“Power, Perseverance, Purpose”
Click below to download the Cornerstone Connections leader’s guide and student lesson. This week’s resources also include two lesson plans and a discussion starter video which offer different ways of looking at the topic. Each lesson plan includes opening activities, scripture passages, discussion questions, and real-life applications.
Whether as a religious leader or a teenager, we are empowered by God not only to overcome tribulation but also to develop our giftedness to be used for His glory.
Scripture Passages
OVERVIEW
Jesus is gone. In the wake of His leaving one might think that His disciples would fall apart and disappear into the mist of history. Instead, Jesus’ disciples become emboldened with the knowledge of a risen Savior. When confronted by the religious leaders, the disciples stand and deliver the message of salvation. Our lesson chronicles one episode that helps us see the changes that have taken place in the lives of these Jesus-following men and women.
OPENING ACTIVITY:
OBSERVATION
QUESTIONS
TRANSITION
People change, and people stay the same. What makes the difference? Our lesson today explores what happens when a person or group of people fully commit themselves to Jesus, and when others decide to fully commit to opposing Him.
BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
Read Acts 5:12-16.
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
QUESTIONS
Read Acts 5:17-21.
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
QUESTIONS
Read Acts 5:22-32.
22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.
25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
QUESTIONS
Read Acts 5:33-38.
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
QUESTIONS
Read Acts 6:1-4.
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
QUESTIONS
APPLICATION
FOLLOW UP
During this coming week read 1 Kings 18. How does this story illustrate what happens when a person follows God? How does the end of the story reflect the reality of life? People who follow God do amazing things for His kingdom and sometimes they make spectacular mistakes. The story of Elijah, if you look at its entirety, shows how God takes a person with a little faith and turns him into a giant for His Kingdom. God wants to do the same with you!
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
Acts 5:12-42
Acts 6:1-7
Matthew 28:18-20
LEADER’S NOTE
For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.
You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.
Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.
Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.
OVERVIEW
We might be more familiar with the term “disciple” than the term “apostle.” A disciple is someone who follows a teacher. We often think of the 12 disciples who followed Jesus during Christ’s 3 ½ year ministry. And we’re challenged to be disciples—to follow Jesus today.
An apostle literally means “one who is sent.” We’ll find this term frequently in Acts in reference to those who had been Christ’s disciples. With Jesus no longer walking in front of them, calling them disciples (someone who follows a teacher) didn’t make as much sense any longer.
Before Christ returned to heaven, He commissioned His disciples/apostles saying, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV). We could say Christ “sent” the “apostles” to make “disciples.” By the way, early in Christ’s ministry He had called the 12 disciples “apostles” when He chose them from the larger group of disciples/followers (see Luke 6:13).
In Acts 5, following the dramatic events with Ananias and Sapphira, and after several chapters of inspiring actions through the apostles, we will find that the religious leaders turned on the apostles just as they had turned on Jesus. If you had been in the middle of this, you would have experienced the power plays by humans that were then overruled by supernatural power. Imagine being thrown in jail because you were telling others about Jesus! And then imagine an angel releasing you from jail so you can return to the same temple and tell others about Jesus—the very place you had been arrested the previous day.
Looking at this from a distance, it seems almost comical—where did the prisoners go? Oh, they’re back in the temple where we arrested them. What?!
But looking at this from a distance might mean we are also distant from the same supernatural power God wants to give us today.
“Problems with Power”
Are you more likely to get in trouble at home, at church, or at school?
Read Acts 5:12-42 through Acts 6:7.
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.
25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
Acts 6
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
1. What did the disciples/apostles do that was similar to what Jesus had done?
2. Why did the religious leaders try to shut down Christ’s disciples?
3. What should the disciples have done when released from jail?
4. What made Gamaliel so wise?
5. What would make you as passionate about Jesus as the apostles were?
6. What were some of the church problems recorded in Acts 6?
7. What would it take for you to do what the apostles did?
8. What do you think your church needs more of an emphasis on, connecting with God or serving others? What about you personally?
SUMMARY
Who would you rather be in this story: the apostles, the religious leaders, Gamaliel, the temple soldiers, or someone else?
In some parts of the world you will go to jail and possibly be killed for sharing Jesus with others. That’s probably not the case where you live right now. But you’re probably not seeing much supernatural power either. Would you say, “The problem with power is that there isn’t very much supernatural power?” Or, do you have another explanation?
Would you like to see and experience supernatural power? It could completely change your life. That’s often what Jesus does with people—change their lives supernaturally. This doesn’t mean foolishly throwing yourself over a cliff and asking for the supernatural ability to fly rather than die. But it does involve giving your entire life to Jesus and then doing whatever Jesus wants you to do. You’ll need the Holy Spirit in your life to even know what that is. The examples and instructions in the Bible will also guide you, just like what we read about in this week’s lesson.
APPLICATION
Our “problem with power” is probably that we don’t feel as if we have much power, including supernatural power. If we had it, would we use it selfishly or in the way God intended? Here are some ideas for applying this Bible study to your life in the coming week.
How much power do you have? What is your source?
The apostles found they didn’t have time for prayer or teaching Scripture. Yet their service to others was also needing more attention. What should they do? Acts 6 describes the call for “deacons” who were filled with the Holy Spirit who would oversee the service activities while the apostles spent more time in prayer and teaching Scripture.
