Lesson Date: June 19, 2011

Focal Scripture Passage: Acts 3:1-26

AIM: To lead adults to learn that the apostles looked past immediate and temporary needs to focus on the genuine spiritual needs of those around them, and to ask the Lord to help them recognize and respond to the genuine spiritual needs of those they encounter.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Tell the following modern parable to the class:

There once was a certain blind man who lived alone in his own house.  Each evening he would sit on his front porch and enjoy the sounds of the neighborhood and the pleasant breeze.  One evening a neighbor walking by the blind man’s house noticed flames leaping out of the windows and attic.  The neighbor yelled to the blind man and asked if he could help him, assuming that the blind man knew his house was on fire but needed help getting off the porch and away from the house.  When asked if he needed help, the blind man calmly replied: “Well, you know, it is rather hot outside tonight.  I wonder if you could bring me a cool drink of water?”  All the blind man realized was that he was hot, so all he asked for was a drink of water.  All the neighbor had to do to meet the blind man’s immediate need was bring him a drink of cool water.

After reading the parable, ask: “What do you think the neighbor did, and why?” (he undoubtedly ran over and got the blind man off the porch before the fire consumed him).  Tell the class that the neighbor ignored the blind man’s request for water so he could meet his more serious and urgent need – escaping from a deadly fire.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1.     Review.  Briefly review the first two lessons from the book of Acts, including the following:

a.     Jesus arose from the dead and then remained on earth for forty days.

b.     Before returning to heaven, Jesus told His followers to carry the gospel message to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.

c.     On the day of Pentecost God performed the miracle of the tongues.  Jews from all over the known world who were in Jerusalem for the feast heard the gospel in their native languages.

d.     God saved thousands of people.  The new church grew and was very unified.

2.     A Lame Man was Healed.

a.     Ask a volunteer to read Acts 3:1-3 to the class.

b.     Explain what Peter and John were doing, and the meaning of the word “alms” (the word “alms” refers to benevolent gifts to the poor and needy; it is not to be confused with tithes and offerings that are given to the Lord; In Matt. 6:1-4 Jesus gave instructions for the giving of alms).

c.     Explain to the class that in ancient times there was no welfare or legislation requiring employers to hire disabled people.  Those who were physically unable to work had to beg for a living.

d.     Ask: “Why do you think this man begged at the gate of the Temple, rather than somewhere else in town?” (he probably figured those going to worship and pray would be more sympathetic to his needs that other people).

e.     Ask a volunteer to read Acts 3:4-7.

f.      Ask: “What did the lame man expect from Peter and John?” (money).

g.     Ask: “What did the lame man receive instead of money?” (complete healing from the Lord).

h.     Notice that Peter and John did not put on a show or try to draw attention to themselves.  They invoked the name of the Lord and directed attention to Him.

3.     Reaction to the Healing.

a.     Ask a volunteer to read Acts 3:8-11.

b.     Ask: “Where did the lame man go and what did he do after he was healed?” (he went to church and praised God).  It is worth stressing that true worship – not drawing attention to one’s self – should be the natural response to God’s gracious intervention on our behalf.

c.     The people in the Temple saw the man walking and leaping and praising God; they recognized him as the lame beggar.  This caused quite a stir.

d.     Peter was once again faced with a crowd of fascinated people, anxious to hear the Word of the Lord preached to them.

4.     Peter’s Sermon – Jesus is the Christ.

a.     Read Acts 3:12-18.

b.     Peter made certain the crowd understand that he did not have power to heal the lame man.  Peter clearly stated that Jesus Christ is the true Lord and Savior, and that He is glorified, holy, and just.

c.     Ask: “Who was responsible for the death of Jesus Christ?” (the Jews).

d.     Ask: “Who did they desire instead of Jesus?” (Barabbas – a murderer).

e.     Peter said that God raised Jesus from the dead.

f.      Ask: “according to verse 16, who did Peter say healed the formerly lame man?” (Jesus Christ).

g.     Peter said the Jews acted ignorantly in killing Jesus.  The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was in direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (verse 18).

5.     Peter’s Sermon – “Repent and be Converted.”

a.     Read Acts 3:19-26.

b.     Ask: “What did Peter tell his listeners to do in verse 19?” (repent and be converted, so their sins would be blotted out).

c.     Peter again told the crowd that Moses and the Old Testament prophets foretold the coming of Jesus Christ.

d.     Ask: “According to verse 26, to whom did Jesus come first?” (the Jews).

e.     Sadly, many Jews rejected Jesus Christ then, and most still do so today.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Tell the class that Peter and John encountered a man with a legitimate immediate need – he could not work so he needed money to support himself.  The man asked Peter and John for money to meet his immediate need.  Ask: “Did Peter and John give the man what he felt he needed – money?” (no, they did not).  Peter and John looked past the man’s immediate need and saw his real need – eternal life through Jesus Christ.  If they had given the man money, he would have needed more the next day.  His need would have only been temporarily satisfied.  Because Peter and John saw the man’s real spiritual need, the following things happened:

·       The man received eternal life.

·       Ultimately, he would never hunger or thirst again (John 6:35).

·       The man could now work to support himself and give alms to other lame and sick people.

·       The bystanders took notice. 

·       Peter preached the gospel to the crowd, and chapter 4 tells us that many more people were saved.

None of these things would have happened if Peter and John had done the easy thing and merely given money to the man.

Tell the class that your Sunday School class exists for the purpose of recognizing and addressing the real, eternal needs in people’s lives.  If we only meet the temporal needs our class will have little lasting impact.  If, on the other hand, we can ask the Lord to help us see and address real spiritual needs, then our class will make a difference for eternity.

Encourage members to ask the Lord to help them recognize and respond to the genuine spiritual needs of those they encounter.  Lead a closing prayer.

 

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Acts 3:19.  Be available to offer advice and help as your class leaders try to recognize and address real needs among the class members and prospects.  Encourage everyone to pray about this every day this week.  Ask everyone to read Acts 4 this week.