Week 10: An Invincible Church: Persecution of the Apostles

Day 2
Acts 9:31; 12:24; 13:52; 16:5

You may not know the whole story of Acts, but flip through the headings and see what's going on. You'll see stonings, persecutions, and danger. Yet look at today's verses. These are like chapter markers in the book of Acts showing how the gospel continued to spread. No matter what happened, the Church continued to grow and thrive. Why? Because God was with them. God never said following Jesus would be easy, but God did say he'd be with us. As the hardships increased for the early Church, the power of God sustained them and ever helped them to grow stronger. The same can be true for us today. When we seek to serve God together and refuse to let circumstances stop up, we can count on the power of God to make our lives and church we just as powerful.

What obstacles have hindered you church or youth group?

Are these insurmountable problems?

Ask God to empower your church as the churches in Acts were empowered.

Week 10: An Invincible Church: Persecution of the Apostles

Day 1
Acts 5:17-32

The apostles were jailed, freed by an angel, captured again, and brought before the people who imprisioned them. But through all of this, they didn't even begin to water down their message. In fact, they did just the opposite. When asked why they'd violated orders, they basically said the only One they obeyed was God. What id we had the same attitude? What if we weren't afraid of offending people or didn't care about our reputations? What if we were bold like the apostles and shared our faith without worrying about the consequences? does this sound extreme? Truth is, this is exactly what the Church is supposed to be doing. God has given us the power. What are we doing with it?

As a Christian in today's society, you'll face persecution. What can you learn from today's story about the apostles?

God made you spiritually invincible. Pray that God will give you a spirit of boldness.

Week 10: An Invincible Church: Persecution of the Apostles

Memory Verse

"Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than men!' " (Acts 5:29)


Introduction

Let's think for a moment about all the religions that have come and gone. There were Egyptian gods, that whole druid thing, and how can we forget all those Greek gods?

But then there's the Church. Not only has the Church stood the test of time--spanning more than 2,000 years of history--but multitudes of people have also tried to destroy it without success. Bibles have been burned, apostles executed, an entire empire tried to wipe out the Church--all to no avail. the Church continues to thrive. Why? Because Jesus is the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Impostors fade away while Christ remains.

The situation has been that same from the Church's beginning. In Acts the apostles were threatened by religious and government authorities, thrown in jail, and beaten. But none of this put a dent in God's unfolding plan for his kingdom in the world. The Church continued to grow through all of the opposition.

Today's Church is the same way. Christians around the world are persecuted, and the Church of Jesus Christ still stands. Yet most of us don't see the Church of Jesus Christ as the invincible body it is.

Week 9: Integrity: The Key To Our Witness

Memory Verse:

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." (1 Peter 1:15)


Introduction

Mahatma Gandhi was an influential Hindu leader in the early twentieth century whose life and teachings are still followed by many today. He often referred to Jesus with terms of praise, prompting someone to ask Gandhi if he wanted to become a Christian. In reply, he said, "I like your Christ." His sentiment is shared by many. How many people have been driven away from church because some Christians talk like believers but never live out the faith they preach?

The reality is that if we don't live what we say, then we lose our credibility in telling others about Jesus. When Christians lack integrity, everyone loses. What's integrity? Having integrity means being honest. it means saying what you mean and meaning what you say. And it's more important than you know. In early stages of the Church, God went so far as to kill one couple who purposefully lied to their church. What happened to them was pretty drastic. but their lack of integrity threatened the Church.

As Christians we have to be diligent about making sure our lives reflect our beliefs. And since we're a part of a larger body, we have to help each other live out our beliefs as well. Even if we live correctly, when other believers are hypocrites, it hurts our witness. so this week we're going to talk about the integrity of not just our lives, but of the Church as well. Whether you like it or not, we're all in this together.

Week 8: One Community: Sharing Among Believers

Day 5

Hebrews 10:24-25

I don't believe any truly rational people like to get up early.   I don't.  Not ever!  But sometimes it's necessary.  And there are a few occasions when I don't mind, such as Christmas morning.  For some reason getting up early on Christmas has never bothered me.  It may seem like a chore to get up and make it to church on Sundays.  What's the big deal?  Why do we have to do that anyway?  The big deal is that it's a chance for your community to meet together, and that doesn't happen very often.  The people in your church need to see you so they can encourage you, and they need you to do the same for them.  The author of Hebrews knew that, and he reminds us how important it is.  If we never met together, then we'd never grow into the kind of family God wants us to be.  So get up!  It's time to see the Church.  It's time to be the Church!

Think about all the ways you're encouraged when you go to church.

Think about the people you can encourage.  Ask God to help you remember these things each Sunday.

Week 8: One Community: Sharing Among Believers

Day 4
I Thessalonians 1:1

What can you possible get out of an introduction? A lot. Flip through the New Testament and look at the first verses of some of the letters Paul wrote. Notice anything? Paul rarely wrote a letter alone. It's always Paul and Timothy, Paul and the brothers, or Paul and Sosthenes. Why did Paul always mention these other people if he was doing all the writing? Well, Paul wasn't a loner. He knew he needed other people--his community--to fully follow God. And so do we. Walking with God isn't an isolated action.

If you had to write a letter to a group of Christians who lived far away, then whose names would you include at the top of your letter? Who's walking beside you in your Christian journey? If no one comes to mind, then maybe it's time to start cultivating more Christian friendships. Thank God for the strong Christian friends you have.

Ask God to show you ways you can grow closer to other Christians.

Week 8: One Community: Sharing Among Believers

Day 3
James 5:13-16

Almost everyone has secrets--sins, issues, problems we don't want to talk about. But when we pretend we don't have any struggles, we're not being truthful with our friends. One of the ways we build community is by being honest with one another. In today's Scripture passage, James commands us to confess our sins not only to God, but also to one another. Why? Because God uses each of us to help our friends in Christ. This doesn't mean we should tell everyone, but we should be accountable to a few of our trusted Christian friends. The result is a depth of friendship you may have never experienced. I know it may sound terrifying, but we have to trust that God knows what he's doing. Believe me, I've tried it and it actually works. Confession our sins to each other is amazingly powerful.

What are some things you struggle with that you've never told anyone about?

Who are some trustworthy and mature Christians you could talk to about these things?

Pray that God would show you who these people are and give you the courage to be honest with them.

Week 8: One Community: Sharing Among Believers

Day 2
Ephesians 4:25-32

If you have a brother or sister, then you know that living with other people can be tough. It can be even harder for large families to get along. So imagine the problems that can arise in church of hundreds or thousands of people. Paul encouraged the church at Ephesus to be unified; but as happens in any family, problems sometimes arose.

Go back and read this passage carefully. Think about each command. Then ask God to help you identify any situation in which you may need to change your actions.

Remember, these aren't just rules; God is trying to help us have healthy relationships with him and one another.

Week 8: One Community: Sharing Among Believers

Day 1
Acts 4:32-37

Sharing isn't natural. No one has to teach a child to be selfish with his toys. That trait just comes naturally to him. But it applies to teenagers and adults as well. So how do you figure 3,000 people voluntarily selling their possessions to help other people? When the Spirit of God moves, we discover how the Spirit provides all we need--including a family of parents, brothers, and sisters to help us through life. Recognizing God's provision, Barnabas gladly chose to sell his land to aid the church. Would you be willing to do the same with your stuff? Our culture is selfish; it's time we challenged the status quo by loving each other sacrificially.

Do you believe God will provide all you need--even when you help others?

Do you truly love the people in your church?

What are some ways you can serve the people in your church this week?

Week 8: One Community: Sharing Among Believers

Memory Verse

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:10)


Introduction

Growing up in my church, the word fellowship meant some sort of post-worship-service gathering that involved food and coffee. And that was about it. It seemed pointless then; but looking back, I can see how important those times were. A church is a family made up of different types of people. And the only way such a diverse group can become a real family--and not just a crowd--is by spending time together.

This week we'll see the members of the early Church giving money to one another, sharing their possessions, and taking care of each other. This is what a real church family is supposed to look like. But how do we get there?

In every church God wants to build something called community, the sense that we're all connected in a real way. Serving each other, helping, loving, and giving are all ways we express real community.

Believe it or not, this can be the most exciting and life-changing aspect of our church experience. But community isn't easy to come by. It takes a deliberate choice to be a part of the people of God. once you join, the benefits are endless. This week we're going to look at how to build real community in our own churches.

Week 7: Physical Opposition: Peter, John, and the Sanhedrin

Day 3
Acts 16:22-30

Here's another story of people being happy after a beating. Look at how Paul responds. After Paul and Silas prayer, God sent a miraculous earthquake to set them free. But when the cell doors opened, Paul and Silas stayed put. What was the deal? Well, look at the result. Paul could have thought about himself and walked out with his head held high, saying, "See what my God can do?" But instead he thought about the jailer (who got saved--along with his whole family).

When there's an opportunity to show his love for people, Jesus never lets it escape. When you're physically intimidated or hurt for the name of Christ, it's very natural to think about just yourself. Paul knew God could use his beating to save someone else. This in no way means God wants those things to happen to you, but we have to look at the bigger picture when things like this occur.

Why did Paul have such little regard for himself?

Ask God to show you how good can come out of some seemingly bad situations in your life.

Week 7: Physical Opposition: Peter, John, and the Sanhedrin

Day 2
Acts 5:17-42

They did what? How could anyone be excited about being flogged? Flogging, by the way, is not lie a spanking. It's extremely brutal and painful. So why were they rejoicing? Jesus had warned them this would happen-that they'd follow in his footsteps and be physically persecuted. So when they were beaten as Jesus was, and for the same reasons, they knew they were on the right track. They had a joy that was more important than the pain. They didn't go looking for a beating, but they endured it because Jesus had done the same thing. It's never fun to deal with persecution, but we can rejoice that we're walking in Jesus' footsteps when it happens.

Why is it hard to offer praise in the midst of suffering?

What can you focus on if you find yourself in a similar situation?

Week 7: Physical Opposition: Peter, John, and the Sanhedrin

Day 1
Acts 4:1-12

No One said this was going to be easy. peter and john got a taste of what was to come as the religious leaders got together and told them to shut up--or else. It has to be intimidating for Peter and John to stare down these men who were more educated than them and tell them they were mission the point. but even though they were threatened, Peter and John wouldn't back down. People will pressure you--verbally, silently, or even physically--to be quiet about Christ. During times like that, you can't rely on your own power; you have to rely on God's power to give you courage and strength to stand firm. See how Peter relies on the Spirit in verse 8?

How do you respond when people try to intimidate you? Do you rely on Christ for your response?

Ask God to give you courage to stand firm when things get tough.

Week 7: Physical Opposition: Peter, John, and the Sanhedrin

Memory Verse

"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 10:39)

Introduction

At the entrance to the Colosseum in Rome stands a huge iron cross. It was erected to commemorate the countless number of Christians who were killed for sport in that place and throughout the Roman Empire. Scary as it may seem, throughout history people have given their lives just for claiming to be Christians ad refusing to deny Jesus. And while the Colosseum may seem millions of miles away from your daily life, persecution and death are a present-day reality for many Christians around the world today.

Peter and John knew this kind of persecution. In Acts 4:1-12 they were thrown in jail just because they were preaching the gospel. And that was just the beginning.

Our lives may never be at risk simply because we're Christians. But one of the things we'll have to deal with is opposition. Jesus said that since people hated him, they'd also hate us for not other reason than because we love God. It seems odd, but it happens.

You've probably already experienced people excluding you or making fun of you just for your beliefs. This week we're going to look at some responses to physical threats and how we can best use these situations to be witnesses for Christ.