Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Opening: When people describe you, what is the characteristic they use that you are most proud of?

Scripture: Read Acts 9:32-43.

Insights:

• The story leaves Paul (for now) and returns to Peter, and it sets up tomorrow’s lesson, which will be another major shift in Peter’s understanding of who might become followers of Jesus. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. 
• Lydda (which means “strife”), is the Greek name of the town that in Hebrew is called Lod, and is in the area given to the tribe of Benjamin. It was 12 miles from Jerusalem on the main road to the sea port city of Joppa, which was another 9 miles further. A stream outside the town is still bears the name of Abi-Butrus (Peter), in memory of the apostle. 
• Joppa was the chief seaport for Jerusalem and Judea. It was from Joppa that Jonah tried to escape the call of God (see Jonah 1:3). It is the modern city of Jaffa, and is the southern and oldest part of the Tel Aviv - Jaffa municipality. 
• Twice, Luke uses the Greek word hagios to refer to the Christians at Lydda. It means “holy”, or in this context, “saints” (see Acts 9:32,41). This is the same word that Paul always uses to describe the church member, for he always writes his letters to the saints that are at such and such a place. 
• Don’t let verse 43 just slide by. Peter stays with Simon, a tanner of hides. Simon would have constantly dealt with and touched dead animals. That meant he would have always been unclean in the Jewish mind, and anyone and anything within the house of an unclean person would also be considered unclean. This is a big, big deal that Peter is staying with him!

Life Questions:

• Peter heals Aeneas with the words, “Jesus Christ heals you…”  Peter knows that the power to heal is not his, but comes from Jesus. We think too much of what we can do and too little of what Christ can do through us. What area or ministry in your life needs less of you and more of Jesus?
• Do you think of yourself as a saint? What if “saint” meant more than “holy”, but also meant “different?” It does. Christians are the people who are different, their difference lying in the fact that they were chosen for the special purposes of God. So then we who are Christians are not different from others in that we are chosen for greater honor on this earth; we are different in that we are chosen for a greater service. We are saved to serve.

Prayer Focus: That we would be saints – holy and different – in service to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Opening: Think back to when you started on your new path (remember yesterday?). Maybe it was a new job in your career field, or when your new baby came home. Maybe it was when you accepted Jesus as your Savior. Were you excited? Did you give it everything you had?

 

Scripture: Read Acts 9:19b-31.

Insights:

• Saul becomes a powerful witness and apologist (defender) for movement and message of Jesus. And why not? He was a learned Pharisee; he knew the Scriptures. He had to wonder on his way to Damascus how good people would risk their lives on what he considered a lie. Now he knows why, and he is willing to risk it all for this new faith. 
• Two plots to kill Saul. Wow. The Jews considered him a dangerous man. 
• At the same time, the believers thought Saul’s conversion was a ruse, a way to get on the inside, and then rat everyone out. They were afraid to meet with him. It was Barnabas who vouches for this new believer. According to Galatians 1:18-19, Paul was in Jerusalem only 15 days and that he met only with Peter and James.

Life Questions:

• Saul goes back to his hometown to tell them that he is a changed man and that the one who changed him is Jesus Christ. If you have always lived in your hometown, what would people say about your Christian example? If you live away from your hometown, what would people say when you went back for a visit or reunion? 
• Verse 31 is another one of Luke’s summary/recap statements. He indicates that first, the church grew strong as the believers “lived in the fear of the Lord.” Second, the church grew in numbers through the encouragement of the Holy Spirit. What does this mean for our church?

Prayer Focus: That we would be powerful and effective witnesses for Jesus.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Opening: Have you ever experienced a turning point in your life, a moment when your life completely changed direction? What was it like in the moment? How are you different now because of it?

Scripture: Read Acts 9:1-19a.

Insights:

• Saul’s (Paul) letter from the high priest gave him authority wherever there were Jews. He heard that some Christians had escaped to Damascus when persecution broke out (see Acts 8:1), so he went to extradite them back to Jerusalem. The journey was about 140 miles from Jerusalem to Damascus. Saul’s only companions were the officers of the Sanhedrin, a kind of police force. Because he was a Pharisee, he could have nothing to do with them; so he was alone with his thoughts. 
• Saul stayed in the house of Judas on Straight Street, which was called that because (are you ready) it was straight.
• In his letters, Paul refers to this experience on the Damascus Road as the start of his new life in Christ (see 1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:8; Galatians 1:15,16). At the center of this wonderful experience was Jesus Christ. Paul did not see a vision; he saw the risen Christ himself (see Acts 9:17). Paul acknowledged Jesus as Lord, confessed his own sin, surrendered his life to Christ, and resolved to obey him.

Life Questions:

• Some people wish they had a “Damascus Road” type of conversion experience. You know, a kind of conversion with a blinding light, get knocked off your horse, and hear a voice. But God works in all kinds of ways. The important thing is that you have made a conscious decision to turn your life over to God. 
• Ananias was told by God to do something that he thought was crazy! “Go to Saul, the persecutor of the church. Are you sure, God?” Has God ever asked you to do something that seemed crazy? How did it go?
• God told Ananias, “And I will show [Saul] how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”  We want to think that faith in Christ brings great blessings, and it does. But it often brings great suffering too. Paul would suffer for his faith (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-27). God calls us to commitment, not to comfort. Let that sink in for a moment! Yet, no matter what we go through, He will be with us.
• What does Ananias call Saul in verse 17? Though he had some doubts about coming to Saul, he greeted him lovingly. Jesus said, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”  We are called to love even those who we think might persecute us.

Prayer Focus: That our turning points would bring us closer to Christ, and that we would be willing to do whatever “crazy” thing God calls us to do.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Opening: Have you ever found yourself at the right place and at the right time? That you were led somehow to be somewhere at the same moment someone else needed someone like you? What did it feel like? How does it feel to think that God placed you there?

Scripture: Read Acts 8:26-40.

Insights:

• We return to the story of Philip (see Friday’s lesson).
• The Ethiopian was an important official in the government of his country. But why did he go to Jerusalem? Judaism was known in his land through the influence of Queen Sheba who visited King Solomon (see 1 Kings 10). The treasurer was a proselyte of Judaism and had come to Jerusalem, but because he was a eunuch, he could not join Judaism (see Deuteronomy 23:1). As he was returning home from his religious pilgrimage, he was reading from Isaiah.
• By one count, the book of Isaiah has 38 prophecies regarding the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus. See Isaiah 7:14, 11:2, and 53:1-12 for examples.
• Philip understood that Christianity is for everyone. He baptized the eunuch, despite the fact that he might not have been admitted into full membership in the Jewish church.

Life Questions:

• Notice who initiates this encounter. It is God all along. God tells Philip to go to a particular road, and then tells him to strike up a conversation. Who is God nudging you to go to and simply start a conversation? 
• Are you, as 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” like Philip was? If not, maybe you could learn how. Contact Pastor Gary if you are interested.

Prayer Focus: That we would be faithful and available to the leading of the Holy Spirit to start a spiritual conversation.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Opening: Do you remember a time when you or your child was lost? It could have been in a store or in the neighborhood or at Kings Island. What were your feelings? Fear? Panic? Desperation?

 

Scripture: Sunday’s message is our text today. Read Luke15:1-7; 19:10.

Insights:

• The Pharisee’s complaint of Jesus: He purposefully spent time with “notorious” sinners. A Pharisee was forbidden to be the guest of these kinds of people or to have them as a guest in his house. The Pharisee was even forbidden, so far as it was possible, to have any business dealings with a sinner. It was the deliberate Pharisaic aim to avoid every contact with the people who did not observe the petty details of the law. Obviously, they would be shocked to the core at the way in which Jesus companied with people who were not only rank outsiders, but sinners, contact with whom would necessarily defile.  
• The shepherd was personally responsible for each one of his sheep. If one was attacked by a wild animal, the shepherd went to rescue it or returned with the sheep’s body. It was difficult and dangerous work, exposed to the elements and dangers of the wilderness. 
• The community gathers together, waiting for all the shepherds to return home. The news spreads – one is still out there. And when the last shepherd with his lost sheep are seen in the distance, there is great rejoicing. It is a party! (Sound familiar?)

Life Questions:

• What is Jesus’ motivation for being with sinners? It was more than “get them saved” or “increase His followers.” It was more simple and more profound than that: it was love. Can you imagine loving someone so much that no matter what they did, you could not let them go?  
• Sometimes we tend to “write off” a person that is very far from God. But the incredible truth is that God never gives up on anyone – not you and not the lowliest sinner. Do you know someone whom you think is a lost cause but of whom God is still pursuing? What might you do about it?

Prayer Focus: For tomorrow’s worship celebration, that we would hear the Good News about the Kingdom, and would risk it all for the lost souls.

Tomorrow’s Message Title: “The Church is like a… Search and Rescue Mission.”

Souls of men! why will ye scatter

Like a crowd of frightened sheep?

Foolish hearts! why will ye wander

From a love so true and deep?

Was there ever kindest shepherd

Half so gentle, half so sweet,

As the Savior who would have us

Come and gather round his feet?

For the love of God is broader

Than the measure of man’s mind;

And the heart of the Eternal

Is most wonderfully kind.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Opening: Have you ever been the bearer of good news? The birth of a baby? A promotion or new job? An “A” in that really hard class? What is it like to share good news? What are your feelings and motivations for sharing it? How do you feel when people respond positively to your good news?

Scripture: Read Acts 8:4-25.

Insights:

• Philip is often called “Philip the Evangelism” to try to illuminate confusion. Like Stephen, Philip was one of the Seven (see Acts 6:1-6), not the Philip who was one of the original twelve disciples. We don’t know the circumstances of his conversion, but he was an administrator of the food distribution, well respected and full of the Spirit and wisdom (see Acts 6:3). After the events in today and Sunday’s passages, we do not hear about Philip for 20 years. Then we find he lives in Caesarea and has four daughters who were preachers (see Acts21:9). After the fall of Jerusalem, many Christians were driven out of Palestine, and among them Philip and his daughters. One tradition connects Philip with Hierapolis in Asia, but in all probability the evangelist is confused with the apostle. Another tradition represents them as dwelling at Tralles, Philip being the first bishop of the Christian community.  
• Samaria is the former capital of the Kingdom of Israel, who separated from the Kingdom of Judah after Solomon’s death. It had a history of evil kings who led the people to idol worship. In 722 BC, the Kingdom of Israel was defeated by the Assyrians and deported throughout the nations.  
• Samaritans were looked down upon by Jews. The Samaritans were half-breeds – their parentage was not completely Jewish. This prejudice was so great that upstanding Jews wishing to travel between Galilee and Judea would go the long way around Samaria instead of taking the shortest route through.  
• The people of Samaria were captivated by Philip’s message and the miracles he did. Many were converted and baptized. Peter and John were sent to verify these conversions were authentic and to pray for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit came, it was a sign that proved that the message of Jesus was to go out to all people, not just the Jews.

Life Questions:

• Sometimes discerning the will of God is difficult. We pray about it, ask others’ counsel and prayer, and read Scripture. But sometimes, a sign is what we need, what we want, and what God gives. However, we must be careful to look for signs that are really not there. For example, praying “God, if you want me to do so and so, let the sun come up today.” Well, God is going to answer that prayer, but it may not be a sign. What are you praying about right now in your search for the will of God?

Prayer Focus: That we look through any troubles and persecution to what God can do through it.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Opening: Are you someone who has an answer for everything or someone who wishes they could say the perfect thing at a key moment instead of thinking of it later? Have you ever said something – good and necessary, or bad and spiteful – that got you in trouble?

 

Scripture: Read Acts 7:54-8:3.

Insights:

• Wow! If Stephen had ended his speech with Acts 7:50, he probably would not have incensed the Jewish leaders. There was nothing controversial there. But he continued:  
• He called them stubborn and heathen (Greek: “uncircumcised”). That was a personal attack on their religious standing.  
• He told them they were just like their ancestors, who persecuted and killed the prophets, except they went one step further: they killed God’s Righteous One – the Messiah. (Of course, this accusation had been made in Acts 2:23; 3:14-15; 4:10; and 5:30.) That was an attack on their religious leadership.  
• He told them that they deliberately disobeyed God’s law. That was an attack on their religious adherence.
• These things just made them mad. What threw the Jewish leaders over the edge was Stephen saying that Jesus was equal to God. That did it! (See John 8:58-59 and a similar situation with Jesus.)  
• Stoning of blasphemers (which they considered Stephen to be) was required in Mosaic Law, but it was illegal in Roman-ruled Palestine. Remember, the Jewish leaders could not legally execute Jesus, but needed Pilate’s signature on the execution order. So, Stephen was illegally stoned by the mob.
• Stephen’s final words echo those of Jesus on the cross. See Luke 23:34,46.  
• Luke introduces Saul at the end of chapter 7 and into the first few verses of chapter 8. Saul is clearly liked to this wave of persecution.
• When the persecution begins, believers began to scatter. To this point, the movement was localized only in Jerusalem. But now, believers are spreading out and taking the message of Jesus with them. We will see specific examples of this in Saturday and Monday’s passages.

Life Questions:

• There are Christians today being persecuted and martyred. Some stories are reported through the media, while others are unknown. The “Voice of the Martyrs“ website provides news and stories of Christian persecution.  
• We are commanded to “Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.”  Could you add “Christians facing persecution” to your prayer list?  
• It is very hard to ask God to forgive those who have hurt you. Is there someone in your life for whom you need to pray “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”?  
• Jesus’ last words to his followers were a command to take the gospel everywhere (see Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8), but they seemed reluctant to leave Jerusalem. It took intense persecution to scatter the believers from Jerusalem and into Judea and Samaria, where Jesus had instructed them to go. Could difficult circumstances be leading you to a fuller fulfillment of God’s call on your life?

Prayer Focus: For believers everywhere who are facing persecution, in a school, in their family, in the neighborhood, or in their country.