Acts 9:1-20

Date: April 18, 2010
Week 7: Saul Meets Jesus Near Damascus (Acts 9:1-20)
Bible Study: God answers when we pray . . . Jesus changes our life

Acts 7

·  Saul oversees and approves of Stephen’s stoning.

Acts 8

·  “the Church” at Jerusalem was persecuted and it was scattered throughout Judea and Samaria

·  Philip, Simon, Peter, John (and others) preached the Gospel.

Acts 9

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted

 ¹ Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
³ As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ⁴ Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.^[a] It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

·      a Syrian proverb, expressing an attempt that brings nothing but pain.

⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

·      God often teaches and shows man the way through other men

·      Saul submitted without hesitation . . with all of our earthly desires, would we hesitate ??

⁷ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

·      Blinded for three days

·      Saul had three days to ponder whom he had been .. his sins, etc.

Ananias Baptizes Saul

¹⁰Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
¹¹ So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. ¹² And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
¹³ Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”

·      How natural it is for us to reason against God

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

¹⁷ And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,^[b] who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

·      Ananias did not tell Saul everything the Jesus told him about Saul …  Saul would not have been ready to hear all that!

¹⁸ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
¹⁹ So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

·      Receiving  the Holy Spirit takes away the “scales” of ignorance and pride

·      then the sinner becomes a new creature

·      and begins to talk about Jesus to his former companions

Saul Preaches Christ

²⁰ Immediately he preached the Christ^[c] in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

·      Saul preaches that Jesus is the Son of God . . not just “the Messiah” .. but He is at the right hand of the Father

REFERENCE  NOTES:

·    Saul had not known Jesus on earth

Ÿ    The road that brought you to a relationship with Jesus does not matter . . What’s important is whether or not you are making the most of your journey with Him.

 

Background Damascus
At the time of Saul’s traveling to Damascus, it was a thriving city with much economic prosperity—part of the Decapolis—one of the “ten cities.” It was a city at the crossroads of many trade routes, and as it was in a province of the Romans, it was granted many privileges and liberties. Many Jews lived in the city, as well—roughly 10,000. Saul traveled to this city to catch those Christians who had fled Jerusalem, and return them to Jerusalem for proper trial. Saul was trying to stop the spread of Christianity, which he believed to be offensive to God. What he discovered on the road to Damascus was the complete opposite!

Acts 5:12-42

Date: April 11, 2010
Week 6: Apostles Defend Their Faith (Acts 5:12-42)
Bible Study: Keep following God, even when it’s hard.

Acts 5

Continuing Power in the Church

¹² And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.

Ÿ  All believers

Ÿ  Attached to the original temple of Solomon (960-587 BC) was "the porch of judgment" where king Solomon had constructed a large hall 50 cubits long and 30 cubits wide because of the enormous porch in front.

¹³ Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.

Ÿ  No formalists or hypocrites

¹⁴ And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Ÿ  But so much the more were true believers added, because unbelievers kept at a distance.

Imprisoned Apostles Freed

¹⁷ Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, ¹⁸ and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹ But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

Ÿ  words which show the way to everlasting life

²¹ And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

Apostles on Trial Again

²² But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, ²³ saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside^[a] before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” ²⁴ Now when the high priest,^[b] the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. ²⁵ So one came and told them, saying,^[c] “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

Ÿ  Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted . . . not so we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honored with the services of our life.

²⁶ Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. ²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, ²⁸ saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?

Ÿ  those against the Gospel make laws that try to stop us from spreading it … laws that we cannot help but break

And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
²⁹ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

Ÿ  AMEN!5rcx

³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. ³¹ Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Ÿ  those who Love God are filled with the Holy Spirit

Gamaliel’s Advice

³³ When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. ³⁴ Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.

Ÿ  God can raise defenders of his servants, whenever and wherever He wants

³⁵ And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. ³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.

Ÿ  just the facts ma’am . . . Gamaliel lays out the facts before his conclusion

³⁸ And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”
⁴⁰ And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His^[d] name.

Ÿ  They have Joy in suffering for Jesus . . . now THAT is Love

Ÿ  James 1:2-3 --- 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

⁴² And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

DISCUSSION:

Ÿ  Is it sometimes hard to be a Christian ?? . . . Why ??

Ÿ  Is your Faith ever challenged ??

Ÿ  Government Laws  versus being a Christian ??

Ÿ  What can we learn as parents from this lesson ?? . . How can we use it in parenting our kids ??

Ÿ   

REFERENCE  NOTES:

Background Who Was Gamaliel?
Gamaliel was a great teacher in the line of Jewish faith. The grandson of the great rabbi Hillel, he was a respected Pharisee and also part of the esteemed Sanhedrin. As a teacher of Old Testament law, he instructed Paul (named Saul at the time) as a Pharisee. This, of course, was before Paul’s conversion. It was Gamaliel who would later deter his colleagues from killing the apostles. His line of thinking was based on a trust in God. If the Christian movement was of God, it would logically flourish. If not, it would fail quickly.

John 20:1-18

Date: April 4, 2010 (Easter Sunday)
Week 5: Jesus Appears to Mary (John 20:1-18)
Bible Study: The good news of Easter is that Jesus is alive.

John 20:1-18

The Empty Tomb

 ¹ Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

·  Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons, appears first on the scene

·  She comes before the other women, while it was still dark.

·  She has a loving heart occupied with Jesus

² Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
³ Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. ⁴ So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. ⁵ And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. ⁹ For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

·  The men are not as enthralled with the situation as Mary was

·  Jesus’ clothes were nicely folded … not like one who was dragged away, kidnapped, or robbed

Ÿ  “the other disciple” = probably John himself

Ÿ  “bold” Peter runs in

Ÿ  “John” saw and believed

Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord

¹¹ But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. ¹³ Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
¹⁴ Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”

·  Mary has to have a different relationship with Him now . . not one of the flesh any more.

·  Jesus shows himself to those that seek him

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

·  Christ's way of making himself known to His people is by his Word; his word applied to their souls, speaking to them in particular.

Why is Jesus’ Resurrection so important ??

Ÿ  our Faith would be meaningless

Ÿ  Jesus IS who He says He is

Ÿ  it shows God’s Power

Ÿ  the Bible IS True

REFERENCE  NOTES:

Background Mary Magdalene
Mary of Magdala was a woman who owed much gratitude to the Lord. She was delivered from demons and illness by Jesus. She was considered a part of the close community around Jesus, being one of his supporters. She also witnessed both the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

She was a woman who felt she owed much to the Lord who had delivered her into a place of love and grace!

Matthew 28

He Is Risen

 ¹ Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. ³ His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. ⁴ And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
⁵ But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. ⁷ And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
⁸ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

The Women Worship the Risen Lord

 ⁹ And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”