God on the Go
April 22-28, 2013
I highly recommend that you read or listen to Dr. Jack Levison's commentary by following this link:
http://blog.spu.edu/lectio
Be sure to spend some time with the Questions for Further Reflection at the bottom of the commentary. You'll find new questions there each week.
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Introducing...Saul the Persecutor
8:1-3After Stephen is killed, we hear that there was a man who approved of the killing. His name was Saul. He led a violent persecution of the early Christians. Remember that at this point they were all Jews, but the followers of Jesus believed that he was God's Messiah. Saul was a religious law-and-order storm-trooper, purifying the faith of this offshoot belief with severe actions that ravaged the young church. Paul enters homes and drags believers off to prison. Jesus was right...there is a cost that comes with a life of discipleship. Spoiler alert! We will find out that this Saul is the very same Apostle Paul who soon will become the leading figure of this church he is persecuting.
- Do you think the imprisoned believers prayed for God to change Saul's heart?
- What experience do you have praying hopeful prayers for God to reach "evil" people?
- What do you find most
difficult about believing that God can transform even the worst perpetrators?
The First Missionary: Philip Preaches in Samaria (Remember Acts 1:8?)
8:4-25
The persecution in Jerusalem causes Christians to split
the scene, inadvertently encouraging the believers to take the message of Jesus
into the surrounding regions. Philip
heads to Samaria, fulfilling Jesus command/prophecy in Acts 1:8 ("You will
be my witnesses in ....Samaria").
Philip preaches and performs miracles.
Simon, a sorcerer (magician), wanted to buy this miracle magic from the
apostles. We learn that it is not for
sale. Simon is given the opportunity to
repent.- In what ways would it be easier if we could buy things from God?
- What would you buy, and how much would you spend on it?
- Knowing that
God and His power are not for sale, how do you obtain the benefits of these
things that you desire from God?
8:26-40
Philip responds to an angel who
directs him to go to a road in the middle of nowhere on the way from Jerusalem
to Egypt. He meets up with an Ethiopian
court official who had just been to Jerusalem to worship. Philip responds to the prompting of the Holy
Spirit by helping him understand how Isaiah's prophecies spoke of Jesus. Right
then and there the Ethiopian believed and asked to be baptized. Philip baptized
him and then was magically transported to another region. Philip evangelized by helping a
"not-yet-believer" understand scripture.- Have you ever considered inviting someone like this to join you in reading the Lectio readings? Who would it be?
- What would be a good benefit of this?
- What would make it difficult for you?
- Spend some time praying about this, then listen to what the Holy Spirit tells you.
Saul the Persecutor has a life-changing encounter with Jesus
9:1-19
We meet Saul again, "still breathing threats and
murder against the disciples" - yikes!
the church has expanded into the Jewish community in Damascus,
Syria. Saul gets permission to clean
house there and bring believers to justice in Jerusalem. Then - wham! - his life is changed. Jesus speaks to him from heaven (If you have
a red letter version Bible you can see it clearly...Jesus still speaks in
Acts!). The Lord taps Ananias on the shoulder and calls him to welcome this
former enemy into the family.- What was your first encounter with Jesus like?
- Does it have anything in common with Paul's?
- What might have been difficult about Jesus' assignment for Ananias?
- If
you can, share an experience in which God led you to welcome someone who used
to be an enemy of sorts.
Saul’s Audition - Preaching in Damascus, then Jerusalem
9:20-31
The former enemy of the believers is now one of them; now
his former friends are enemies who try to kill him. Saul becomes a powerful
preacher of the message about Jesus, but not overnight...it developed over time
("increasingly" v. 22..."After some time had passed" v.
23). Saul goes to Jerusalem, for the first time as a believer...the disciples were understandably afraid. Barnabus, ever the encourager, vouches for him. Saul speaks boldly, so much so that the believers send him to the town of Tarshish to protect him from attempts to kill him. Verse 31 is an update on the progress of the Acts 1:8 mission. Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria...check! Now on to the "ends of the earth," and both Peter and Saul will be instrumental.- What has Jesus transformed or changed in your life?
- In what ways might you have experienced rejection from others you were close to in your former way of life?
- Have you ever been called by the Lord to stand up for another believer? Has someone had to stand up for you?
- Share the details of your experience of Christian encouragement, Barnabas-style
Peter’s journey begins…and barriers begin to be broken down
9:32-43
Peter is back in the spotlight. We see him acting like a
bishop, traveling around the region to be among the smaller communities of
believers. His healing of Aeneas leads
the residents of the community to turn to the Lord. This same result came from the raising of
Tabitha (a.k.a. Dorcas), who had died.
Her situation is unique because she is the only woman in Acts called a
disciple, and because it seems that God restores her so she can continue to
serve the Lord through her acts of charity, which included making clothing.- What do you think of the idea that God still does miracles today in places where unbelieving populations might witness God's power and turn to him?
- What do you think of the idea that God might miraculously revive and sustain those who are serving him?
- Have you seen
or experienced healing and reviving power like what you see Peter
involved with in Acts 9?
Together in Christ,
Pastor Kurt
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