ONLINE ACTS LESSON 11 – THE GROWING CHURCH

Acts 6:1-7
GETTING STARTED:
● The church is growing and it is growing fast – rapidly. It will create what we like to
call in the church world – the good kind of problems. You would much rather like
to figure out what to do with all of these people than to figure out – where did
everyone go?
● There is a culture issue and language barrier. Hebrew Jews – those from around
Jerusalem and Judea – all spoke Hebrew or Aramaic. The language of
commerce at that time was Greek. So the Jews who had been saved from other
regions primarily spoke Greek. An issue arises because the Greek speaking
Jews felt like their widows were not receiving the same level of care as the
Hebrew widows.
● This lesson will point out 3 keys to responding to growing problems.

THEY STAYED ON MISSION. Look at verses 2-4.
● The disciples realize that if they don’t protect the primary mission that Jesus gave
them to take the Gospel to the world and to teach and train disciples – they will
lose what is causing all of the growth.
● Wisely – they decide to give away ministry. They are not control freaks that need
to have their hand on everything. They release others to do this important work.
They will continue in prayer and in teaching the word.
● Take note – they even give away the decision making to the believers – you
choose – and use these qualifications – Full of wisdom and the Holy Spirit.

THEY LET LOVE LEAD THE WAY. verses 5&6.
● There were more Hebrew Jews than Greek Jews – but it was more important to
those in the majority that their Hebrew brothers and sisters not feel slighted that
all 7 chosen were of a Greek background. Clearly love and unity were more
important than having winners and losers.
● The apostles blessed this decision by laying hands on these 7.
● When love leads the way – our decision making is above reproach and our
witness remains strong to those outside the church.

THEY CONTINUE TO LAUNCH NEW MINISTRIES. Acts 6:8-15
● The next 2 chapters will deal with the ministries of Stephen and Philip. Not only
were they able to take care of widows – they also had powerful ministries in the
word of God. Stephen a great teacher and Philip a great evangelist.
● The remainder of chapter 6 is devoted to explaining the arrest of Stephen. A
man described with the word FULL. Verse 5 and verse 8. Just flat out full of
God. Doing amazing things for the Lord. Perhaps the Jewish priests of verse 7
were led to the Lord by this amazing minister. His story is next week.

CHOOSE THIS WEEK TO BE FULL. FULL OF LOVE AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 10 – THE UNSTOPPABLE MESSAGE OF LIFE

Acts 5:17-20, 2 Corinthians 2:15,16 – Talks about us being the aroma of life. To
those who believe – the sweet smell of life – to unbelievers – the smell of death.

GETTING STARTED:
● The church is growing and gaining standing in the community and it is
filling the religious leaders with a jealous rage. They want to shut it down
and stop the Good News. But they find themselves fighting against God.
● I want to point out 3 overcoming attitudes that are revealed in this passage – 2 through the apostles and 1 through Gamaliel – the leading Jewish scholar of that time. Paul was his star pupil. That’s another story.

WE MUST OBEY GOD. Look at Acts 5:21-32.
● The disciples follow the instructions of the angel who opened the gates of
the jail. So would you. They obediently and passionately preach Jesus.
● The disciples did not live out their faith in secrecy – they were out in the
open – standing up for the Lord. Teaching the people about Jesus.
● When confronted for their behavior they testify for Jesus. Look at 29-32.

YOU CANNOT STOP THE MOVE OF GOD. Acts 5:33-39
● Gamaliel makes this observation – human led movements burn out and go
away. You don’t have to stop them – they just end on their own.
● He also points out – IF it is from God – you cannot stop it – you might even
find yourself fighting against God.
● Interestingly – He was right and yet he was wrong about the disciples. He
thought they would go away on their own – but they were not on their own –
they were filled with the Spirit of the Living God. So are you. What God is
doing in your life cannot be stopped by this world.

REJOICE WHEN LIFE CONFRONTS YOUR WITNESS. Acts 5:40-42
● The religious leaders don’t kill the disciples – they beat them and order
them to stop preaching the Good News.
● The apostles rejoice – genuinely rejoice – that they are counted worthy to
suffer for the name of Jesus. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER
OF REJOICING FOR YOUR LIFE. It leads to overcoming.
● No surprise here: They continue to teach and preach Jesus. CONTINUE
ON IN YOUR FAITH TODAY – IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 9 – THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THEIR MIDST

Acts 5:1-11
GETTING STARTED:
● There is a picture of the culture at the end of chapter 4 that will lead into what will
happen at the beginning of chapter 5. Let’s read Acts 4:32-37.
● A man named Joseph – who was called Barnabas generously gave a significant
gift as he was directed by the Holy Spirit. He did not do this for the attention that
he received – but he was compelled by love and directed by the Holy Spirit.
● Now we will see a great contrast. A couple driven by jealousy, a desire for
attention, and their hearts filled by Satan. Will attempt an act of great deception
that will be stopped by God. LET’S READ IT TOGETHER. Acts 5:1-11

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD IN THE MIDST OF THE CHURCH.
● In verses 3&4 – it states that they lied to the Holy Spirit and then – You weren’t
lying to us – but to God.
● Here – early in the church’s story – there is an attempt to steal the glory from God and to practice what Satan practices – deception.
● God puts a stop to it. Now – just because they lose their physical life – does not
mean that they lost their spiritual life. The truth is – we don’t know. That kind of
judgment rests with God.
● The clear message to all is this. This will not be a human personality church –
this will be a Spirit led – Christ glorifying church. No one will be allowed to lift up
their ego or to practice deception.

THE SIN IS DECEPTION – IT IS PROMPTED BY THE FATHER OF LIES.
● Peter asked Ananias – why have you let Satan fill your heart? He will later give
Sapphira an opportunity to confess and she will continue the deception.
● The sin was not holding back part of the money – listen to what Peter said in
verse 4 – the property was yours to sell or not sell, the money was also yours to
give away.
● Listen to what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:7 – You must each decide in your
heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure.
For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. There was no pressure from the
church on Ananias and Sapphira – they were driven by a need for attention.

THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS AND BRINGS HEALING AND GROWTH. Acts 5:12-16
● 2 things are true at the same time when the Spirit is doing the supernatural.
People on the outside have a deep reverence for what God is doing that causes
them to pause and step back.
● But they are also drawn to what is real – what is life changing – to a culture that is
led by the Holy Spirit. So the church continues to grow.
● Signs and wonders continue – great miracles – people were bringing the sick and
those possessed by evil spirits – AND THEY WERE ALL HEALED.

ONLINE ACTS LESSON 8

GO TO GOD FIRST

Acts 4:23,24
GETTING STARTED:
● Earlier in this chapter – Peter and John stared down the religious leaders – led by
Anas the high priest. These were the same leaders who organized the trials that
led to Pilate sentencing Jesus to the Cross. Peter doesn’t blink – there will be no
other name under heaven whereby people can be saved – only through Jesus.
● This council of religious leaders – take note that they have been with Jesus – they
then threaten them not to speak in Jesus name anymore. By the way – this was
more about doing miracles in Jesus name than it was preaching the gospel.
● Peter and John – answer directly. We will obey God – not man. And they go back
and report the threat – and then the first response of the church is amazing – they
pray. We want to look at that prayer and the result.

1. THE PRAYER OF THE THREATENED CHURCH. Acts 4:24-30.
   ● They acknowledge that God is moving by His Spirit and that what is happening
   was foretold by David and is in agreement with God’s will. In other words – Jesus
   was not crucified because of evil men – He gave his life on Calvary as a sacrifice
   for our sin. It was a plan God had before He created this earth.
   ● They also acknowledge the threats. It has the feel of a Jehoshophat standing
   before the people – crying out to God has they are under the threat of
   surrounding nations – the Moabites – Ammonites – and some Meunites. The Lord
   answered him clearly – the battle is not yours – it is God’s
   ● The early church asked for boldness – not just boldness – GREAT BOLDNESS
   TO PREACH THE WORD.
   ● They also asked for more miracles – by the way – that’s what got them in this
   predicament. Let’s read again verses 29 & 30.

2. THE LORD HEARD THEIR PRAYER AND ANSWERED. Acts 4:31
   ● They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. A fresh outpouring for the challenge
   ahead. As Ephesians 5:18 teaches – Being filled with the Spirit is an ongoing
   experience. BE being filled.
   ● The place was shaken – they were all filled – they preached the word of God with
   boldness.
   ● We know that as they go forward -the miracles and the healings also continue.
   SO – GOD ANSWERED THEIR PRAYER.

THE LESSON: TAKE IT TO GOD FIRST. LOOK FOR THE ANSWER FROM HEAVEN – DON’T MAKE PRAYER A LAST RESORT – BUT A FIRST RESPONSE.