TGP: The Church Meets Needs

Intro Option 2: Accident

Q. What is the difference between doing something accidentally and doing something intentionally?

Q. Does it make a difference if someone hurts you accidentally versus intentionally? Why or why not?

Q. Can sin be accidental or is all sin intentional? Explain.

Sinning intentionally is different from sinning accidentally

However, all sin has the same outcome

Sin separates us from the Lord

In today’s passage, Peter explained that the Jews handed Jesus over to death out of their ignorance

They didn’t truly understand their actions

But Peter also said the response is the same, whether we sin intentionally or out of ignorance-repentance.

Main Idea: Jesus’s disciples boldly proclaim His Word and serve others.

God’s people serve others to display God’s word.

Acts 3:1–7 (ESV)

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

The lame beggar had been unable to walk his entire life.

He sat outside the temple during 3:00PM traffic when Jews went to pray.

This man wasn’t allowed in the temple because he was considered “blemished.”

Big Question Why did the lame man beg at the temple?

The lame beggar was in a prime spot at the temple. At 3:00PM each day, Jews entered the temple area to pray, so there would be a large crowd. During this time period, Jews believed one way to earn righteousness was through almsgiving, or giving to the needy. Some of them did this to draw attention to themselves (Matt 6:1-4). This beggar knew the culture in which he lived. He knew a crowd of faithful Jews would be more likely to give him money as a way to earn their righteousness. He couldn’t support himself, so he depended on charity from others. But the Lord has something far better for him than financial support-God chose this day to heal the beggar.

He hoped people would give him money, but instead, this “blemished” man received something worth more than gold; healing that led to faith.

Q. How are we like this lame beggar?

We’re all blemished and stained by sin-paralyzed by its effects.

We can’t enter God’s presence on our own, just like this beggar couldn’t enter the temple.

We also can’t fix our sin problem by anything other than faith in Christ.

No amount of money or other worldly possessions can heal us.

Q.. What is the purpose of a miracle?

God still performs miracles today, and the purpose is the same-they point to Christ for God’s glory.

God cares deeply about our needs and our hurts.

We can’t always understand why He allows certain difficulties to happen, much like this man born lame.

But look at how God used this miracle; it pointed to the only One able to heal-Jesus Christ.

When God works in our lives and does the impossible, He receives glory, and this leads people to Him.

Main Idea: Jesus’s disciples boldly proclaim His Word and serve others.

God’s people serve others to display God’s word.

God’s people challenge others to recognize God’s Son.

Acts 3:11–16 ESV

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

The Jews had missed the obvious truth.

They knew Jesus had been crucified and resurrected.

They knew Scripture and prophecy pointed to these things, yet they failed to see how Jesus fulfilled it all.

Peter spoke a hard truth on this day; the Jews who were present missed the opportunity to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and instead handed Him over to death.

Q. Can any of us be godly enough to do good things (see v. 12)? What did Peter want the crowd to realize?

Apart from God, we have nothing good to offer.

As harsh as this sounds, only God is good.

It’s only by grace we are able to do good works, and this results from faith in Christ.

It’s only through Jesus we can come close to God.

He enables us to live godly lives.

It’s actually comforting when you think about it; our goodness doesn’t depend on us.

Peter wanted the crowd to realize only Christ is responsible for this miracle.

Q. What do you notice about the power of Jesus’s name?

Some of us have looked up the meaning of our names, sand sometimes they really do describe our personalities.

But Jesus’s name is like no other.

His name doesn’t hold some magical power; the power is in the person of Jesus.

As the Son of God, He has the power to heal and forgive our sin, and when we call on His name, we call on that power.

Main Idea: Jesus’s disciples boldly proclaim His Word and serve others.

God’s people serve others to display God’s word.

God’s people challenge others to recognize God’s Son.

God’s people invite others to experience God’s presence.

Acts 3:17–20 (ESV)

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

Peter presented the truth that Jesus was the Messiah, handed over to death by His own people (and by all mankind because of our sin).

Peter said if they would repent, then God would wipe out their sin and the Holy Spirit would refresh them.

God offers us this same promise.

Q. What is the difference between deliberate disobedience and disobedience out of ignorance? Are we held accountable for ignorance? Explain.

Peter said the Jews didn’t truly realize their actions in demanding Jesus to be crucified.

We often hear things like “well, they didn’t know any better.”

And sometimes this is true.

Sometimes we don’t purposefully disobey but disobey out of ignorance.

But God is truth, and he sheds light on our ignorance (see John 14:He shows us where we’ve disobeyed because we didn’t know any better, and then He holds us accountable.

Q. What does it mean to be refreshed? Describe a time you were refreshed by God’s Spirit (in his presence)?

A lot of us imagine a cold drink of water on a hot day when we think of being refreshed.

Or maybe we imagine getting to take an awesome nap and waking up energized.

When we experience God’s presence, we are truly refreshed.

It energizes us spiritually, enabling us to live for Him.

Other things may temporarily refresh us, but only God’s presence refreshes our souls.

Worship and prayer are two spiritual disciplines that help us experience God’s presence.

Christ Connection:

Once the Holy Spirit was given, the disciples began boldly proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit displayed the power of God’s kingdom through the miracles the disciples performed in Jesus’s name for His glory and praise.

Head: When have you struggled with believing that Jesus wipes all your sin clean?

Many of us heard Jesus is willing to forgive us if we’ll ask and repent of our sin.

We see examples of Him extending this forgiveness in the Gospels.

But sometimes we hold on to certain sins because we think they’re too terrible for God to forgive.

We believe our sin is the exception.

We allow this sin to continue to cause us shame, no matter how much we want to be free from it.

But we can’t argue with this truth; if we confess our sin, Jesus is faithful to forgive us from all unrighteousness (see 1 John 1:9).

All sin-not just some-was paid for through Christ’s sacrifice.

Heart: What area of your life needs to be refreshed by God’s presence?

Even the most godly Christian experiences spiritually dry seasons.

While the Holy Spirit does live within us, we also have to position ourselves to hear from him and to feel Him near to us.

Straying from God’s presence can lead to us needing to be refreshed spiritually.

Walking through tough circumstances can also contribute to us feeling spiritually dry.

But we know God’s presence never leaves us, and if we draw close to God, then He comes close to us (see James 4:8).

Jesus promised we’d never thirst again because the Holy Spirit would satisfy our thirst-in other words, He would continually refresh us (see John 7:37-39).

Hands: What can you offer to those in need besides money?

Peter and John had no money to offer the lame beggar.

Money wasn’t what he really needed, though.

Most often, people we encounter don’t need money either.

Your friends, family, and even strangers often need compassion and love more than anything else.

They need you to speak truth.

We are called to take care of the needy, but this often means so much more than simply giving financially.

Instead, we can give our time and our compassion, serving them in tangible ways.