Lesson Date: June 26, 2011

Focal Scripture Passage: Acts 4:1-37

AIM: To lead adults to discover the source of the boldness Peter and John demonstrated in the face of persecution, and to examine their lives to see if they possess that same source of boldness.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Before class: Write the following list of activities on the marker board or chalkboard.  Have some small pieces of paper available to give everyone during the introductory activity.  An alternate method would be to print the following list on sheets of paper.  You could then hand these out to the class and ask them to write the amount of time they spend on each activity (as described below).  Prepare the index cards or pieces of paper described in the conclusion step.

Work (or School)	Chores
Sleep	Recreation
Eating	Relaxing
Driving	Family Time
Personal Hygiene	Bible Study & Prayer

 

When class begins: Read aloud the list of activities written on the board.  Tell the class that this list includes most of the things we give our time to in any average day.  Give everyone a small slip of paper.  Ask them to copy the list and then write the amount of time they spend doing each activity on an average work (or school) day.  Ask: “Which activities take up the largest portions of your day?” (probably work and sleep).  Probably Bible study and prayer get one of the smallest segments of their time.  Ask them to think about the percentage of their day that is devoted to Bible study and prayer.  Read the lesson aim to the class.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1.     Review.

a.     Remind the class of the lame man they learned about in last week’s lesson.

b.     The man was healed because Peter and John ignored his request for money, offering him healing and salvation instead.

c.     As a result of this notable miracle, Peter preached to a great crowd and thousands of people were saved.

d.     At the conclusion of last week’s lesson, you encouraged everyone to ask the Lord to help them recognize and respond to the genuine spiritual needs of those they encounter.

e.     Ask for any brief testimonies of their experiences during the week.

2.     Arrest and Questioning.

a.     Ask a volunteer to read Acts 4:1-4.

b.     Remind the class that in chapter 3 Peter preached to the crowd about their need of salvation through Jesus Christ.

c.     Ask: “Who got upset about Peter’s preaching?” (the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees).

d.     Peter and John were arrested and put in jail overnight.

e.     Ask: “What was the response of the crowd to Peter’s sermon?” (many people were saved).

f.      Read Acts 4:5-7.

g.     Tell the class that the next day Peter and John were brought before the Jewish religious leaders.  They were asked to explain by what power the lame man was healed.

3.     Relating to the Circumstances.

a.     Ask the class members to try to put themselves in the “sandals” of Peter and John.  Here they were, uneducated men, brought before the greatest religious scholars and leaders of their day.  They were actually standing before the high priest himself!

b.     Ask: “How would you feel in that situation?  Would you be scared?  Would you feel intimidated?” 

c.     Ask the adults if they have ever felt intimidated and scared standing before someone important.

d.     Ask if they have ever remained silent rather than speak up for what is right.

e.     They might have had such an experience in a college classroom when challenged by their learned professor.  They might have felt that way when questioned by their boss.

f.      Tell the class that the next verses tell how Peter and John answered the question put to them.

4.     Peter’s Answer and Testimony.

a.     Ask a volunteer to read Acts 4:8-12.

b.     Ask: “What does verse 8 tell us about Peter’s condition when he addressed the religious leaders?” (he was filled with the Holy Spirit).

c.     Peter made it very clear that the lame man was healed by the power of Jesus Christ.

d.     Ask: “What did he say the Jewish religious leaders had done to Jesus?” (crucified Him – verse 10).

e.     Ask: “What did Peter say God had done for Jesus?” (raised Him from the dead).

f.      In verse 11 Peter quoted Psalm 118:22, as well as Jesus’ own words (in Matt. 21:42).

g.     Ask: “What did Peter say in verse 12?” (salvation is ONLY available through the name of Jesus Christ).

h.     Try to help the class understand that Peter told the highest religious leaders in Israel, proud and educated men, that they couldn’t be right with God unless they came to Jesus Christ.  He said that neither their education, their obedience to the Jewish Law, nor their sincerity could save them.

5.     Amazement and Threatening.

a.     Read Acts 4:13-18.

b.     Ask: “What amazed the religious leaders about Peter and John?” (their boldness in spite of the fact they were “unlearned and ignorant men”).

c.     They could tell by their speech and behavior that Peter and John had been with Jesus Christ.  The religious leaders had seen boldness, confidence, and self-assurance in Jesus, and now they saw those same qualities in these ignorant and uneducated men.

d.     Ask: “Does your speech and behavior make people realize you have been with Jesus?  What kinds of speech and behavior show people you know Jesus?” 

e.     The Jewish leaders could not deny the miracle because virtually the whole city knew that the lame man had been healed.

f.      Ask: “What did the Jewish religious leaders decide to do to Peter and John?” (threaten them and forbid them to speak in Jesus’ name anymore).

6.     The Apostles’ Response to the Threats.

a.     Ask: “How do you think you would react to such threatening?” 

b.     Ask a volunteer to read Acts 4:19-22.

c.     Peter and John told the Jewish religious leaders in no uncertain terms that they had to obey God rather than them.  This statement clearly placed the religious leaders on the opposite side of the matter from God.

d.     Ask: “What did they say in verse 20?” (they couldn’t help but speak about the things they had seen and heard).

e.     These men had spent the last three years of their lives around Jesus Christ.  Their lives had been forever changed.  Additionally, they had witnessed the miracles of His resurrection and ascension.  They couldn’t help but talk about Jesus Christ.

f.      Ask: “What do you talk about most of the time?  Is it your work, your hobby, your grandchildren, or is it Jesus?” 

g.     The Jewish religious leaders threatened Peter and John again and then released them.

7.     The Early Church’s Response to Persecution.

a.     Tell the class that Peter and John did not retreat into a corner to lick their wounds.  They went back to the church and they prayed.

b.     Tell the class to listen for the things they asked God, as you read Acts 4:23-31 (they asked God to enable them to speak the Word with boldness and to confirm their message with miraculous signs).

c.     Refer to page 8 in the Sunday School Teacher Book, to explain the purpose of miraculous signs.

d.     Note that verse 28 (like Acts 2:23) confirms that Jesus’ death was in accordance with God’s plan.

e.     Verse 31 tells us that God answered the church’s prayer.

f.      Read Acts 4:32-37, and tell the class that the early church met one another’s material needs.

g.     The early church responded to persecution by praying and ministering to one another’s needs.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Peter and John’s boldness in proclaiming Jesus Christ totally amazed the greatest religious leaders of their day.  Ask: “What was the source of their boldness?” (they had been with Jesus, they relied on scripture, they refused to be swayed from speaking the truth, and they prayed).  All of the above answers are true, but the most important fact is that they had been with Jesus.

Ask: “Are you bold in telling others about Jesus Christ?  Are you bold enough to stand up for the truth, regardless of opposition or ridicule?”  Tell the class that if we lack boldness, it may be primarily due to the fact that we have not spent much time with Jesus.  Ask: “How can we spend time with Jesus?” (through prayer and Bible study).

Urge everyone to confess their sin of allowing worldly activities to eat up their time and prevent them from spending quality time with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Lead a closing prayer of confession, repentance, and recommitment.

 

CONCLUSION: Encourage everyone to memorize Acts 4:12.  Give each person an index card or piece of paper on which you have written the question:

“Have I spent time with Jesus today?”

Remind everyone to do their Daily Bible Readings this week.