The First Church Leaders - Teaching Plan

Key Thought: God has been and is concerned that His purposes for His people are made known and fulfilled.

Lesson 4, July 28, 2018

1. Have a volunteer read Acts 6: 2-6.

Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
How were the seven chosen and commissioned to service?
Personal Application: How do we keep peace among ourselves when dissention arises in the church? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your relatives states: “What is the role of the deacon today? Are the pastors and elders to be so busy praying, visiting, and sharing the gospel that they shouldn’t have time to do the deacon’s work in the church?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Acts 7:48-53.

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
How can we be sure we are not just protecting what we have instead of reaching out to the world?
Personal Application: When was the last time you needed to take a firm and uncompromising stand for the truth? Did you, or did you waffle? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your friends states, “I don’t think we should make accusations like Stephen did, calling the people stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ear, telling them they had received the law but didn’t keep it. That seems harsh to me. By doing that, they killed him. So it was partially his fault for being persecuted.” How would you reply to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Acts 7: 59 – 8: 2..

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
Were there any positives to the persecution that scattered the Christians out of Jerusalem?
Personal Application: When was the last time you had someone angry at you and ready to assault you? Did you pray for them and ask God to forgive them, or did you get angry too? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Why would Stephen tell them they had persecuted the prophets and then pray for them when they were stoning him? I wouldn’t pray for someone trying to kill me because I am a Christian or for any other reason.” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Acts 8:18-25..

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
Why are there so many people that want to use the church or Christianity to further their own power-seeking or personal goals?
Personal Application: Is there a danger of people using the church to make money for themselves or for other advantages? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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The First Church Leaders – Teaching Plan — 2 Comments

Francine Nanda on July 25, 2018 at 4:40 am said:

Here is our duty as watchmen : “Now as for you, son of man, I have [b]appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a [c]message from My mouth and give them warning from Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand. 9 But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life." Ezechiel 33:7-9.

As the prophets before, we are called to warn others about their mistakes. We are supposed to proclaim the messages of the 3 angels. Stephen was fulfilling his duty as we should towards our family, friends, coworkers, etc. The Bible clearly states this command as a duty to those who called themselves Believers. And time is coming when God will use men and women who are like Stephen, willing to die for these messages to be proclaimed. This work will be achieved with or without us.

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Francine Nanda on July 25, 2018 at 5:07 am said:

The message of warning is to be proclaimed out of love. Prayerfully Telling the truth to someone with the intend that the person makes a u-turn and escapes eternal condemnation is an act of love and will produce fruits fit for eternal life with our King. So, yes, rebuking and praying for the person are not contradictory. Moses constantly rebuked the Israelites while leading them towards the wilderness. For the same people who were the object of his rebukes, Moses pleaded with God, and asked Him to remove his name from the Book of life instead of destroying the stiffnecked and rebellious Israelites. We are not to forget that God's will is that all should be saved. For this end that He sent His only Son to die for all sinners. However, He knows that not all desire to spend eternity with Him. However, all means are used by angels to save all men. Therefore, following our Example, we should always minster to others out of a sanctified heart, with pure motives and pray for those who are the objects of endtime life saving warnings.

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The First Church Leaders – Teaching Plan