COMMUNITY GROUP GUIDE

 GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCHA DISCIPLE & HIS MISSIONWEEK 7: BOLD FAITHACTS 4:29-30; 5:27-4211/01/2017

MAIN TAKEAWAY

Like the first century church, our faith should be big and bold in taking God’s message to the world.

INTRODUCTION

As your group time begins, use this section to introduce the topic of discussion.

Think of a situation or event in your life where you were afraid to speak or act, but chose to do so anyway. (Possibleexamples include a public speaking opportunity, an opportunity to share the gospel, a service project, etc.)

How did you gather the courage to speak or act in that situation? What prevented you from running away or avoiding theopportunity entirely?

In this passage, we will examine the boldness of Peter and the other apostles as they stood before the Jewish high court and refusedto compromise their witness for Jesus.

UNPACKING THE TEXT

ASK A VOLUNTEER TO READ ACTS 4:29-30.

Peter and John were arrested and brought before the religious authorities for teaching about Jesus’ resurrection. Peter gave a speechdeclaring Jesus as the Christ, and in response the religious authorities ordered him and the other apostles to stop preaching aboutJesus immediately. When Peter and John went back to the fellowship of believers and told them what had happened, the group raisedtheir voices to God in worship and remembrance. In verses 29-30, the group of believers asked God to bless them with the boldnessto spread His message.

Why might the group of believers have prayed for boldness, given the situation they were facing?

In what areas of our lives today require boldness to act? In what ways does serving God require boldness?

ASK A VOLUNTEER TO READ ACTS 5:27-33.

Because the apostles continued to perform signs and wonders in Jesus’ name, they were arrested again and brought before thereligious authorities. They were imprisoned, but an angel of the Lord released them in the night. Instead of fleeing the area, theapostles went back to the temple complex to teach. When the religious authorities found out they had been set free, they broughtPeter and the other apostles back before the court.

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Identify the three complaints that the high priest makes in verse 28. Why do you think the religious authorities wereconcerned about these three things? 

Consider Peter’s response in verses 29-32. How does Peter’s response address each of the high priest’s complaints fromverse 28? What about Peter’s response likely made the religious authoritie more irritated?

In what areas of life are we called to obey God’s orders over and above all other duties? 

ASK A VOLUNTEER TO READ ACTS 5:34-42.

Identify the words that describe the apostles’ actions after they were released. In what ways can these actions becharacterized as “bold”?

How can we apply this example of boldness to our ministry service areas today? List specific ways.

APPLY THE WORD

Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives.

Boldness is taking advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. Make a list of service opportunities availablethrough your church ministries or through a local non-profit group. What opportunities can you and/or your groupmembers take advantage of in the next month?

ACT: Take time to report on your friends. How is it going? Any stories of success? This week find an appropriate time toshare your story of coming to Christ with one of your frinds. Or, ask them about their worldview, and listen. 

PRAY

Close the group meeting in prayer, asking that God would bless the group members with the courage andconviction to pursue His purposes and serve Him with boldness.

COMMENTARY FOR LEADERS

ACTS 4:29-30

4:29 The early Christians recognized that just as Jesus had been promised trouble, they too would encounter persecution forproclaiming Him as Messiah. They asked God for the power to speak with complete boldness, even if punishment should follow.

4:30 Besides boldness in testifying, the early Christians expected to receive power from God to perform healing, signs, and wondersthrough the name of...Jesus.

ACTS 5:27-42

5:26 The temple police were afraid the people might stone them because Jerusalem was responding positively to the apostles.Meanwhile, the Jewish leaders saw their authority slipping away.

5:28 The Jewish leaders feared that the people would hold them responsible for Jesus’ death. They were more concerned aboutmaintaining their authority than embracing the truth.

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5:29 Christians should obey the law of the land, but when human law conflicts with God’s law, we must obey God rather than men.

5:30-32 If anything, Peter stepped up the pressure on the Sanhedrin (and endangered himself and the others more) by declaring thatthey had murdered Jesus, whom God exalted... to His right hand as ruler and Savior. Peter and the other apostles knew this to be truebecause they were witnesses of this, as was the Holy Spirit.

5:33-34 If the Jewish leaders had been willing to kill Jesus, much more were they prepared to kill the apostles, whose stubborntestimony was serving to prolong the Jesus controversy. But Gamaliel wisely cooled their rage. This was Gamaliel I, the teacher ofPaul the apostle (22:3). It is uncertain whether he was the successor to the great rabbinic teacher Hillel or whether he founded hisown school. In either case, he became a major rabbinic teacher. His conciliatory stance toward the apostles is consistent with what isknown of his temperate attitude elsewhere.

5:36 Josephus, the Jewish historian, reported that many revolts against Roman rule occurred during the time of Jesus—some of themeven having messianic overtones. He mentions a person named Theudas, who came after Judas the Galilean (v. 37). This is probablynot the same person as the Theudas referred to here.

5:37 Judas the Galilean, or Judas of Gamala, rebelled against the census that Quirinius took in a.d. 6. He was mentioned by Josephusas teaching that the Israelites were not to give tribute to pagan rulers. His revolt ended in defeat.

5:39 Gamaliel’s advice reflected the Pharisees’ belief that if God has ordained a thing, it will come to pass. Thus Gamaliel felt it wasprudent for the Sanhedrin to step back and see what God would do with the Christian movement.

5:41 Some people believe that suffering and hardships are signs that we are not in God’s will. Contrast this with the apostles, who,after being flogged, went out of the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to be dishonored onChrist’s behalf.

 

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