THE BOOK OF ACTS: Week 3 – June 16-22
Acts 5-6: How is community formed and deepened?
Difficulties arise within and without in this week’s reading. These two chapters take us up close into the struggles, questions, and challenges of this early group.
- Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira lie to the community
- Acts 5:12-16 The apostles are held in high esteem
- Acts 5:17-32 High Priest & Sadducees arrest the apostles and Peter’s reply
- Acts 5:33-42 Gamaliel, a Pharisee on the Council, gives his famous reply
- Acts 6:1-7 Complaints arise in the church
- Acts 6:8-15 Stephen, one of those just chosen, brought before the Council
Chapter 5: Tell It Like It Is
Read again the last verse of Acts 4 where Barnabas (formerly Joseph) brings money for the church to the apostles. How is the monetary gift of Ananias and Sapphira different? What characteristic of a healthy faith community is uplifted by the swift judgment and why do you think this characteristic is so important?
Where and what were the apostles doing in their community? Where can our congregation be found in the community and what do you think the community observes about us?
Who tells the truth with courage in this chapter? Which truth-teller is not a disciple? In what kind of situations do we need to speak out or witness to God’s grace and love?
Action Plan: Go somewhere in Canyon Lake or its vicinity where you have never been---perhaps a restaurant, a new store, a neighborhood never walked? Greet someone with a smile and hello and maybe a question about the place where you are?
Chapter 6: Spiritual Gifts and New Leadership
The young church has growing pains and a complaint is voiced. In what healthy ways is the problem handled?
Where is and what is the Holy Spirit doing in this chapter? How do you think prayer leaves room for the Holy Spirit to act in your life?
This is the first we hear of Stephen. How is he described?
Action Plan: Take the spiritual gifts assessment found on the Women of the ELCA website here: (http://www.womenoftheelca.org/resource---gifts-for-you-news-28.php). Look at the list of gifts on the assessment. Name the spiritual gifts on that list that you find in this chapter? Who in our congregation do you see sharing the same gifts? Choose one person and email, call, speak to or write a note encouraging and thanking them.
