unstoppable love

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GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes GUIDE: Lead the group to look at the picture in Personal Study Guide (PSG) page 106

SESSION 9

UNSTOPPABLE LOVE

as you discuss Question #1: What are some employee benefits that would get you excited?

The Point Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.

GUIDE: Direct attention to The Bible Meets Life

The Bible Meets Life

(PSG, p. 107). Note the list

The United States is well known

of company benefits. Invite

for its humanitarian aid to other

volunteers to share how

countries, and its citizens give to

company benefits have

a host of organizations seeking to

increased in their lifetimes.

alleviate various forms of suffering.

Stress that the love of Christ

While the motives for giving to these groups may vary, giving within the

Christians show one another

church is motivated by love: a love for Christ expressed in love for the person.

certainly makes for an inviting

Out of their common love for Jesus, the early church expressed love for

culture in a church.

each other.

The Passage GUIDE: Introduce The Point

Acts 2:41-47

(PSG, p. 107): Loving people

The Setting

is a powerful expression of loving God.

On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples of Jesus. Empowered by the Spirit to speak to the Jews present in Jerusalem for Pentecost in their own languages, the people were amazed and Peter

SAY: “Let’s see today how the love the first Christians showed one another might affect the way we love one another in our church.”

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preached to them, telling them about Jesus and the good news of the gospel. Acts 2:41-47 details that about 3,000 people believed after Peter’s sermon and describes the growth of the early church.

STUDY THE BIBLE

Acts 2:41-42 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and

Acts 2:41-42 10 minutes

that day about 3,000 people were added to them. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to

GUIDE: Remind the group

the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.

that they learned in the previous session about the

KEY WORDS: The fellowship (v. 42)—The Greek word koinonia comes

powerful message Peter

from a root word meaning “common.” In this context, koinonia expresses

proclaimed on the day of

shared interests and concerns, full engagement in a community of believers.

Pentecost. Use the information

Breaking of bread (v. 42)—Most likely this refers to the Lord’s Supper, which

in The Setting (p. 106) to

is a reminder of Christ’s body and blood sacrificed for the salvation of those

introduce the focal passage.

who place their faith in Him.

Unstoppable love meets spiritual needs. Verse 41. On the day of Pentecost, the people in Jerusalem witnessed the powerful activity of the Holy Spirit. Then they heard a clear and powerful message from Peter explaining the events. The Holy Spirit empowered Peter’s words and brought conviction to the people. This led to Peter’s call for them to accept God’s offer of salvation and be baptized (Acts 2:1‑40). As a result, many Jews accepted his message. The Greek word for accepted carries the idea of coming to believe something is true and then acting on that belief. The people turned (repented) from their old thinking and wholeheartedly believed what Peter had said—the truth about Jesus, sin, and salvation. Those who believed were then baptized, which means “to be immersed” or “submerged.” Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward transformation. It was a reflection of what had just happened to these new believers, whose thinking, especially about Jesus, had changed. They now acknowledged that Jesus is more than a man who died; He is in fact the resurrected Savior and Lord—their Messiah—who reigns with His Father in heaven. Baptism identified them as followers of Jesus—people who have died to their old way of life and entered into a new life where Jesus is their focus. As His disciples they would continue to learn and obey what Jesus had said. Following the resurrection of Christ there were “about 120” believers (Acts 1:15). But after Peter’s message on Pentecost, Luke noted that about 3,000 people became

READ: Ask a volunteer to read Acts 2:41-42.

DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 108): What aspects of church life have been especially meaningful to you?

GUIDE: Lead members to turn to the quote from Franklin Graham, son of Evangelist Billy Graham, on PSG page 109, regarding the continuing importance of prayer in his father’s life. Say, “Just as prayer is the key to effective evangelism, prayer is essential to our spiritual health.” LEADER PACK: Point to Pack Item 7, “Franklin Graham quote.”

S U G G E S T E D U S E | W E E K O F O C T O B E R 30

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THE POINT

Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.

GUIDE: Draw members’ attention to verse 42 and the believers’ devotion to prayer. Note that insulin is lifesustaining medicine for people with type 1 diabetes; similarly, Jesus said in John 15:5: “You can do nothing without Me.” Point out the line on PSG page 110 that reads, “The reason we don’t pray is not because we’re too busy, but because we’re too confident.” Lead members to imagine the consequences of a person who needs life-sustaining medicine and being so confident he could manage without it that he simply stopped taking it!

OPTION: IN ADVANCE, enlist a member to briefly interview someone who depends on a life-sustaining medicine (For example: a diabetic who relies on insulin, a heart or stroke patient who relies on blood pressure medication, and so on). Ask the interviewee to tell what would happen if he or she was too confident to rely on the medicine and tried to manage without it.

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followers of Christ. This incredible response to the gospel was a reminder of what Jesus had promised—that as a result of Him returning to His Father, those who believed in Him would do “even greater works” than He did (John 14:12). Verse 42. The events noted in verses 42‑47 cover an extended period of time. During this time the new community of believers was developing and growing. Their fellowship was characterized by several distinctive activities. In fact, Luke wrote that they were devoted to these things. This word expresses more than a loyalty to or an interest in something. Instead, it implies that the believers gave dedicated attention to these actions; they were persistent in doing them day-by-day. The goal of Peter’s preaching on Pentecost was not simply to lead people to accept Christ as Savior. Instead, he and the other disciples were focused on making new disciples as Jesus had commanded them (Matt. 28:19‑20). A disciple is first a learner, which is why the apostles’ teaching was an essential element in the new community. On a daily basis the apostles taught the new believers what they had learned from Jesus, as their goal was to help believers become more like Jesus. This apostolic instruction could have included Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in Christ; Jesus’ resurrection; as well as what Jesus taught about God and His kingdom including faith, prayer, giving, relationships, and priorities. The apostles most certainly shared personal stories about Jesus’ life and ministry that served as examples to believers and gave direction for the disciples’ lives. The New Testament letters we have from Paul, Peter, James, and others may be much like what the apostles taught new believers in the months after Pentecost. In these letters we see key doctrines that are important for believers to understand as well as specific guidance for putting scriptural knowledge into practice in daily life. The apostles’ letters (and thus their teaching) are a reminder that true learning does not happen apart from both information and application. Jesus emphasized this at the close of His Sermon on the Mount when He said that sensible people act upon what they hear from Him, building a solid foundation for life that prepares them for whatever may come (7:24‑27). Jesus also noted that obedience to His commands is actually an expression of a person’s love for Him (John 14:15,23). The new community of believers was also devoted to the fellowship. This means more than just eating a meal

together, as the contemporary use of the word often implies. The Greek word points to believers’ unity with Christ or with each other. This is highlighted in all the common elements of Christianity. Believers have a common relationship with God through faith in Christ and we share His Spirit who lives within each of us. Believers also have a common focus of loving God and loving others. And believers have a common mission of growing in their faith and helping others know Jesus and grow as His disciples. The unity of the believers in Jerusalem was expressed in their actions—which could have included worshiping God together, eating meals together, being physically present and emotionally supportive in times of distress, and even giving material possessions to help meet others’ needs. Another common action the disciples carried out consistently was the breaking of bread. Beyond a regular meal, this was most likely a celebration of the Lord’s Supper. This ordinance Jesus initiated on the night before His crucifixion prompts believers to remember Him and what He did (Luke 22:14‑20). It represents God’s new covenant that was initiated by Christ’s sacrifice. It also symbolizes the believer’s communion (relationship) with Christ and with others in His body. A fourth activity that characterized the new community was the prayers. The definite article (the) in this sentence could refer to specific prayers, such as the scheduled Jewish prayer times at the temple. Acts 3:1 notes how Peter and John “were going up together to the temple complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon,” so it is entirely possible that the believers, who were Jews, continued to participate in these Jewish prayer services. But most certainly the believers also prayed with and for each other as they met together in homes. These were surely more than memorized prayers as would have been offered in the temple service, and could have included prayer for unity, boldness, wisdom, provision, guidance, and strength.

SAY: “Prayer is not something we should turn to as a last resort after we’ve tried and failed at everything else. Prayer should be our daily lifeline— our life-sustaining spiritual medicine—that enables us to live our Christian faith and reach others with the gospel.”

DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 110): In what ways have you experienced prayer as transformative? (Alternate: What is the relation­ ship between prayer and love?)

TRANSITION: Say, “We know that prayer meets spiritual needs, but we’ll see in verses 43-45 that prayer also meets physical needs.”

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THE POINT

Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.

STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 2:43-45 10 minutes

Acts 2:43-45 43 Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and

signs were being performed through the apostles.

READ: Ask a volunteer to read

44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in

verses 43-45.

common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed

GUIDE: Emphasize that these believers didn’t just meet together to pray and worship. Verses 43-45 show how they provided for one another’s physical needs. Call attention to the bullet points on PSG page 11. Note these three prominent characteristics: • Unity. They “were together, and held all things in common.” • Selflessness. “They sold their possessions and property.” • Mutual care. They “distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need.” Point out that caring for people is wonderful way to open a conversation with someone about Jesus Christ. When people see your sincerity, they’re more willing to listen to you.

the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. Unstoppable love meets physical needs. Verse 43. Because of what was happening in and through the believers, Luke noted that a sense of fear came over everyone. This was not the feeling of dread or panic people experience when they are afraid. Instead, it refers to a deep respect, admiration, or reverence. It was not just a one-time occurrence either. The verb suggests an ongoing action— everyone continued to experience this reverent awe. Surely the believers were amazed and probably even overwhelmed by what God was doing in and through them. But likely the response refers more to those who were not believers, especially Jews in Jerusalem who witnessed the work of God in ways they might never have seen before. Part of what they witnessed or heard about was the many wonders and signs that God did through the apostles. These were miraculous actions similar to those done by Jesus that met physical needs, demonstrated the power of God, and pointed people to God. The word wonders indicates and is associated with the people’s reaction, while signs is a word used to point to the miracles’ source. The miracles were intended as directional markers that pointed people to God. This is important because it was God who was doing these miracles. The apostles were simply the human vessels through which He worked. These wonders and signs were a reminder of Joel’s prophecy of the last days that Peter proclaimed on Pentecost: God was carrying out “wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below” (Acts 2:19). Verse 44. This summary verse from Luke was another reminder of the close fellowship of all the believers in the 1

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fledgling community of Christ. The word together emphasizes the unity of the Christian community. Its meaning could include simply gathering together on a regular basis. But it also may suggest some actually shared their homes with other believers. The believers also held all things in common. Ancient Greek thought suggested the concept of an ideal society in which the people held everything in common and shared equally all things. This thinking eventually gave rise to the tenets of modern communism where such sharing was forced upon a group of people. But for the early disciples, this sharing was not forced. It was a completely voluntary action they engaged in because of their love and concern for one another. This kind of community wasn’t a new concept to the Jews of that time, however. A Jewish religious group, who lived in an isolated community in a place known as Qumran near the Dead Sea, practiced a form of communal life that was characterized by self-denial. In addition, Jesus and His disciples had a common “money-bag” in which they kept their shared finances to provide for their needs (John 12:6; 13:29). Perhaps the believers after Pentecost followed this practice and had a similar community fund where giving and receiving were ongoing practices. Verse 45. Poverty was a reality throughout Judea and Galilee during the first century. It is likely that at least some of those who became believers during that time were already living in poverty before they trusted in Jesus. And those who had come from other towns or countries but remained in Jerusalem, perhaps anticipating the Lord’s imminent return, may have found only marginal work after Pentecost, which would have added to the number of people who did not have adequate provisions. Because of their love for each other, the disciples determined to take care of anyone who had a need. Thus they sold their possessions and property to help meet physical needs. Again, this was not a required action for any disciple, as seen in the tragic story of Ananias and Sapphira that happened sometime later (Acts 5:1‑11). This deceitful couple sold some property and gave part of the proceeds to the community of believers but lied about how much they had received. Peter confronted their dishonesty by asking, “Wasn’t [the land] yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal?” (v. 4). His piercing questions stress that ownership of possessions was not wrong in the community of Christ. Even so, the believers obviously held a loose grip on their belongings and allowed God to use whatever they had when there was a need.

GUIDE: Use the Bible Commentary 1 to help the group understand the voluntary nature of the sharing that was going on among the believers.

DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 112): What would it look like for our group to practice the extravagant love we see in this passage? (Alternate: How do you live with the tension of being generous while providing for your own needs?)

TRANSITION: Say, “When we meet people’s needs in the love in Christ, we will find opportunities to share the gospel.”

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THE POINT

Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.

STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 2:46-47 10 minutes

Acts 2:46-47 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together

in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to

READ: Ask a volunteer to read

house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude,

verses 46-47.

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And

every day the Lord added to them those who were being SUMMARIZE: Emphasize that while the early church prayed and cared for others they

saved. Unstoppable love creates opportunities to share the gospel.

didn’t stop there. Perhaps if they had done only these two things—nothing more—none of us would know about Jesus. Make the critical point that at some point, in addition to praying for and helping people, they had to tell them about Jesus—who He is and why He lived, died, and rose again. They had to speak the message behind their love and caring acts (PSG, p. 113).

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Verse 46. On a daily basis the believers continued to meet with each other in the temple complex. The mention of the temple is a reminder that the believers at this time still saw themselves as Jews. They had accepted Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah but they still held to many of the tenets of Judaism and continued to observe many of the Jewish practices. Later this became a problem, however, as controversies arose between Jewish and Gentile believers about clean and unclean foods (ch. 10), as well as circumcision and other elements of the Mosaic Law (ch. 15). Even as the believers met together in the temple courts, they had in mind their witness to Jews who were not followers of Christ. Every day crowds of Jews came to the temple to participate in worship. It was a natural place to share their faith. They wanted others to experience the forgiveness and life they knew because of their relationship with God through faith in His Son Jesus. While public, larger group gatherings in the temple were important, it was just as important for the believers to spend time together outside the temple. Thus they also gathered from house to house, that is, in many different homes throughout the city. It was in these intimate small groups where they broke bread. This probably refers to a regular meal, which could have concluded with an observance of the Lord’s Supper. Such combination meals, known as “love feasts” (Jude 12), apparently were a regular practice for the early church (1 Cor. 11:17‑34). The love of the early believers in Jerusalem for one another and their unity in the faith resulted in a joyful

and humble attitude within their fellowship. The joy they experienced refers to extreme joy or gladness, exaltation. The Greek phrase translated humble attitude occurs in the New Testament only in this verse and literally means simplicity of heart. It carries the idea of sincere devotion, a mindset solely focused on pleasing God. Verse 47. One other notable characteristic of the believers was their time spent praising God. Their worship undoubtedly included words of thanks to God for all He had done for them—not only for the eternal life they experienced because of Jesus but also for the abundant life they enjoyed because of the Spirit’s presence within them. The believers did not live their lives in isolation. The community of Christ was well-known throughout the city. Luke noted that they enjoyed the favor of all the people, that is, the unbelieving Jews in Jerusalem. The believers’ lives and their fellowship were characterized by great love, and likely this was the key to the goodwill they received from outsiders. Their love was noteworthy and became a witness to others, just as Jesus had promised: “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). The results of their sacrificial love and ongoing witness were astounding. The Holy Spirit empowered their witness, just as Jesus had promised in Acts 1:8, and every day people were being saved. As a result, the Lord added these new believers to the community of faith. Out of their common love for Jesus, believers in the early church expressed love for each other. And this love spread throughout Jerusalem as the believers loved their fellow Jews enough to share the good news of the gospel with them. As a result, the church continued to grow and was held in high regard even by those who were not part of it. The Holy Spirit empowered their witness, just as Jesus had promised in Acts 1:8, and every day people were being saved. As a result, the Lord added these new believers to the community of faith.

DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 114): Loving others involves praying, caring, and sharing. In which of these areas would you like to grow? (Alternate: Why is it so important that we make the move from caring to sharing?)

DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to the activity, “Prayer—Care—Share” (PSG, p. 114).

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THE POINT

Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God.

LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: Loving people is a powerful expression of loving God. GUIDE: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 115; see text to the right). Encourage group members to choose an application that fits best with what God is calling them to do.

Wrap It Up GUIDE: Emphasize that Jesus said people would know we are His disciples because of our love. Challenge group members to evaluate the love they have for others.

SAY: “Let’s be people who not only love with prayers and words, but also demonstrate God’s love through action, giving, and serving others.”

PRAY: “Father, let our love for others be an active demonstration of our love for You. Amen.”

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LIVE IT OUT The early church was known for its culture of praying, caring, and sharing. It was a powerful trio that fed explosive church growth. Consider how you can begin to make this a part of your Christian walk in the coming week and beyond.

>> Prayer. Instead of merely taking an exercise walk

through your neighborhood, take a prayer walk. Pray for the people who live in each house in your neighborhood. Pray for their spiritual, emotional, and financial needs— and pray especially for their salvation. Ask God to work in their lives and to use you as His chosen instrument to tell them about Jesus.

>> Care. Actively look for someone in need this week.

Determine to give sacrificially, whether of your time, money, or other resources to help that person in the name of Jesus.

>> Share. Think of someone you’ve prayed for or helped

in practical ways but never talked to about Jesus. Bring Jesus into your conversation with that person. Let them know your concern for them is motivated by the love of Christ in your life.

was 180 feet long, 90 feet wide, and 50 feet high. The highest point of the structure soared to about 207 feet—approximately ten stories. Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians destroyed the ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/JUSTIN VENEMAN

magnificent structure in 586 B.C. “When the Jewish people

Men’s plaza at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

“During Jesus’ earthly ministry and the first Christian century,

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS The blessing of loving God and others begins when we turn from our sin and experience the love of God in His free gift of grace through faith in Christ. Each week, make yourself

returned from the Babylonian

available either before or after

captivity, Zerubbabel led in

the session to speak privately

building a new temple. But those

with anyone in your group

who had seen Solomon’s Temple

who wants to know more

deemed this structure to be

about becoming a Christian.

disappointingly inferior.

See the article, “Leading

“Zerubbabel’s Temple was the

Someone to the Greatest

the temple in Jerusalem, Herod’s

one Herod the Great determined

Decision of All,“ on page 2 for

Temple, was the heart of Jewish

to rebuild and enlarge. The

guidance in leading a person

worship. Here the people

completed structure, with its

to Christ.

gathered to worship Yahweh. But

arches and vaults, was 1,575 feet

most important, here Yahweh

long and 919 feet wide—almost

dwelt in the midst of His people.

1.5 million square feet in area.

Scripture speaks of the temple as

Portions of these walls are still

the ‘House of Yahweh,’ and it was

visible today, … [but] the western

indeed that.

exposure is the best known, called

“Bible students refer to Herod’s

the ‘Wailing Wall, or simply the

Temple as the ‘second temple,’

Western Wall.’”

with the magnificent structure

The excerpt above is from the article “Herod’s Temple” (Winter 2014-15), which relates to this session. More Biblical Illustrator articles are available that relate to this session. See page 7 about Biblical Illustrator.

Solomon built being the first. The inside ceiling of Solomon’s Temple

Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ.

>> Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesFor Life). >> Grow with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog (lifeway.com/groupministry). >> Additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesFor Life.com/blog. 115