Acts (3)

Be sure to view the video introducing our study of Acts 3 (Lesson 3) by clicking here.

Read and meditate on Acts 3.16.
Here we receive a lesson on the infectious nature of faith. Faith displayed often generates faith in those who have no faith.

For reflection
1.  Remember, the man who was healed was not expecting to be healed, not even after Peter had begun speaking to him. It was Peter’s faith which emboldened this man to make the effort to stand. It was Peter’s invocation of the Name of Jesus Christ, echoing in this man’s ear, that led him to give his hand to Peter and undertake something he had never been able to do before. What are some ways you might expect your faith in Jesus to encourage others to believe in Him?

2.  Peter’s faith sparked the lame man’s faith, just as the faith of a bold, unflinching, and loving witness can frequently melt the hard heart of a resolute unbeliever. If our faith were more visible, confident, celebratory, and, well, “wonder-full”, would that help our skeptical and scornful generation to believe in the Good News of the Kingdom?

3.  The ongoing work of Christ looks a lot like the original work of Christ, doesn’t it? That’s as it should be. Jesus came to bring the Kingdom near; the Apostles, having entered the Kingdom, began offering it to others. Now it falls to us to extend the reach of this faith-full enterprise to our skeptical and unbelieving age. Why do you suppose we aren’t being as faithful in this work as the Apostles were?

4.  Meditate on 1 Corinthians 4.20 and Romans 14.17, 18. How can you see the Kingdom coming through Peter and John in Acts 3? How should Christians today expect to see the Kingdom coming in and through them?

5.  During the week gone by, what opportunities did you have to offer the Kingdom to someone else? In what ways were you able to see the Kingdom of God extended to others through your faith?

Summary
Obviously, Christianity is not a merely personal or private matter. That day in the temple, no one who was present doubted that something new, wonderful, and amazing had happened. And it was neither magic nor the result of some cleverly-organized, big-skill-set effort on the part of some local church. Just two guys being Jesus to their world (Acts 1.8). Write a prayer expressing what you’d like God to do in your life as a result of what you see in Peter and John in Acts 3.

Closing Prayer
Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
And His praise in the assembly of saints.
Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise His name with the dance;
Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.

Psalm 149.1-4

T. M. Moore

Each week’s studies in Acts are bound together into a free PDF that you can download for personal or group use (click here). Each week also features a video related to the studies of the week, which you may find helpful as you work through our studies Acts.

Acts is the record of Christ’s ongoing work as King and Lord. For more insight to His work in our here and now, order the book, The Kingship of Jesus, from our online store by clicking here.

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