unstoppable opportunities

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GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes GUIDE: Draw members’ attention to the picture in

SESSION 10

UNSTOPPABLE OPPORTUNITIES

Personal Study Guide (PSG) page 116.

DISCUSS: Question #1

The Point

(PSG, p. 116): When has

We intersect daily with people who

a “chance” encounter

need Christ.

changed your life?

The Bible Meets Life Whenever you drive any distance

GUIDE: Introduce Session 10

at all, you pass intersection after

by telling the story from

intersection. Many times we just

The Bible Meets Life (PSG,

pass through those intersections

p. 117) of how Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak met, and from that chance meeting they cofounded Apple®. Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 117: We intersect daily with people who need Christ.

without noticing what’s around. These intersections are like our lives. Every day we intersect with people, but we should take the time to notice them without simply passing by. God put us on this pathway to impact and influence lives along our journey. Intersections become opportunities.

The Passage Acts 3:1-10

The Setting SAY: “Think about places where you encounter people from different walks of life. Keep this in mind as we look at God’s Word together.”

116

S e ss i o n 10

The early Christian church in Jerusalem was comprised of Jews. Most if not all of them continued to participate in the Jewish rituals and worship. One day, as Peter and John were going up to the temple complex to take part in the afternoon hour of prayer, they encountered a lame man begging at the temple gate. They used this opportunity to demonstrate the power of Jesus Christ to this lame man and all those present at the temple.

STUDY THE BIBLE

Acts 3:1-4 1 Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple

Acts 3:1-4 10 minutes

complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon. 2 And a man who was lame from birth was carried there and

placed every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so he could beg from those entering the temple complex. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple

complex, he asked for help.

READ: Ask a volunteer to read Acts 3:1-4

GUIDE: Refer to The Setting on page 116 to make the

4 Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said,

point that the early church

“Look at us.”

was comprised of Jews; most still participated in the Jewish

See the opportunity your intersections with people provide. Verse 1. The love, unity, and witness of the first Christians was truly remarkable. In the closing paragraph of Acts 2, Luke provided a brief summary of the activities of the growing community of believers (Acts 2:43‑47). They spent time together in each other’s homes. They met together in the temple on a daily basis. They took care of each other and provided for each other. And what came as a result of their new community was astounding. They enjoyed the goodwill of people in Jerusalem who weren’t believers. Every day new people were being saved. The apostles performed many miracles that resulted in awe and wonder in those who witnessed the events. Chapter 3 gives specific details of one of those miraculous events that drew the attention of many people in Jerusalem. Along with attention came the first conflict experienced by the new community of faith. The focus in chapter 3 is on Peter and John. These two men, along with John’s brother James, were perhaps closest to Jesus among the Twelve who followed Him during His earthly ministry. They were the only disciples Jesus took with Him to the mountain for His transfiguration (Matt. 17:1). They were also the only ones to accompany Jesus when He raised to life the daughter of the synagogue leader (Luke 8:51). John was known as the disciple Jesus “loved” (John 13:23; 19:26; 21:7), while Peter typically was the spokesman for the disciples. Peter continued to have a prominent role in the Christian community, as is seen in the first 12 chapters of Acts; but, beginning in chapter 13 the

rituals and worship.

GUIDE: Explain that, during the time of the apostles, the afternoon hour of prayer was a busy time at the temple when people came to pray and make evening sacrifices. OPTION: Ask members to name places where people gather in our community. (Examples may include: coffee shops, malls, and so forth.)

OPTION: Ask members to name some of the major intersections they drove through on their way to church today. Ask them to name some of the busy intersections they attempt to avoid at rush hour, and tell why they do this.

SUGGESTED USE | WEEK OF NOVEMBER 6

117

THE POINT

We intersect daily with people who need Christ.

SUMMARIZE: Direct group to PSG p. 119: Intersections bring opportunity. Wherever we drive we pass crossroads— intersection after intersection. Most of the time, we just drive through them without taking in the sights. That’s a pretty good picture of everyday life: each day our paths cross with people at the intersections of life and sometimes we fail to notice them at all. God put us on this pathway called life, and we need to be aware of the people who come and go in our lives. It’s been said that life is what happens while we’re making other plans. Divine intersections usually happen when we’re heading somewhere else. They may not fit comfortably into our schedule or our agenda. But God brings people into our lives for a reason. He wants us to slow down and allow ourselves to be divinely inconvenienced for the sake of the unstoppable gospel— and for the sake of each of those individuals. Don’t look at these divine intersections as interruptions to the journey; they are a part of the journey itself.

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S e ss i o n 10

attention centers primarily on Paul in his journeys to take the gospel into other parts of the world. One day Peter and John were on their way to the temple, apparently to participate in the hour of prayer that happened each day at three in the afternoon. This was the time of the evening sacrifice. Jewish worship at the temple included a time of prayer as well as the priestly blessing of the people. Luke notes that the two apostles were going up, a reminder of the prominence of the temple in the city of Jerusalem. The temple complex included a number of courts, porches, structures, and buildings. There were restrictions about who could go into the different areas—whether Gentiles (non-Jews), Jewish women, Jewish men, priests, or the high priest. There were different gates, or points of entry, throughout the facility. Due to the design of the temple complex, depending on where an individual was he or she might have to ascend or descend to go to the temple. However, the Jews generally spoke of going up to worship at the temple. While both apostles were involved in this event, Peter was the only one who spoke. This leads some people to wonder why John was even mentioned. The apostles may have gone to the temple in pairs to witness as well as to worship. Likely they learned this from Jesus, who had sent them out in pairs on their mission to share the good news of the kingdom (Luke 10:1). This may have been done to fulfill the requirement of the law noted in Deuteronomy 19:15, “A fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Verse 2. One gate in the temple was known by the name Beautiful. While there are no references to a gate by this name in either the Old Testament or in Jewish writings from the period, this may have been what was known as the Nicanor Gate in rabbinic literature. It is believed this massive gate made of Corinthian bronze was on the east side of the complex leading into the Court of Women from the Court of the Gentiles. The Jewish historian Josephus referred to 10 gates in the temple sanctuary (Wars of the Jews 5.201). He described the fine craftsmanship and impressiveness of this gate compared to the other 9 gates that were covered with silver or gold, which is likely why it was called Beautiful. Outside the gate a man was strategically placed where he could beg for alms from generous worshipers entering 1

the temple complex. One essential practice of Judaism taught by the rabbis was almsgiving. By the New Testament period, alms could take the form of either charitable monetary giving or good deeds. To practice almsgiving was to be righteous. Since there was no government assistance, financial support for the needy was essential. 2 Many Old Testament passages note God’s concern for the poor and a number of laws highlight the expectation for God’s people to provide for those in need (Ex. 23:6‑7; Lev. 19:10; 23:22; Deut. 15:7‑11). This practice is also found in the New Testament, where believers gave to help needy Christians (Acts 4:32‑35; Rom. 15:25‑27; 2 Cor. 8–9) and where providing for others in need is noted as a natural and expected result of experiencing the love of Christ (Jas. 1:27; 1 John 3:17‑18). But Jesus Himself warned against any giving to the poor that was done to be to be noticed and admired by others (Matt. 6:1‑4). Luke wrote that the man was lame from birth; family or friends carried him daily to the temple where he would sit to beg. It was most likely the only way he could get any money to help provide for his needs. The time of the evening services at the temple would have been one of the best times for begging, as people coming to and from the temple would have been more inclined to practice piety by giving alms to the needy. There are differing opinions as to whether the man would have been forbidden to enter the temple complex because of his disability, While some argue that legally the lame man would have been excluded from the temple, others disagree, saying that this was not the case and the reason the man was placed there was because it was the most advantageous position from which to gain alms from those coming and going from the temple. Verse 3. Peter and John were on their way into the temple complex when the lame man saw them. The man was over 40 years old (Acts 4:22) and had probably begged at the temple for many years. Thus he saw many of the same people on a regular basis. However, he would have called out to anyone who might give him something. As he probably did countless times every day, the man cried out as people passed by. He had most likely learned to hope for something but expect nothing from most people. Even so, he asked for help from Peter and John as they approached him.

SUMMARIZE: Refer to Bible Commentary 1 on page 118, Digging Deeper (PSG, p. 121), and the Biblical Illustrator article on page 125, possible locations of “the temple gate called Beautiful”.

GUIDE: Emphasize in Bible Commentary 2 that many Old Testament laws highlight God’s deep concern for the poor and His expectation that His people provide for those in need. In the New Testament believers also gave to help those in need. READ: Ask a volunteer to read the story about David Sleppy (PSG, p. 118). In a book Sleppy wrote on the homeless titled No One Sees Me, he asked a homeless man on the street, “What’s the worst part about being homeless?” The man replied, “No one sees me.”  LEADER PACK: Draw attention to Item 8, “No One Sees Me.” SAY: “How do you typically respond when you are approached by someone on

Verse 4. Possibly the beggar would look at and call out to one person or group then immediately turn and make the same request of someone else lest he miss a potential benefactor. Then he would repeat this again and again, especially before

the street asking for money or when you see someone with a sign, “will work for food”? 119

THE POINT

We intersect daily with people who need Christ.

DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 119): How can we get better at noticing the opportunities God gives us to love others? (Alternate: What emotions do you experience when God interrupts your day?)

the times of the morning and evening sacrifices when crowds of people were entering the temple. The man’s hope was for someone to give him a donation in response to his plea for help. Probably most people who gave to him did this almost mindlessly as they went to and from the temple. The apostles’ response must have been quite unexpected. Rather than hurrying past him they actually stopped and looked at him intently. This phrase denotes a fixed gaze or a deep consideration. They gave focused attention to him and saw his need. Because they were concerned about him they directed him to “Look at us.” The man evidently had turned away from them so they had to get his attention before they proceeded to talk with him.

TRANSITION: Say, “We’ve been taught to ’avoid eye contact’ when we encounter unpleasant life circumstances. Obviously, Peter and John did not follow proper ‘street etiquette’ when they told the man ‘look at us.’”

Acts 3:5-8 5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from

them. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have,

I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up

STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 3:5-8 10 minutes READ: Ask a volunteer to read Acts 3:5-8

and walk!” 7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at

once his feet and ankles became strong. 8 So he jumped up, stood, and started to walk, and he

entered the temple complex with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. Share the love of Christ through those encounters. Verses 5-6. The lame man did as they requested and turned to them. It’s possible he had heard the apostles’ preaching or heard about the miracles they had been doing in Jerusalem. But he probably did not know them by sight so he simply expected to get something from them. Maybe it had happened before that when someone spoke to him directly they were about to give him a significant sum of money. Thus the man gave them his attention.

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S e ss i o n 10

But his expectation was quickly disappointed. Immediately Peter spoke and said, “I don’t have silver or gold.” The man’s heart must have sank as he realized he wasn’t getting any money from the men. But Peter wasn’t finished—he had something else to say. “But what I have, I give you.” One can only imagine the thoughts that must have run through the lame man’s mind as he wondered if he was really going to get something significant. Then Peter invoked the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene. A person’s name represented everything about the person, especially the person’s attributes and characteristics. Thus the name of Jesus Christ represented His divine identity, authority, and power. Calling on the name of Jesus Christ was not a magic formula that forced Jesus to act (as Acts 19:13‑17 confirms). Rather, it was a declaration of the Lord’s power and authority to heal the man and the means by which Christ’s power was released to work through Peter. To clarify the identity of Jesus Christ, Peter added that He was the Nazarene. Nazareth was a small village in the hill country of lower Galilee, about midway between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea. By identifying Jesus as the Nazarene, Peter was stating that this was the same Jesus from the town of Nazareth who had ministered throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria. This was the same Jesus who had done miraculous things people had talked about— healing those who were blind and lame, driving out demons, and even raising the dead. This was the same Jesus who was crucified by the Romans. This was the same Jesus who a large group of Jews believed was raised from the dead and was still the subject of conversation in Jerusalem. This was the same Jesus who Peter called on as he commanded the man to “get up and walk!” What Peter offered the lame man was far better than any amount of money. The man was given the opportunity to walk like everyone else; something he had never done before. Verse 7. Peter then reached out and grabbed the man’s right hand and raised him up. This sentence appears to indicate the lame man’s initial reluctance to act on Peter’s command; after all, he knew his legs were useless. Just because a stranger told him to stand up and walk didn’t mean he believed it would happen. The Greek word for taking is often used of someone being captured or apprehended and is sometimes translated “seize” (John 7:30,44; 10:39). Here it pictures Peter holding tightly to the man and pulling him to a standing position. Similar to some of Jesus’ healing miracles, Peter’s touch was the conduit through which God’s power flowed to bring healing and enable the lame man to stand up.

SAY: “Calling on the name of Jesus Christ was not a magic formula that forced Jesus to act. Rather, it was a declaration of the power and authority of the Lord to heal the man and the means by which Christ’s power was released to work through Peter.”

GUIDE: Invite a volunteer to read the quote by Stephen Grellet (PSG, p. 120): “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” Make the point that this also should be our attitude toward others we meet every day.

GUIDE: Invite members to reflect on the two principles on PSG page 121 we can learn from Peter and John on intersections: 1. Peter and John gave what they had. 2. Peter and John relied on Jesus.

121

THE POINT

We intersect daily with people who need Christ.

DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 121): When have you seen Jesus make a dramatic difference in someone’s life? (Alternate: When have you felt led to care for someone in need?)

TRANSITION: Say, “It is not an every week worship experience to witness a miracle that has taken place. But it may be that we have lowered our expectations to the point that we never expect God to show up and do amazing things. When He does, people take note.”

STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 3:9-10 10 minutes

Unlike a rehab patient who gradually regains the use of his legs, complete healing happened at once for the formerly lame man. As Peter pulled him up the man discovered his feet and ankles had instantly become strong. Verse 8. The man wasted no time getting familiar with his new legs. We might have expected him to be like a toddler, taking a while to get adjusted to walking, but this was not the case. First the man jumped up. Then the man stood, which was the next logical thing for him to do—seeing if his legs would actually support him. After that he started to walk. The tense of the Greek verb indicates that he continued to walk. Once he got started, he couldn’t stop. And he did not need any instruction or help. The first place he went was into the temple complex with Peter and John. The man who had formerly sat outside the temple at its entrance now entered into the temple on his own two feet. While in the temple the man was walking and leaping. The Greek word for leaping is the same word used by Jesus to describe the living water He offers, which is “springing up within” those who drink it (John 4:14). Inside the temple the man went beyond simply exercising his new legs. He was also praising God. He knew he had received a great gift—actually a miracle—and he joyfully acknowledged God as its source. By his words and actions he couldn’t help but let others know what had happened to him and who made it possible. Other instances are found throughout the Book of Acts of people rejoicing and praising God, both in good times and bad (Acts 5:41; 8:39; 16:25).

Acts 3:9-10 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to

READ: Ask a volunteer to read

sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple complex. So

Acts 3:9-10.

they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

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S e ss i o n 10

DISCUSS: Question #4

One encounter often leads to more opportunities to share Christ.

(PSG, p. 122): How have you been affected personally by others’ obedience to Christ?

Verses 9-10. The man’s actions created quite a commotion. Evidently it was very unusual for a worshiper to leap about and shout praises to God in the temple complex. Thus it’s no wonder that all the people took notice of him and his conduct. Isaiah had prophesied that in the messianic age, “Then the lame will leap like a deer” (Isa. 35:6), apparently no one expected it to happen in that place at that time. The people recognized the man. They had seen him for years as they walked to the temple. He was in fact the same man who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate. The people knew the man and his previous condition of being lame. But undeniably something miraculous had happened to the lame man, because now they saw him walking around praising God. Thus their response was to be expected: they were filled with awe and astonishment. Only Luke used these words in the New Testament. The Greek term for awe (thambos) describes a reaction to a sudden event that can be a response of either awe or fear. The Greek word for astonishment (ekstasis, from which we get our English word “ecstasy”) is sometimes translated “visionary state” (Acts 10:10; 11:5; 22:17). The word can refer to a mind that’s been thrown out of its normal state. This was what the people in the temple experienced—the formerly lame man walking, jumping, and praising God right before their very eyes. This was not normal! What they saw stopped them in their tracks. They were overwhelmed with a sense of reverent fear at the miracle they witnessed. However, awe and astonishment are not the same as repentance and faith. A person can be astonished by someone or something without realizing the true meaning and purpose behind the event. In Acts 3:11‑26, Peter would seize the opportunity to preach to the people in the temple, proclaiming that the miracle the crowd had observed of the man formerly lame healed and walking bore witness to the reality of the power of God and the salvation now available from God through His Messiah, Jesus Christ.

GUIDE: Refer members to “Intersections of Hope” (PSG, p. 124) and ask them to jot down some intersections where they may encounter people who need the gospel message. What are some ways our group can help get the gospel message out in those places? Invite volunteers to share responses.

DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 124): How can we make room now so we can say yes to future opportunities to serve? (Alternate: How can we take the initiative to meet needs and share the gospel?)

123

THE POINT

We intersect daily with people who need Christ.

LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes

GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: We intersect daily with people who need Christ. Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 125 see text to the right). Invite group members to think about which application speaks most to their needs.

Wrap It Up GUIDE: Encourage members to pay attention to the people they encounter in the coming week who have special needs. Be on the lookout for ways to provide compassion and possibly meet a need. Look for opportunities to share the gospel with those who need Jesus.

PRAY: Ask God to open our eyes to people we will intersect with this week who need the gospel. Ask God to give us the courage to share what we have—Jesus.

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S e ss i o n 10

LIVE IT OUT Peter and John had a decision to make: “Do we keep walking and carry on with our plans, or do we stop to see what God will do?” We also face similar decisions. Our choices at those seemingly insignificant intersections can change a life’s course.

>> Look. Look for opportunities God has placed in your

path to help someone in your family or church. Allow your schedule to be interrupted this week to minister by listening, offering encouragement, praying with someone, or helping with a need.

>> Respond. Respond to opportunities God has placed in

your path to reach out to someone at work or in your neighborhood. When you see a need, determine to be a “first responder.” Ask God to use you to show the love of Jesus to someone who doesn’t know Him.

>> Discover. Discover opportunities God has opened for

you to show Christ’s love to people in need nationally or globally. Respond to an opportunity to give, pray, or go to help someone far from you know the love of Jesus.

“Within the balustrade were

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS It’s so important to always be

three distinct areas. The first was

prepared to share the gospel

designated for the women, the

with people that we meet in

second for the men of Israel, and

the intersections of life. Even

the third for the priests.

when it’s at church or when

“Moving into and through the

our group gathers off site.

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/RANDY HUGHES

court of the priests, one came to

Model of Herod’s Temple

“The Greek New Testament has two terms that can be translated temple. The first, to hieron, designates the entire temple complex. The other, naos, referred to the temple proper, or the sanctuary. This naos was set on a small terrace surrounded by a stone balustrade. On the balustrade a sign written in Greek and Latin warned non-Jews: ‘No Gentile may enter the railing around the Sanctuary and within the enclosure. Whosoever should be caught will render himself liable to the death penalty ….‘

the inner recesses of the sanctuary.

Each week, make yourself

It consisted of a porch, the holy

available either before or after

place, and the holy of holies.

the session to speak privately

“Twelve steps led from the

with anyone in your group

court of the priests to the porch.

who wants to know more

Beyond the porch was the holy

about becoming a Christian.

place. In this room stood the

See the article, “Leading

golden lampstand, the table

Someone to the Greatest

of showbread, and the altar of

Decision of All,“ on page 2 for

incense. A thick veil served as the

guidance in leading a person

west wall.

to Christ.

“Beyond the veil was the holy of holies. The high priest entered this sacred area annually on the Day of Atonement to repent, sprinkle sacrificial goat’s blood, and obtain forgiveness for his sins and those of the people.

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.

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.

>> 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. 125