Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 6-7, Acts 7:48, Heb. 5:11-14, Micah 6:1-16, Acts 8:4-25. Memory Text: “The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7, NRSV). Many converts at Pentecost were Hellenistic Jews, that is, Jews from the Greco-Roman world … Continue reading –>
Further Study: “We are stewards, entrusted by our absent Lord with the care of His household and His interests, which He came to this world to serve. He has returned to heaven, leaving us in charge, and He expects us to watch and wait for His appearing. Let us be faithful to our trust, lest coming … Continue reading –>
When was the last time you had people from your church over to your house? The New Testament speaks of churches in homes. See Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:9, Colossians 4:15,Philemon 1:2. Years ago, when I became a Bible Worker at a church in Texas, an elderly saint informed me of a group of people … Continue reading –>
If the apostles could be used to bring God’s judgment on sin, as in Ananias and Sapphira’s case, they could also be used to bring God’s grace on sinners. Their powerful healing ministry (Acts 5:12-16) was tangible evidence that God’s Spirit was working through them. That even Peter’s shadow, it was believed, could heal people is striking. … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “Life in the Early Church” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV … Continue reading –>
The contrast was striking. Just a short time before, descriptive words such as possessed, wild, untamed were used to describe the Demoniac of the Gadara. Now, as the people of the city crowd about him, he is simply described as clothed, and in his right mind. Luke 8:35 A wild man beyond the help of … Continue reading –>
The pooling of goods in the early church was not compulsory; that is, it was not a formal condition of membership. Yet, there certainly were several examples of voluntary generosity that inspired the whole community. One such example was Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37), who will play an important role later in the book. However, there were also … Continue reading –>
It was not long until the church’s success aroused opposition from some Jerusalem leaders. The Jerusalem temple was run by the high priest and his associates, most of whom were Sadducees. The high priest was also the president of the Sanhedrin council, which in those days was comprised mostly of Sadducees and Pharisees. Because the … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: The church is engaged not only in the advancement of the gospel commission but also in overcoming Satan’s attempts to stop the church’s mission. Lesson 3, July 21, 2018 1. Have a volunteer read Acts 3: 19-26. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text … Continue reading –>
Life in the early church. Sounds like everybody was having a good time, doesn’t it? What activities did these members seem to enjoy most, according to Acts? After they sold all of their possessions, how did they spend their time in Jerusalem with their Christian friends. With things going so well, how did it happen that … Continue reading –>
This week we commence with seeing just how the home of each Christian is important in sharing, and in spreading the love of Jesus: Hymn 651, “Happy the Home That Welcomes You”, Hymn 655, “Happy the Home” and Hymn 654, “Lord, Bless Our Homes”. Sunday gives us another view of Acts in fellowship: Hymn 469, … Continue reading –>
In Acts 3:1, Peter and John went to the temple for the three o’clock prayer service. This indicates the essentially Jewish character of the church’s faith at this early period. That is, the apostles did not go to the temple only to instruct or make new converts but because Peter and John were still Jews and, … Continue reading –>
