Main point: Christ s power is made present through the witness of our deeds and words.

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Scot Haynes
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1 Week 5, Acts 3 Hook Main point: Christ s power is made present through the witness of our deeds and words. Activity: Today s lesson emphasizes the need for both words and deeds when sharing the Gospel. Break your class into small groups and assign them one of the categories below: Music, Film Characters, Television Characters, Famous Husband/Wife Duos, Historical Figures Challenge your class to generate as many classic duos as they can within their assigned category. Provide a three-minute window for the game. At the conclusion of the three minutes, ask each group to share the number of combinations they generated and declare the group with most duos the winner. Describe a biblical person who shared the Gospel with power in both words and deeds? How might someone demonstrate the Gospel through his actions in today s culture? What method do you use to share the Gospel in words? 1

2 Week 5, Acts 3 Book Main point: Christ s power is made present through the witness of our deeds and words. Text Summary: Acts 3 In this chapter, we see the Gospel spread from the localized Pentecost experience to the Jews at the Jerusalem temple. While coming to the temple to pray, Peter performs a healing (vv. 1 10), and immediately after, preaches the Gospel to bring interpretation to his good deed (vv ). In his actions and words, we are given a picture of what effective witnessing entails. Acts 3:1 10 [Read] Sub-Point: We make Christ present by doing deeds in His powerful name. Verse 1 Starting in verse 1, Luke sets the stage for the apostles ministry in Jerusalem and offers a snapshot of effective witnessing. First, Peter and John head to the temple to pray. Jewish prayer times were scheduled three different times a day, and Luke notes that the apostles chose to go during the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.). On a strategic level, the ninth-hour prayer time incorporated a sacrifice, which tended to gather larger crowds. Thus, the 3:00 p.m. prayer time was best for ministry purposes. 1 On an emotional level, the ninth-hour was the time of day Jesus cried out on the Cross that It is finished (John 19:30). This time of day may have held special significance to the apostles. 2 Peter and John s example here teaches us that abiding in Christ s ongoing work includes a combination of both dependent prayer and appropriate strategy. Nothing is done without continual reliance on His presence. Q: How do your daily activities reflect your dependence on Christ? Q: How do you plan your daily schedule? What do you put first? Last? What is optional? Verses 2 4 Luke begins his account of Peter s healing a lame beggar. First, we note that this beggar sits at the Beautiful Gate every day, receiving alms (v. 2). It is clever for him to choose this location for two reasons: One, the Jews would gather here often, and they considered alms-giving an admirable deed. Two, the gate was intricate and overladen with Corinthian bronze (something far more valuable than silver or gold at the time). The beggar s wretched appearance before such a magnificent backdrop would have made his condition look all the worse, which would usually increase the compassion of onlookers. 3 1 Polhill, NAC, Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word, chapter 6. 3 Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word, chapter 6. 2

3 For Peter, it is also the perfect setting to use the man s attention (v. 4) to teach about the precious value of what Christ offers in contrast to what culture finds precious and valuable (i.e., silver, gold or bronze). Verses 5 6 When the beggar looks at the apostles, he naturally expects to receive alms from them. However, Luke uses this opportunity to reveal that an effective witness gives someone beyond what they expect (temporary alms), and offering what they don t deserve (total renewal in Christ). Peter sees the greater need beyond the physical, and after healing the man from lame to leaping, seeks to offer the message of hope found in the Gospel. We should note that Peter gives out of what he does have (v. 6). Peter could not impart Christ s restorative power to another person if he did not possess it himself. In our own witness, we can only offer a message that can change someone s condition from spiritual lameness to leaping because we ve experienced this healing ourselves. 4 Q: When you give toward an immediate physical need, what do you do about the person s spiritual need for God? Verse 6 The second thing we must note is that Peter heals in the name of Jesus Christ. Invoking a name this way, in the biblical sense, is calling upon that person s power, authority, and presence to show up in a current situation. 5 Luke includes this to reiterate that the Church is continuing Christ s work in the world, not inventing their own agenda. The lesson is clear for us today that no effective ministry can be done without Jesus power and presence. Q: How have you grown weary in trying to do Christ s work without His power or presence? Q: What have you done in the name of Jesus this week? Verses 7 10 We see the results of Peter s miraculous deed. First, we note that the man immediately started walking (vv. 7 8). Next, we see that the beggar responded by leaping and praising God and also entering the temple with Peter and John (v. 8). After a lifetime of no access to Jewish prayer times, this healed beggar rejoices at finally having access to God through prayer. Third, we observe that the surrounding Jews were witnesses to this man s healing (vv. 9 10). With their own eyes, they saw him fully changed, walking, and praising God, being filled with wonder and amazement at what happened to him. At this point, Peter has not begun to interpret what has happened. He has simply performed an incredible deed in front of others. Here we see that Peter s witness in Jerusalem is not recorded by Luke as one of preaching the Gospel alone, but rather he uses good deeds such as healing the beggar to illustrate and support his Gospel message. Each deed Peter (as well as the other apostles in Acts) performs serves as a living picture of what God offers humanity through Christ. 4 Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word, chapter 6. 5 Polhill, NAC, 128 and Longenecker, EBC,

4 Q: Reflect on something wonderful God has done in your life. What was your immediate response? Do you still have that response? Q: What have you heard about sharing the Gospel through words versus through deeds? Do you agree? What does the Bible say? Acts 3:11 26 [Read] Sub-Point: We make Christ present by sharing the powerful words of the Gospel. Verse 11 After Peter heals the lame beggar, the healed man clings to the apostles and goes with them into the temple, along with a great swarm of people who have seen the miracle take place. Now that everyone has transitioned into Solomon s Portico, an area along the eastern wall of the temple, the scene is set for Peter s message. A healed man is present as living evidence of Jesus healing power, clutching to the apostles in front of everyone, and there is also a crowd gathered who has witnessed the healing of this man. No one can argue what had happened. All they need now is interpretation. Where did this healing come from? How did this happen? Q: Consider what God has done to powerfully restore something in your life. How can you use this experience to share the Gospel with someone? Verses The crowd is standing in amazement, staring at the apostles as if they are the source of this miracle, but Peter wants all the eyes off of the apostles and on Jesus (v. 12). To do this, he points instead to faith in the name of Jesus (v. 16). Peter sees this spectacle caused by a deed and uses it as an opportunity to share the Gospel in word. He explains why faith in the name of a crucified man could have such power and outlines the basics of the Gospel: the death and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (vv ). Verses In this final part of Peter s message, he chooses his words carefully to accomplish three main goals. Peter weaves together three important parts of effective witnessing: He contextualizes his message, he highlights the need for repentance, and he offers the hope of forgiveness found in Jesus, making sure not to neglect one of these elements in favor of another. First, he contextualizes the message, crafting his speech specifically for a Jewish audience, making sure to use words and phrases that make sense to the Jewish people. For example, in verse 13, Peter starts with a common Judaic formula: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers. Opening with the common ground they share, worship of the God of the Hebrew patriarchs, Peter continues to reference the Hebrew Scriptures, mentioning the prophets (v. 18), Moses (v. 22), Samuel (v. 24) and Abraham (v. 25). Jesus drew similar common ground before calling a person to a difficult task. In His teaching among fishermen, He spoke of fish (Matthew 4:19) and in His conversation with the woman at 4

5 the well, He spoke of water (John 4). In his continued work among the Jews, the Spirit inspires Peter to speak of the Jewish patriarchs and prophets to tell the story of God s work to bring salvation to the world. Here we see that effective witnessing begins with seeking common ground by using concepts and words that our audience can understand. Q: Given the mission field God has placed you in, what are some words and phrases that could help build Gospel bridges with the people around you? Q: How have you struggled to share the Gospel message with a particular person or context? Second, Peter also highlights the need for repentance. Though he reaches out to those he is addressing by seeking common ground, he does not shy away from declaring the difficult reality of their sin (vv. 17, 19). He may be a fellow Jew, but he has repented and trusted in Christ as the Messiah. Peter s audience has not yet come to this conclusion, and that means despite their ethnic commonalities, they are still worlds apart. Peter is very clear about the darkness of their position before God. If they do not follow Jesus, they will be cut off in an inheritance as his eternal people (v. 23). The blessings that God promises Abraham cannot be received without first demonstrating repentance and turning from your wicked ways (v. 26). These verses challenge us not only to build bridges with nonbelievers, but make sure we do not shy away from confronting guilt before offering hope. Third, Peter also offers them the hope of forgiveness found in Jesus, an alternative to their bleak situation. He invites them to repent so that their sin can be wiped out and times of refreshing could come upon them (v. 19). Peter wants them to trust in Christ while they still have a chance to experience the times of restoration that He is bringing upon the earth (v. 21). He acknowledges their promised access to the inherited blessings of Abraham, but reframes their expectations so that repentance of sin, not self-righteous claims, is what opens the door to new life (vv ). We learn from Peter that we don t have to leave nonbelievers in their helpless state. Instead, we can share the Gospel of Christ s life, death, and Resurrection, offering them times of refreshing both now and forevermore, should they choose to turn back to Christ. Q: Are you naturally a bold person? What makes a conversation about repentance challenging? How can a believer overcome that challenge and proceed in bold Gospel conversations? Q: When you first heard the Gospel, what caught your attention and convicted you of your need to repent and be forgiven? Peter demonstrates something vital in this chapter: The effective Christian witness is comprised of both deed and word working together. This is a principle that started not with Peter, but with the Savior he follows. Some of us deem ourselves more gifted in speaking the Gospel, and 5

6 leave the good deeds to others. Others of us reverse this: We are comfortable loving people in deed, but shy away from preaching the Gospel with our actual words. Peter s ministry teaches us that both are required in an effective witness, regardless of our gifting or comfort levels. 6

7 Week 5, Acts 3 Took Main point: Christ s power is made present through the witness of our deeds and words. Activity: The 3 Circles method of evangelism is an effective way to quickly and easily share the Gospel. Take a few moments to share the 3 Circles method of evangelism with your class again and then provide your class with a few minutes to practice with one another. Click the link below for a refresher video (begin at time marker 2:27). Lesson Conclusion: Just as Peter and the apostles had been commissioned to walk in Jesus power and authority in their witness, the Church likewise is commissioned to scatter into the world, witnessing in the name of Christ. In order to continue Christ s work in the world, we must demonstrate the Gospel in deed and communicate it in word. Challenges Work on weakness This week, consider how you can focus on sharing the Gospel in ways that are uncomfortable to you. If you struggle with deeds, list some clear actions you can take 7

8 to serve others in order to demonstrate the Gospel to others. If you struggle with words, prepare for some clear conversations you can have with lost friends this week in order to share the Gospel with others. Repent of human idols Just as the Jews in the temple were tempted to idolize the apostles for the miracle God performed through them, we, too, can idolize certain people in ministry. Who in your life do you assume has higher access to God? Are there people you are jealous of in ministry because of the way God works within them? Take time to repent of your looking to people as amazing instead of God. Pray for the Lord to work through your life however He sees fit, and turn away from comparison. Build a strategy We saw throughout Acts 3 that prayerful dependency on God and appropriate strategy-building are not at odds. Think of the places you frequent often and the familiar faces at these places. It may be your gym, your workplace, or a certain coffee shop. Come up with a Gospel-sharing strategy before heading to this location, and use this God-given part of your weekly schedule to share the Good News. 8

WHAT I HAVE IN COMMON WITH A LAME BEGGAR ACTS SERIES, PART 5_EXTENDED OUTLINE

Text: Acts Chapter 3 WHAT I HAVE IN COMMON WITH A LAME BEGGAR ACTS SERIES, PART 5_EXTENDED OUTLINE Peter Heals a Lame Beggar 1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer at