Community Study Lesson: God's Perfect Plan

Community Study Lesson: God's Perfect Plan Biblical Passage Acts 8:1-8 Supporting Passages Acts 1:8; 11:19-21 Memory Verse Acts 8:4 Biblical Truth As Christians were dispersed around the world, they became a part of God's sovereign agenda of making disciples of all nations. Context In Acts 1:8 the disciples were told they would be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the world. In this passage, the disciples were beginning to be dispersed outside Jerusalem. The persecution following Stephen's death drove the believers into Judea and Samaria and eventually as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch (Acts 11:19). In God's sovereign wisdom and power, He used these events to accomplish His redemptive purpose of gathering worshipers from every tongue (Rev. 5:9). The Church continued to grow under the mighty hand of God (Acts 11:20-21). Learning Goals To understand that God often accomplishes His purposes through the difficult circumstances His people face. To determine to be on mission with Christ in whatever place or situation God leads us to. Prayer Suggestions As you prepare to teach this lesson, pray for your students. Pray that your students will understand God's plan for spreading the gospel. Pray that your students will open themselves to being obedient to what God wants to do through their lives. Pray that your students will have the desire to participate in missions. Investigation We have all heard the phrase "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." In this passage from Acts, the going was getting tough. The apostles were already being persecuted, Stephen was dead because of his preaching, and the rest of the young Church was being mistreated. Saul was beginning to wreak havoc on the Church. The Gospels tell us a story of Jesus on a journey that ultimately moved toward Jerusalem, God's Holy City. In this passage, believers were fleeing from Jerusalem into places not considered holy. Sometimes we get busy trying to shape our world so that it is safe for the message of Jesus Christ. Philip seemed not to care about the safety of his world or about changing the world so it was safe for preaching. He moved out into a world that could be expected neither to receive him nor his message well. Many Jews in Jerusalem refused to hear and even threatened those who brought the message. However, Samaritans-foreigners-gave an unexpectedly positive response to Philip's faithful preaching. Importance This passage teaches that [The Church Is God's Plan]. This passage of Scripture is important for students because it reminds them that it is God's desire that Christians blanket the world with His message of love and forgiveness. The Church glorifies God when believers share Christ in both friendly and hostile settings. He is in control of every situation. Persecution can result in a deeper faith and stronger commitment to God. Interpretation Acts 8:1 Chapter 8 begins with a reminder that Saul was present at and approving of Stephen's stoning. Even if he threw no stones, Saul was linked to the death of this first Christian martyr. We may guess that Saul (later Paul) carried the image of Stephen's torture, as well as the guilt of his participation, for the rest of his life. Paul refers to this experience in a speech given on a visit to the Jerusalem church (Acts 22:20). The phrase "that day" lets us know that the following events took place at the same time that Stephen was murdered. An uprising of the Jews against believers was actually related to Stephen's death. Its timing was not coincidental but seems to have been a continuation and expansion of the uprising against Stephen (Acts 11:19). It developed into a general harassment of the early Church, what Acts calls a "great persecution." Copyright Life Bible Study, LLC, 2016. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of purchased curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted. Page: 1

Community Study Lesson: God's Perfect Plan The apostles-the original eleven along with Judas' replacement Matthias-were able to remain in Jerusalem. The rest of the Church leaders fled to locations outside the city. Luke tells us they were "[scattered]." They went out to places they might not ordinarily have gone, including Samaria. The specific way in which the actions of these early Church members followed the commission of Christ is unmistakable: "in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria" (Acts 1:8). Their enemies drove them right into God's plan. Acts 8:2 We receive here one final reminder of the death of Stephen. Some pious men came to buryhim and mourn his death. We are only told they were pious, righteous ones. The term usually refers to righteous Jews. There could have been righteous believers who took time to bury Stephen on their way out of town. It seems more likely, however, that these were Jews who did not take part in the current persecution of Christians. There were sometimes pious men, such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who sought after Jesus and yet seemed to remain within the Jewish community. These "pious ones" may have been such seekers. Whoever they were, they may have taken a great risk in burying Stephen. Jewish law banned proper burial for one stoned to death. Acts 8:3 The scene was chaotic. The apostles were in Jerusalem, Stephen was dead and buried, the believers were fleeing out across Judea and Samaria, and Saul began to "[ravage]" the Jerusalem church unrelentingly. Suddenly Saul became a powerful Christian persecutor. Saul later admitted that he "persecuted the church of God violently" (Gal. 1:13.) He wrote that "as to zeal, he was a persecutor of the church" (Phil. 3:6). Saul was a young man of passion. But the source of his passion was dead wrong. Passion, without perception, is a very dangerous thing. Saul was passionately causing mayhem in the newborn Church. It is clear the persecution Saul brought was widespread. He was terrorizing the remaining Christian population of Jerusalem. That he went from "house to house" could mean several things. "Houses" could refer to synagogues, places where believers often went to tell other Jews about Jesus the Messiah. It is more likely Saul was searching out house churches, a form of gathering common in the early Church, and pulling out those assembled there. He knew no limits, even dragging women off to prison. It was a time of severe stress for the Jerusalem believers. Acts 8:4 This clear and simple verse tells what happened in the face of all the chaos and persecution. These scattered ones went "[preaching] [the Word]." No matter how disruptive and frightening things might have been, the scattered believers went on sharing the gospel. The killing, persecution, and imprisonment of early Christians were evil events. These actions clearly were not from God. Evil is never God's plan. However, God and His Word will prevail even in the face of evil. Acts 8:5 Philip was the second man possessed by the power of the Holy Spirit and listed among the Seven Hellenists (Acts 6:5). With Stephen gone, one would expect Philip to step forward. When Philip fled Jerusalem, he apparently went straight to Samaria intending to preach about the Messiah. Samaria is north of Jerusalem, so "went down" refers to walking down from the higher altitude of the city of Jerusalem. Acts 8:6-7 While the Samaritans were similar to Jews, their expectation of a Messiah was limited to the idea of a prophet like Moses who would bring a new law. The religion and culture of the Samaritans were so different, and the animosity so strong, that Philip's preaching seemed outrageous. The fact that the people of Samaria responded to Philip's preaching in such an overwhelming way is again evidence of the Holy Spirit's working. The Samaritans were pleased that Philip brought healing for troubled souls and bodies. They not only saw Philip perform [signs] they also "listened" and "paid attention" to what he said. Acts 8:8 In just five verses, the story moves from great chaos to great joy. Where great chaos was in Jerusalem (Acts 8:3) great joy was now in Samaria (Acts 8:8). The Samaritans heeded the Word. The people of Samaria responded to the message carried by Philip with "one accord," a response that brought joy to their town. Implications Evil times and evil people caused God's people to flee. The leaders of the Jerusalem church dispersed like seeds in the wind. Some seeds took root and grew in Samaria-an alien culture. What is your response to alien people and places? Jerusalem was not a safe place for believers but the Apostles remained there. They shared the gospel however they could. Samaria was not a comfortable place for Jews to spend their days. The Samaritan culture and religion were alien and suspect. That didn't stop Philip from teaching about Jesus. Do you wait until you feel safe to share the gospel? Do you trust the Holy Spirit to prepare the hearts of the listeners and give you the words to say? Do you worry about how you are received? Philip was faithful to preach the Word wherever he found himself. He performed signs and miracles. You may be a little short on miracles, but you can certainly think of signs to perform-actions that point to Jesus. What can you do to point others to Jesus? Copyright Life Bible Study, LLC, 2016. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of purchased curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted. Page: 2

Community Study Lesson: God's Perfect Plan Teaching Plan: Connect Activities Connect activities get students ready to learn. Choose one or two of the activities below to introduce this week s lesson. If the lesson contains activity sheets, they will be included at the end of your lesson document. Drama: Excuses (5-10 minutes, easy set-up) Download the drama script. Prior to the session, enlist five students and/or adults to enact the drama, which can be as elaborate or simple as you choose. Print copies of the script. Give cast members copies ahead of time and ask them to be ready to perform it. After the drama is performed, ask: Did any of the excuses sound familiar? Then ask: What excuses have you used to avoid fulfilling God's purpose your life? Media Option: Undercover (10 minutes, DVD required) Show the clip. Then ask: Did you catch that these were Christians from Jerusalem who were undercover in another place? Then ask: What were they doing that was undercover? (sharing Christ) Why do you think they had to leave Jerusalem? Tell students that the DVD, while obviously not realistic, was based on something that actually happened and that is the focus of today's study. Teaching Plan: Explore Activities Explore activities lead students to study Scripture. Teach the Key Study to focus on the Biblical Truth. If you choose, support the Key Study with one or two of the following activities. If the lesson contains activity sheets, they will be included at the end of your lesson document. Master Teacher Key Study: God's Will and God's Way (15-20 minutes, easy set-up) Use this outline and the Biblical Commentary to prepare to share the truths of this passage with students. Printa copy of the Master Teacher Worksheet for each student. Download the worksheet. Encourage students to take notes on their worksheets as you teach. Introduction: Eddie George had been the star running back for the Tennessee Titans. But in 2004, the Titans could not reach an agreement with George on his salary package to stay, and they released him. While George may have felt a little burned by the Titans, he quickly signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Some players would focus on the failures of their previous team. How did George react? He said, "I think Dallas is committed to the run, and I think I can help with that." George put himself into his new team and started working. In the early Church, a lot of Christians were displaced because of persecution. They could have sulked about being pushed out of Jerusalem. Instead, they used their unwilling moves as an opportunity to share the gospel. Read Acts 8:1-8. 1. God accomplishes His will and His ways even in difficult and frustrating times. God used the dispersion of Christians to spread the Good News. (See Commentary on Acts 8:1.) God can supernaturally use what people mean for evil for His own good. (See Commentary on Acts 8:4; also see Romans 8:28.) God is sovereign in every circumstance in our lives. Copyright Life Bible Study, LLC, 2016. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of purchased curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted. Page: 3

Community Study Lesson: God's Perfect Plan 2. God uses us to be on mission with Him whatever the circumstances. God can use us in places we don't particularly like, places where we don't understand why we are there. God can use us in times that are difficult if we will continue to focus on Him. God will never leave us nor forsake us-he will not turn His back on us. (See Joshua 1:5.) 3. We must not be discouraged by our circumstances. God can use whatever happens in our lives for His glory if we don't lose sight of His ultimate plan-to bring all people to Him. (See Commentary on Acts 8:8.) We are where we are for a reason and a purpose-god's reason and God's purpose. God needs people "scattered" to accomplish His will. (See Implication section in Commentary.) Illustration: A Japanese father and his son loaded their cart with vegetables, hitched it to an ox, and headed to the city to sell their produce. The son was eager to sell their goods and get back home. The father was not in any big hurry. The son beat the ox to try to make it walk faster. They later stopped off at the father's brother's house for a visit, which further frustrated the son because he was interested in getting to market and not at all interested in visiting his uncle. They took the longer route because the father said it was much prettier. They stopped to rest and spend the night. The next morning they passed another farmer whose cart was stuck in the ditch. The father stopped to help. Not long afterward, a great flash filled the sky over the city, followed by a loud thunderous sound. The sky drew dark. All the son could think about was that the produce could have already been sold before the rain hit. When the father and son finally arrived at a hill overlooking the city, they both stared in awe but didn't say a word. They turned around and headed back home... away from the city that had been Hiroshima. [Source: Gray, Alice, comp. Stories for the Heart. Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishing, 1996, 201-203.] Conclusion: The dispersion of the early Church, though terrible, resulted in God's sovereign plan being carried out. It was much like a farmer scattering seed. Each seed that is spread produces new growth. Every circumstance is an opportunity to be on mission with God and an opportunity to grow God's Kingdom. Teaching Plan: Transform Activities Choose one or two Transform activities to challenge students to live differently. Keep in mind that the Holy Spirit ultimately brings about change, so help students draw near to Him. If the lesson contains activity sheets, they will be included at the end of your lesson document. Deeper Discussion (5-10 minutes, easy set-up) Read Acts 8:1-8 and 11:19-21. Ask: What is your current "spiritual pain threshold"-how much opposition do you endure before you compromise your spiritual beliefs? How much opposition should a Christian tolerate? Does God need us in order to accomplish His purposes? If yes, why doesn't He get rid of the obstacles? If no, why does His plan include us? Is it possible to determine ahead of time to be on mission with Christ before you know the circumstances? Copyright Life Bible Study, LLC, 2016. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of purchased curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted. Page: 4

Community Lesson 13 Room Set-Up ROOM SET-UP Hang on the wall pictures of churches that you have torn in half. Use churches in a variety of sizes and styles. Turn chairs and tables over as if the room had been vacated quickly. Hang a banner on the wall that reads Where have they gone? SUPPLY LIST Connect... Drama: Excuses Copies of the drama script DVD: Undercover Community DVD; DVD player Worst Case Scenario Copy of the Worse Case Scenario PDF, cut apart Blob Small playing area marked off with tape or chairs or an outside playing area Tag and Trade Deck of playing cards; small playing area cleared of obstacles; two prizes Explore... The Key Study: Scattered for Good Copies of the Student Worksheet The Master Teacher Key Study: God s Will and God s Way Copies of the Master Teacher Student Worksheet Greater Impact Copies of the Student Worksheet Sent to Share Copies of the Sent to Share PDF The Unknown Christian Copy of the The Unknown Christian PDF When and Where: Jerusalem and Beyond New Testament Timeline, The Roman Empire map, Modern Day Mediterranean map Transform... Deeper Discussion No supplies needed When the Going Gets Tough Copies of the When the Going Gets Tough PDF Scattered Prayers Paper to cut into confetti placed in bag; paper; pencils Are You Willing? Copies of the Student Worksheet; pencils with good erasers Copyright Student Life Publishing, 2005. All rights reserved. Community: Lesson 13, Room Set-Up Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.

Community Lesson 13 Drama Title: Excuses Creative Directors Note: This reader's theater presents excuses for not fulfilling God s purpose. Cast of Characters: ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE Costumes: Casual attire (Readers line up side-by-side facing the audience.) I can't. THREE: I can't. FOUR: Not me. FIVE: We must learn. I can't. FIVE: To live. Not me. FIVE: And obey. THREE: I'm not smart enough. FIVE: And love. Not right now. FOUR: I'm not spiritual enough. I don t have time. THREE: My life is too busy as it is. FOUR: I can t do anything worth doing anyway. FIVE: Where He has us. ALL: I m not enough. FIVE: In this moment. I m too young. I m not old enough. In this moment. FIVE: You are young. THREE: I m not smart enough. FOUR: I don t know the Bible well enough. To reach the young. FIVE: You are poor. I can't go on a mission trip. THREE: To reach the poor. I can't help with the little kids at church. THREE: I can't lead a Bible study. FIVE: You are busy. FOUR: To reach those you are busy with. FOUR: I can't tell my parents about Jesus. They need people with money. Get the word out. Teach all these things. People who are smart. THREE: People who are committed. FOUR: People who are spiritual. THREE: And don t let anyone put you down because you re young. FOUR: You don't have to be strong, rich, or powerful. Not me. FIVE: You just have to obey. Copyright Student Life Publishing, 2005. All rights reserved. Community: Lesson 13, Drama, Page 1 Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.

You just have to live. You just have to love. THREE: You just have to believe. FOUR: Teach believers with your life. By word. By demeanor. THREE: By faith, by love. FOUR: By integrity. Don t wish you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are now is God s place for you. THREE: Live and obey, love and believe. FOUR: Right there. ALL: Right here. Exit Copyright Student Life Publishing, 2005. All rights reserved. Community: Lesson 13, Drama, Page 2 Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.