Sick, Oppressed, and Possessed

Announcements

Play Practice: Have those lines memorized!!

Middle School Christmas Party: This Friday (Dec. 12), 6pm @Church

High School Christmas Party: December 19th, 6pm @Church

Random Question

If you could have a super power, what would it be and why? (I want the force!)

Observation time

Look for...

Context

People

Places

Events

Vs. 12

In the wake of everything that happened with Ananias and Sapphira, what do we see the church doing in vs. 12? (ALL the apostles were doing miracles, believers were together in the temple)

What is significant about their acticity here? (They didn’t shut the doors after the A & S incident! TYpically if that happened, the doors would be barricaded next Sunday. The Devil did not win the day)

Solomon’s Porch/Portico Photo: Here’s a photo since there was some laughter last time over this...

Sin in the church did not stop them from witnessing boldly, God dealt with the sin then empowered His people to bounce back...

Vs. 13

Vs. 13 says that the rest didn’t even dare to join the Christians. Assuming that the “rest” reffers to unbelievers, what might be in their way of wanting to join the church? (Ananias and Sapphira)

Illustration: Moving to a new town, look for a church...

- (Ask your co-worker)

You: “Hey what do you think of First Baptist Church? Is that a good place for me to go?”

Co-worker: First Baptist?!! Stay away from that place man. You didn’t hear what Pastor Peter did last week?

You: No?

Co-worker: This couple in their church sold their house and lied about how much they gave, and Pastor Peter had them dead on the spot!

When we see God judge even His own people, what might we learn if we were an outsider looking in? (Accountability in the church, God cares)

Despite the fear in the community, how did people regard the Church according to the end of vs. 13? (Magnified them, held them in very high esteem)

Draw on iPad: 2 camps

1: Afraid of Christianity but respects Christians

Vs. 14

But there is a different group of people introduced to us in vs. 14, can you spot them? (Believers!)

Draw on iPad: 2 camps

1: Afraid of Christianity but respects Christians

2: Healthy fear and faith

Truth has polarizing effects, turn to 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

2 Corinthians 2:14–16 NKJV

14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Not speaking of smell! It’s a metaphore coming from the picture in vs. 14

“which always causeth us to triumph in Christ”

Roman triumph parades:

- After a Roman victory, the general was honored with a festive parade in the streets of Rome.

- Incense and crushed flowers scattered on the streets. As horses repeatedly stomped on the mixture, the smell filled the city air more and more.

Do you think everyone would’ve appreciated this smell? (No! Some loved Rome and appreciated the smell of victory, but this smell would be an awful reminder if you hated Rome)

Unto God: sweet savour of Christ.

Remembering that God is pictured as the “emperor” What does this analogy mean? (We share Jesus, we represent Him to the world, pictured as being His sweet savour. As the emperor was pleased to smell the aroma from the victory parade, God, delights in seeing the Gospel triumph in the world)

2 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV

16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

As we share the Gospel, it dispels an aroma to people.

Who are the people that find the smell of the Gospel like death? (Unbelievers)

Why? (Gospel condemns the unrepentant!)

Who are the people that find the smell of the Gospel like life? (Believers)

Why? (Hope of eternal life!)

There’s a polarizing effect to the Gospel witness, some will receive it gladly and love you for it, but some will reject it and disdain you for sharing it.

Back to Acts 5...

In vs. 14, it shares that many people came to trust in the Lord despite all that happened with A & S, what kind of people came to faith? (Men and women)

Follow-up: What’s significant about that? (Luke mentions that women were being saved too)

What was society’s perspective on women at the time? (Awful)

Illustration: Comparisson chart

Society’s View of Women:

- No political participation

- Most not taught to read or write

- Confined to the home

- Unfit to make rational decisions

Biblical View of Women:

- Mary and the women in Acts 1:14. Positive or negative? Why?

- Lydia in Acts 16:14-15. Positive or negative? Why?

- Aquila and Priscilla’s ministry to Apollos Acts 18:26. Positive or negative? Why?

Vs. 15

Acts 5:15 NKJV

15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.

What things stand out to you in vs. 15? (bringing the sick in the streets, Peter’s shadow)

If you were bringing a sick cousin or sister, why would you leave them in the street? (No more room, so many people were looking for healing)

Fame about Peter’s miracles spread so far and fast that people from all over wanted to bring their loved ones to be healed.

The end of the verse says that they were waiting even for the shadow of Peter to pass by them so they can be healed. I was on the phone with my friend a couple days ago and without hesitation he told me this about the passage. “Make sure you shower so people can stand to be in your shadow.”

What do we learn about these sick people in vs. 15? (They are desperate!)

Many times in the Bible we have the promise that God will elevate the humble and abase the proud. Why do you think God is pleased when we are humble and desperate? (We realize our need, our weakness, and we depend on Him!)

Vs. 16

Keeping that train of thought, who do we see in vs. 16? (Sick folks, demon possessed)

Follow-up: What do these people have in common? (They are needy!)

Can someone spot any mention of a rich person in this passage? (No)

Why do rich people tend to not be nearly as receptive to the Gospel? (They are self-sufficient, their needs are met)

God is much more pleased with us if we approach Him like these sick people, because they recognized they were hopeless on their own. The rich and powerful don’t usually seek after God as hard as the poor do, Jesus said it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Why is this the case? (Because they are trusting in their riches to care for them)

Matthew 5:3 NKJV

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Application

God delights to help those who are poor in spirit