The Holy Spirit in the Early Church
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: Acts 3:1-16, Acts 4:5-13, 19-33
Memory Verse: "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus." Acts 4:29-30
Read aloud the lessons in the class from the Bible first.
Notice what Peter and John are doing in Acts 3:1--going to the temple at the regular time of prayer. Word received: Do you see how Peter and John were devoting themselves to prayer? I want you to do the same. No doubt they had seen this man, lame from birth and begging, many times, but this was different. Word received: Peter and John were where I wanted them to be. That is how they were able to minister to the crippled man. Seek Me about where you should go and what you should be doing. Then I can direct your path. Seek Me first, then I can use you. An example of following the Holy Spirit's direction: Judy Koch's father was dying of cancer and they asked Hyland Bryant to talk to him about the Lord. The Lord told Hyland not to go and instead Hy told Judy the word he got was that Judy was to witness to him. Judy did and before her father died they were reading the Bible and praying together. Word received: I want all My people, regardless of their education or their personal status to listen to the Holy Spirit and obey Him. I will use all people to spread My word.
When the man asked for alms, as was his habit, Peter and John were surely asking the Lord what he wanted them to do, then Peter said: "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, I give you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Many times all we have is Jesus and his Name---Yet it is everything! They were obedient and bold and look at what God did through them! Peter helped the man up and instantly his feet and ankles became strong! Have you ever seen God heal really quickly? Share.
The man celebrated and praised God with his whole being. "He went walking and leaping and praising God" through the temple. Everyone knew the lame man and were astonished. Peter saw a crowd gathering and began to talk to the crowds, giving praise to Jesus. God was glorifying Jesus in this and Peter made sure the crowds knew it. Word received: Peter did what I wanted him to do, witness to My power and love. I want you to take every available opportunity to witness to My power and love. Word received: Give Me the praise I deserve and others will be drawn to Me.
NOTE: In Acts 3:13, 4:27, 4:30 Peter refers to God glorifying his "servant" Jesus. The word translated servant also means "child" as in his holy child Jesus. Servant in this context would be a highly placed minister to a king.
Peter points to Jesus and tells it to them straight about their sin and their part in Jesus' death---and about God raising Jesus from the dead and that he and John were witnesses to that. Peter told them that it is through faith in the name of Jesus the lame man got the complete healing they were seeing. "And his name, through faith in his name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." (Acts 3:16) A word received: I want you to have such faith in me. I want you to pray in the full power of my name. My name has the power to conquer the gates of hell. Use and rely on my power and the power of my name. Then Peter tells them they acted in ignorance and Jesus' death was a part of God's plan SO what they should do is "Repent, then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." (Vs.19 is the core of Peter's message.)
Many believed and the number of men converted grew to about 5,000.(4:1-3) (They counted crowds by the number of men and knew that most men would have their women and children with them so the actual number would be larger.)
Now look at Acts 4 again. At the same time the Sadducees and priests were very upset that Peter and John were teaching the people about Jesus and the resurrection of the dead so they arrested them and threw them in jail. (The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection of anyone.) "And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" (Acts 4:5-7) A word received: They knew and understood what my people now do not: that my name, my very name, has power. Avail yourself of the power of my name.
Instead of being intimidated by the worldly power in front of him, Peter was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and said, "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands here before you whole." (Acts 4:10) A word received: I want My church to proclaim My name and the faith in My name that Peter had. Apostolic faith is believing what the apostles believed and knew. They knew the power of My name and My resurrection -- I want you to know that too.
Peter boldly confronted them with their sin in crucifying and rejecting Jesus, gave God the glory for healing the crippled man and said, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) A word received: Pray for my church to proclaim this.
Now look at 4:13. "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus." Does it show that we have been with Jesus? (By unschooled they meant that they had not received specialized religious training.) Examples: Doug Koch shared that when his grandson, Alex was newborn and his fate was touch and go at the hospital, one night they were surprised to see Dave Dussault there. He told Judy he didn't know why he was there, but said the Lord kept telling him to go to Albany Med and lay hands on Alex for healing. We know the rest of the story! God uses ordinary men, like Dave who obeyed the Holy Spirit. Also look at the beginning of the Prayer Table on the street out front of the church started by Larry and Jerusha.
The religious authorities knew that everyone knew about this healing so they couldn't deny that it happened so they threatened Peter and John and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter's answer is bold and powerful. But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20) A word received: I want you to face down "political correctness" with the same mind and attitude that Peter and John had. I want you to tell others what you have heard me say and see me do. Word received: In your actions and words you are choosing who to serve. I want you to choose Me as your Lord and God. I love you. Seek Me. Remember what Joshua told the Israelites, " Choose you this day whom you will serve, but for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
The authorities threatened Peter and John some more and let them go. Reread the response when they reported back to the church! (Acts 4: 24-31) Notice that they didn't ask for protection!--they asked for boldness and for God to act! Look at their prayer. First they acknowledge before God Who He Is, the Creator of heaven and earth and everything. Then they acknowledge the forces and threats against them including the actions against Jesus. They acknowledged that God had included that in his plans. Then they spoke to God about the threats against them and asked God to give them power to speak his word with boldness and to do more signs and wonders in Jesus' name! Then the Holy Spirit came on them all with such power that the place was shaken and they all were filled again with the Holy Spirit and spoke God's word with boldness.
"Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word, by stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:29-30) A word received: This is a current word for today's beleaguered Christians. I want my people to look at the threats and then turn to me. I want them to ask for more than protection, I want them to pray for boldness and signs following. I want my people to come to the throne of grace and ask for me to do what only I can do.
How do we pray when things are rough? Not only were Peter and John bold but it was the response of the whole church--they sought the Lord and his Holy Spirit and received power and more boldness. Word received: Fear is NOT of Me--shrinking back is NOT of Me. Look to Me and gain courage and boldness. Step out and I will walk with you. I will give you the words to say. Lean on Me. Believe in Me. Trust Me.
Look at all the things the Holy Spirit is doing in this lesson.
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 22
Please read the Study Guide first (after you have read the Scriptures. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year. Read the lesson aloud from the Bible in class.
Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
Song: "Peter and John went to pray" can act out the story too
1. Peter and John were praying and listening to the Holy Spirit so they were where God wanted them to be and did what God wanted them to do. Jesus wants us to listen and obey him too. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. (Philippians 1:19)
2. There is power in the Name of Jesus (his power). Jesus' power healed the lame man.
3. When someone tries to get you to do something wrong (like they did to Peter and John) remember what Peter said, Is it right to listen to you more than to God? (The answer is No.)
4. Jesus can give us power to share about himself with boldness and without fear. He will show us how to share.
5. God has a plan of how to share his love and word with others. God want us to ask him what we are to do and say in each situation.
Peter and John went to pray,
They met a lame man on the way.
He asked for alms and held out his palm
And this is what Peter did say.
Silver and gold have I none,
But such as I have I give you.
In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
Rise up and walk.
He went walking and leaping and praising God,
Walking and leaping and praising God.
In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
Rise up and walk.
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