Experiencing the Power of God — Week 1 Study Guide
“The Power to Live Boldly”
ADDITIONAL READING: Acts 5
Introduction
Jesus left behind 120 followers when He ascended back to heaven. He gave them what is known as the Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:18-20. The commission is to Go — Make disciples (followers of Jesus), Baptize those who respond, and Teach them to obey everything that Jesus taught. Jesus promised that as we do what He commanded, He will be with us.
In Acts 1:8 Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit upon His followers so that they would have supernatural power to be Jesus' witnesses in all the earth. The 120 followers had no church buildings, no great amounts of money, no political connections, and no technology. Yet, as recorded in Acts 17:6, they turned the world upside down, and in a few generations there were followers of Jesus throughout the known world. Amazing growth despite persecution and hardships.
We look to the book of Acts to learn how to see the same rapid expansion happen in our time. Chapter 5 of Acts gives us a glimpse into the mind-set and passion that drove the early followers of Jesus. The key verse in the chapter is verse 29, where Peter stated, "We must obey God rather than man." Obedience to Jesus' commission to spread the good news and make disciples was the first priority. If that conflicted with obedience to a man-made rule or order, then Jesus' command always took priority.
A key application in the American context is the cultural value of faith being private. People are taught to be tolerant, meaning accepting anyone's faith or lack there of and not being evangelistic and not trying to convince others of the truth of the gospel. Thus the key is to put obedience to God over fear of man. In verse 32, Peter notes that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Jesus. Obedience here is referring to obedience to the Great Commission.
Background Information
These verses are fairly straightforward. Read the whole of chapter 5 for the context. The high priest and his associates were the same crowd that had condemned Jesus to death and insisted that He be crucified. Thus the Apostles were certainly aware of the severity of the personal danger they were in. Yet, despite the potential of their own deaths if they did not stop speaking about Jesus to others, they continued since obeying God was what mattered most.
The Sanhedrin was the Jewish ruling council.
Peter gives a short version of who Jesus is and what God accomplished in Jesus. For a longer version, refer to Acts 2:14-41.
Note that in Acts 5:1-10 Ananias and Sapphira had died after not obeying God. Acts 5:11 indicates that their death had a big impact on the church and all who heard of it. They saw an example of the seriousness of not obeying God.
The flogging of the apostles in verse 40 might have been the 40 lashes minus 1 mentioned by Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:24.
The term Messiah was a Jewish term for a coming King who would be God's anointed one and be the savior of the Jewish people.
Message Outline
I. Key #1: Understanding the Big Picture
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. — Acts 1:8
When you understand the big picture, you understand life, your purpose in life, and Satan's strategy against you.
II. Key #2: Decide Who You Are Afraid Of
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. — Paul in Galatians 1:10
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. — Proverbs 29:25
An effective, obedient follower of Jesus chooses to obey God rather than people when confronted with a choice.
III. Key #3: Entrusted with the Message of Life
… God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. — 2 Corinthians 5:19
Let us be bold. We have been entrusted with the message of life for a broken world.
Digging Deeper Questions
Have you ever been in the situation where you had to choose between obeying God or obeying people? Suppose you were a fireman and you had been told never to tell anyone about Jesus on your job. One day you are at a fire and someone is dying from smoke inhalation. You sense the desire to pray for them and tell them about salvation. What do you do?
Read aloud and discuss the newspaper article “Fire Chief Fired” under the Additional Resources below.
Are you comfortable telling others about the message of Jesus? Why or why not? When was the last time you told a non-Christian about Jesus?
Why is fear of rejection so strong? Why is “fitting in” with others such a strong desire? In what situations do adults face peer pressure?
What is an effective strategy to overcome peer pressure and the fear of rejection? Discuss Proverbs 29:25 above.
Read Acts 5:42. Be imaginative: What would this look like in your life today?
What will you implement in your life from this study?
This Week’s Challenge
Look for an opportunity to tell someone the Good News of Jesus this week. When the opportunity comes — take it!
Additional Resources