INDUCTIVE LESSON THREE Getting More Than He Begged For

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Gilbert McCormick
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1 INDUCTIVE LESSON THREE Getting More Than He Begged For What are the biggest problems facing the world today? According to a worldwide survey taken in June of 2011, the world s greatest concerns are poverty, hunger, terrorism, global warming, and the failing economy. 1 On a personal level, Psychology Today found that people are most worried about health, relationships, and finances 2. The man in our story, an invalid for all of his forty years, would certainly have identified his greatest needs as financial and physical infirmity. Peter saw his problem a little differently; he saw the man s greatest need as salvation, and went about helping him meet his need. It is important to remember that while temporal needs may seem urgent, man s greatest need is to be reconciled to God. Christianity Today writes that in focusing just on meeting the needs of the downtrodden, We do violence to the poor if we don t share the gospel with them as well. 3 Peter s second evangelistic outreach, recorded in Acts 3, followed the same pattern as the first, recorded in the previous chapter. He got everyone s collective attention with a miracle, and followed it with a gospel presentation that focused on evidence of Jesus deity from His life, His crucifixion, His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and His resurrection. It is interesting that Peter tells his mostly Jewish audience that Jesus was the fulfillment of Moses prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:18. I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen (ish Hebrew-brother) like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him (NASB). It is interesting to note that Muslims claim that the Bible predicts the coming of their prophet Mohammed and use this passage as an example of Mohammed in the Torah (Old Testament). A close look at this passage shows that Mohammed, a descendent of Ishmael, is not a brother or countryman of Moses, but rather a descendent of Isaac, and is thus disqualified from fulfilling this prophecy. Does the name of Jesus still produce healing? Absolutely! All who call upon His name will be saved. Does this always equate to a physical healing as well? Most would answer not necessarily, and that healing is dependent upon the sovereign will of God. While God still intervenes in miraculous ways, we often see His healing today through the agency of medical professionals. William Barclay illustrates this balance by quoting an elderly English surgeon, I apply the bandages but God provides the healing. 4 This story provides a normative, or guideline, to use when evaluating the scriptural validity of faith healers seen today. Herbert and Catherine Schaible were jailed in February of 2014 for the death of their second child from pneumonia, for refusing to get medical treatment. The couple, members of a small Pennsylvania Pentecostal community, stated, We believe in divine healing, that Jesus shed blood for our healing and that he died on the cross to break the devil s power. 5 A good understanding of the passage we are studying this week would have prevented a needless tragedy biggest-problems-in-the-world-according-to-the-eu ?op= William Barclay Daily Bible Study Series The Acts of The Apostles, Westminster Press Philadelphia 1976 page Prayer Start by praying over the passage and asking the Holy Spirit to give you fresh insights and wisdom in understanding it. Then read through the entire passage two or three times. 1

2 Memory Verse Faith is mentioned twice as the basis for the healing we will be studying this week. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Inductive Method Step 1: Observation My Observations: In the left column, write down observations you make directly from the text. Things to look for: What are the promises? What are the commands? What are the sources of conflict? What are the cause/effect relationships? What are the repeated words and ideas? What do we know about who is speaking and who is receiving the message? What comparisons and contrasts can you identify and what do they illustrate? Do you have unanswered questions on part of the passage? (Share them with your group.) Digging Deeper: In the right column, write down any additional observations you can add from other sources such as: Other scriptures that apply (cross references) Dictionaries for specific words (English or Greek dictionary) Bible dictionaries for historical information Commentaries (See the Tool Box at the end of the study for suggested sources.) Parallel passages in other books. Accounts found in parallel passages, while very similar, often reveal small but critical details omitted by another author. Inductive Method Step 2: Interpretation Webster tells us that interpret means to explain the meaning or make understandable. What is the spiritual truth or lesson that God is trying to teach in this passage? Don t isolate the passage but read into it and read out of it. Look for commands, imperatives, promises, or warnings. What is God saying to those people at that time? (You will share what God is saying to you in the next section.) State the spiritual truth or lesson in a single sentence. Inductive Method Step 3: Application This is where you purpose to do what God has taught you in your time with Him. It is through applying the Word that God changes lives. Application does not happen by osmosis but by intent. God enlightens us with His Word, we apply what we ve learned with our wills, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to carry out these choices. The goal of all application is to glorify God by becoming more like Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for... Teaching: What did I learn? Reproof: Where do I fall short? Why do I fall short? 2

3 Correction: What will I do about it? Training in righteousness: How can I make this principle a consistent part of my life? Study Text / Worksheet Write down your observations, comments, or questions directly on the text as you go over it. A Lame Man Healed Acts 3: Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, Look at us. 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. My Observations Digging Deeper Interpretation: 3

4 Application: Peter s Proclamation, Part 1 Acts 3: Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. My Observations Digging Deeper Interpretation: 4

5 Application: Peter s Proclamation, Part 2 Acts 3: Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities. My Observations 5 Digging Deeper

6 Interpretation: Application: Take Away / Summary If one of your friends at work or a neighbor were to ask you what you did on Tuesday, you would tell them you went to a Bible study. The next question would likely be, What did you learn? We often summarize an entire athletic contest or a movie in a few brief sentences and easily convey the essence of the event. Now apply these same skills to give a summary of the passage in a sentence or two. Then, in an additional sentence or two, describe what impact this passage will have on how you live. Memory Verse Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Key Words/Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. Times of Refreshing (Acts 3:19) Times of Restoration of All Things (Acts 3:21) 6

7 Tool Box Step 1: The Bible. Read the passage in a couple of different versions. If you are having trouble understanding a passage, choose a more dynamic version such as New Living Translation or The Message). To focus in on the exact meaning of a verse, choose a more literal translation such as New American Standard Bible or New King James Version. Step 2: Study Tools. Use these to help you dig deeper. Background Information: 1) Unger s Bible Dictionary 2) Bible Dictionaries online at biblestudytools.com and blueletterbible.com. Word Studies: 1) Zodhiates The Complete Word Study New Testament 2) Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary 3) Strong s Dictionary of Bible Words 4) The two websites listed above Step 3: Commentaries. Commentaries should not be used in place of studying God s Word directly, but they can give you additional insights. Some good commentaries include: John MacArthur, J. Vernon McGee, The Expositors Commentary, NIV Application Commentary, William Barclay (great for background and culture but be careful of his spiritual applications). Word for Word Translations NASB New American Standard Version American-Bible-NASB/ AMP-Amplified Bible ESV- English Standard Version KJV King James Version Bible/ NKJV New King James Version Version-NKJV-Bible/ NIV New International Version Thought for Thought Translations NLT New Living Translation The Message Mark Newton. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. 7

8 Message Notes 8

DEDUCTIVE LESSON THREE

DEDUCTIVE LESSON THREE Getting More Than He Begged For What are the biggest problems facing the world today? According to a worldwide survey taken in June of 2011, the world s greatest concerns are poverty,