesus. 24 Leader Guide

7 Peter s response to their interrogation was revolutionary. He could easily have sought to save his own skin, to deny any knowledge of the events, or to minimize the involvement of Jesus name. (Let s not forget that denying Jesus was something Peter had struggled with before.) But in this moment, he confronted them directly: We healed in the name of Jesus, whom you crucified and God raised from the dead. He defied their hatred of Jesus and was clear in accusing them of the murder of the Messiah. Peter was not trying to be a hero here with his bold stand and defiance of the religious authorities. He was simply telling them the truth about who Jesus is the cornerstone of all creation, the only source of salvation in the world. Here we see a clear picture of a Spirit-filled life, just as Jesus had foretold (Mark 13:11). Peter was empowered not simply to heal but to heal in Jesus name, not simply to confront the religious authorities but to confront them in Jesus name. This marks the difference between spiritual boldness and being a jerk Peter wasn t just trying to prove a point, he was pointing to Jesus, for salvation is found in no one else. In this beautiful moment, Peter allowed his Spirit-filled witness to be driven by his Jesusfocused worship. What risks are involved in proclaiming Jesus as the only way of salvation in the world? 2. God s people reserve ultimate allegiance for Jesus (Acts 4:13-22). The Jewish leaders knew they were facing a crisis. They had executed Jesus as a heretic, and yet, His followers continued to carry out miraculous work in His name. Acts 4:13-18 tells us how they sought to manage the crisis: 13 When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 After they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign has been done through them, clear to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again. 18 So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. the Church The verdict of well done is in, and as a result you and I run the race of faith, putting off judgment and the fear of man. Even though we will fail miserably, we make the effort nonetheless. After all, God s well done motivates and inspires a life consecrated to His glory. 4 Trillia J. Newbell Further Commentary [J]ust as Jesus teaching was coupled with demonstrations of miraculous powers, which reinforced among the people the impression of authority (cf. Mark 1:23-28; 2:1-12; etc.), now Peter and John were beginning to do the same. There was no denying that the man had been healed. There he stood before them, physically regenerated at an age when regenerative cures do not occur of themselves (cf. v. 22, for the man was over forty years old ). But even the miraculous is not selfauthenticating apart from openness of heart and mind; and the Sadducees preoccupation with protecting their vested interests shut them off from really seeing the miracle that occurred. 5 Richard N. Longenecker 25

8 Church History For better than all others he knows the nature of things. He knows that fierceness is not quenched by fierceness but by meekness. If you wish to see this in action, read the book of the Acts of the apostles and you will see how often, when the people [were] rebelling and sharpening their teeth, these men, imitating the dove and answering with suitable meekness, released their wrath, quenched their madness and dissolved their impetuosity. 6 John Chrysostom (circa ) Rather than own their obvious failure to recognize Jesus and rather than acknowledge the miraculous work being done in their midst, they chose to try and silence it, not unlike how they paid the soldiers to say Jesus body was stolen from the tomb by His disciples (Matt. 28:11-15). This reaction wasn t an anomaly either. Throughout the past two thousand years, efforts have been made by religious, political, and cultural leaders to ban the name of Jesus and to silence His followers. At times, that effort is driven by violence. The first-century church suffered intense persecution and severe forms of execution at the hands of both Jewish and Roman leaders. Today, Christians throughout the Middle East are under constant threat from ISIS and other groups like it. At other times, though, the effort to silence the name of Jesus comes under a more subtle guise. It comes from certain corners of academia, where the historicity of Jesus is discredited. It comes from political leaders and activists who pressure Christians to abandon orthodoxy and accommodate the fashionable ethics of our time. It comes in stillmore-subtle ways from friends and neighbors who wish we d talk about something else, anything else but Jesus. What are some ways you have experienced the pressure to minimize your witness to Jesus? To resist the pressure to minimize Jesus, we need three things. First, we need simply to keep our eyes on Jesus on who He is and what His life, death, and resurrection have accomplished for us. This sounds simple, maybe even simplistic, but it s not. The Bible is replete with admonitions to remember our God. We are terribly forgetful creatures, and we are immersed in a world that s telling counter-stories for every aspect of our faith. We need to remember constantly the name of Jesus if we want to be prepared to declare the name of Jesus under duress. Second, we need the gathering of God s people. When we gather with the church, we re reminded of our hope, of our confession of faith, and of the Savior who draws the people of God together (Heb. 10:23-25). We re also reminded that we re citizens of a different kind of kingdom and under a different kind of authority than the political and social kingdoms we live amongst. Pressures from these lesser kingdoms might get very intense, and at times they might press us to live and act against our consciences or against our allegiance to Jesus. But with one voice, the church resists those pressures each time she gathers, remembering that while we seek to be good citizens in the nations we call home, we re ultimately citizens of Jesus kingdom that is not of this world. 26 Leader Guide

9 Third, we need the boldness that comes from the filling of the Holy Spirit. According to Acts 4:19-22, Peter and John were prepared for this moment, and filled with the Spirit of God, they answered their oppressors with faith and boldness, refusing to deny Jesus in order to satisfy the Jewish leaders. 19 Peter and John answered them, Whether it s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; 20 for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard. 21 After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done. 22 For this sign of healing had been performed on a man over forty years old. Empowered by God s Spirit (see Acts 4:8), Peter and John refused to obey the command of the Jewish leaders, appealing to their role as witnesses of what they had seen and heard. One of our most powerful tools for sharing the gospel is our story with the gospel. What we ve seen and heard, the ways we ve experienced the power and presence of God, the change we ve witnessed in ourselves and in our church family these things can t really be argued or debated. Spirit-empowered evangelistic boldness will often flow from our stories, and these will often be the most compelling way we can share the good news about Jesus with others. What will it look like for a Christian to have his or her ultimate allegiance for Jesus? How can your story of hearing and believing the gospel open doors for sharing the gospel with others? 3. God s people pray and preach with boldness (Acts 4:23-31). After standing up to the Sanhedrin, the apostles went back to the church. Acts 4:23-31 records what happened next: the Church If you do not plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don t begin, for this is what Christianity is all about. It is a change of citizenship, a change of governments, a change of allegiance. If you have no intention of letting Christ rule your life, then forget Christianity; it is not for you. 7 Kay Arthur the Church [W]hen there is a conflict between what human authorities require and God s commands, we have to obey God and risk the consequences. For example, we cannot accept a command that forbids us from ever speaking about Jesus. Peter made his stand clear. John and he, and the entire company of the disciples, would never stop testifying about what they had seen and heard. 8 Babu Immanuel Venkataraman 23 After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant: Why do the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things? 27

10 Further Commentary The request in Acts 4:29-30, however, is not for the removal of enemies but for boldness to speak the word of God in the face of opposition. It begins with an extended address to God (vv ) which is really a form of praise, acknowledging his sovereignty in all things, even in the events associated with the death of Jesus. The apostles imply that what they have just experienced is a continuation of the opposition experienced by Jesus himself. The petitions that follow ask God to allow the work of testifying to Jesus to continue, unimpeded by the threats of the authorities (vv ). A further filling of the Spirit to enable such boldness is the stunning response (v. 31). Thus Luke makes it clear, not for the last time, that attacks upon the church and its message result only in further Christian expansion. 9 David G. Peterson the Church God is more interested in declaring than in explaining. 10 Matt Chandler 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers assemble together against the Lord and against his Messiah. 27 For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 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 the word of God boldly. There s an important connection here between bold prayer and bold ministry. After a string of Spirit-filled ministry victories, even in the context of an unjust imprisonment, the church responded by seeking the face of God in worshipful prayer. These Christians were keenly aware that all that had happened the healing, the bold confrontation with the Jewish leaders, the favor of the crowds was the work of God, and more specifically, the work of the Holy Spirit. So in response, the church turned back to God and asked Him to continue His work. They prayed for continued boldness, for healing, signs, and wonders, and they prayed for these things to happen in the name of Jesus. Do you expect most ministry-oriented prayers are reactive or proactive? Why do you think that is? Why should we pray both in response to circumstances and in preparation for our acts of ministry? This is the model for Spirit-filled ministry: There was an awareness of who God is the One who made the heaven, the earth, and sea and an awareness of what God had done He had spoken through David and anointed Jesus and this served as the background for what they asked. Their prayer could be paraphrased like this: Lord, we know who You are, we know what You ve spoken, and we know who You ve sent. Because of this, we believe You can deal with the threats in front of us, and we ask that You keep blessing our ministry in the name of Jesus. This prayer models knowledge of God and dependence upon God. In ministry, whether you re a vocational pastor or a volunteer, it s easy to get focused on the latest task or the latest crisis. Any given program or ministry has ups and downs, times of tension and conflict, and times of very hard work. It s easy in the midst of these currents to lose sight of the big picture and forget God in the midst of ministry. 28 Leader Guide

11 Thus, prayer is easily forgotten; we re so tied up in the mechanics and busyness of ministry that we lose sight of the spiritual reality that stands behind it that all of our efforts are empty if the Spirit doesn t empower, sustain, and continue them through His work. Nothing leads to burnout and weariness faster than ministry in our own strength. There s also a wonderful sense of perspective in the prayer from Acts 4. These Christians saw that God s work began long before them, and they were merely participating in that bigger story. This perspective humbled them knowing that God s story was much larger than their own and empowered them they saw how God had faithfully carried out the work for centuries. And so, the people were able to go out with boldness. The pressure was off of them; God had been doing and would continue this work. We can follow in their footsteps by dedicating as much time and energy to the prayers that surround our ministry as we do to the work itself. By taking prayer as seriously as we take the actual work be it music ministry, feeding people in need, preaching, or sharing the gospel with friends and neighbors we put the work of ministry in its proper place. Bold ministry requires bold prayer, and bold prayer enables bold ministry. It is God s work that makes the deaf hear, the blind see, and the dead walk again, and yet these miracles happen only when people of faith step out in Jesus name and touch, speak, and love their neighbors. It is paradoxical, but it isn t contradictory. It s the mystery of life in the Spirit. God works as we work. We work as He works. In prayer, these efforts are united. How does praying through the story of God s work in Scripture, in history, and in our lives embolden our prayers? Conclusion Like the first Christians, we face spiritual resistance. Most of us haven t had to risk our lives (though some Christians in the world certainly do), but we do risk ridicule, mockery, and dismissal from an unbelieving culture and from unbelieving friends, neighbors, and family. When confronted by a world that makes us feel strange or ridiculous for our faith, may we be filled with the Spirit and God s Word, may we remain devoted to our Savior, and may we pray for the boldness to proclaim His gospel and His praises. Church History [Luke] tells of how the church sought the support and help of God only by prayer. They were not careless, nor did they make light of the dangers approaching. They did not flee to human wisdom, help or counsel but sought all manner of aid and support by prayers. This is the sure sanctuary of the church, because God promises everywhere to be the defender of those who seek help from him. 11 Rudolf Gwalther ( ) the Church Father, I pray for those in the persecuted church and for their leaders. Strengthen them, encourage them, and grant miracles of provision and deliverance. Cause the gospel to spread like wildfire. Give them so much joy, peace, and love that their persecutors will be convicted and fall down and worship you. 12 Scotty Smith CHRIST CONNECTION: Once the Holy Spirit arrived, the disciples began proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior. They put on display the power of His kingdom by performing miracles in His name. When confronted by earthly authorities, they reaffirmed their allegiance to Jesus and continued to declare the gospel with confidence that Jesus is mighty to save. 29

12 Additional Resources Spirit-Empowered Ministry in Jesus Name References 1. Rodney M. Woo, The Color of Church (Nashville: B&H, 2009), John B. Polhill, Acts, vol. 26 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 2013) [WORDsearch]. 3. John Cassian, On the Incarnation of the Lord Against Nestorius, 7.19, quoted in Acts, ed. Francis Martin, with Evan Smith, vol. 5 in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament (IVP, 2014) [WORDsearch]. 4. Trillia J. Newbell, Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves (Chicago: Moody, 2015), Richard N. Longenecker, Acts, in The Expositor s Bible Commentary, vol. 9 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010) [WORDsearch]. 6. Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, 33.3, quoted in Acts, ed. Francis Martin, with Evan Smith, vol. 5 in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament [WORDsearch]. 7. Kay Arthur, God, How Can I Live? (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2004), Babu Immanuel Venkataraman, Acts, in South Asia Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015), David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009) [WORDsearch]. 10. Matt Chandler, with Jared Wilson, The Explicit Gospel (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012), Rudolf Gwalther, Homily 30, Acts 4:24-31, quoted in Acts, eds. Esther Chung-Kim and Todd R. Hains, vol. 6 in Reformation Commentary on Scripture: New Testament (Downers Grove: IVP, 2016) [WORDsearch]. 12. Scotty Smith, Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2011), 138. Study Material Get expert insights on weekly studies through Ministry Grid at MinistryGrid.com/web/TheGospelProject. Grow with other group leaders at the Group Ministry blog at LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry. -- Spreading the News of the King Act 5 from The Drama of Scripture by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen -- The Greatest Challenge Article by Os Guinness; find a link to this article at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources --Previous Biblical Illustrator articles, including Alms and Almsgiving, can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at LifeWay.com/BiblicalIllustrator. Look for Bundles: The Gospel Project. Sermon Podcast Thom S. Rainer: Acts 4:13-22 Find a link to this at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources Tip of the Week Trading a Party for a Project Too many times when we think of a group project, we think of going to the soup kitchen and forget about the needs that might be right under our noses. There may be someone in your group needing some type of help this month. Encourage care group leaders to ask the people in their group about any needs they may have this Christmas or if there is a need in their neighborhood. As needs are discovered, mobilize the group as a whole to meet the need. You may even want to suggest that, in lieu of a Christmas party, your group be involved in meeting a need in your community. 30 Leader Guide

13 About the Writers The Gospel Project Adult Leader Guide CSB Volume 6, Number 2 Winter Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources Ed Stetzer and Trevin Wax General Editors Brian Dembowczyk Managing Editor Daniel Davis Content Editor Josh Hayes Content and Production Editor Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Content Editor by to daniel.davis@lifeway.com or mail to Content Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Leader Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN ; or make comments on the Web at lifeway.com. Printed in the United States of America The Gospel Project : Adult Leader Guide CSB (ISSN pending; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax , or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Unit: 1 Mike Cosper is the founder and director of Harbor Media, where he develops podcasts that help Christians navigate a post- Christian world. Previously he served for 16 years as one of the founding pastors of Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky, where he oversaw Sojourn Music a collective of musicians writing songs for the local church. He is the author of four books, including (most recently) Recapturing the Wonder. Katie Orr (special session), creator of the FOCUSed15 Bible study method, is passionate about equipping busy women to experience God daily. She is a teacher, speaker, podcaster, and prolific writer for blogs, magazines, and Sunday School curriculum. A former Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) staff member and mother to three young children, she and pastorhusband, Chris, are part of the church revitalization movement. Unit: 2 Jason C Dukes (sessions 7-9) has been a church starter, a church renewer, and tries to be a disciple-maker. He s currently the Multiplication Minister with Brentwood Baptist Church near Nashville, Tennessee. He has authored books and periodically blogs, which you can learn more about at LiveSent.com. He and his wife, Jen, are thankful for their seven children. Daniel Im (sessions 10-12) serves as the Director of Church Multiplication for NewChurches.com at LifeWay Christian Resources. He is also a teaching pastor at The Fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee, and author of No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts That Will Transform Your Ministry and Planting Missional Churches. He is married to Christina, and they have three children, Victoria, Adelyn, and Makarios. WRITERS