Acts 3

Recap:

• What did you take away from Acts 2:42-47 (in last week's sermon or Connect Group Study)?

  • How have you participated in Christian community this week? How have you contributed? How have you benefited?

Read Acts 3:1-10

• What do you imagine the life of the lame man was like before this day?

• What do you think Luke means when he says that Peter and John "looked straight at him," and told him, "look at us!"

• What do you think of the reaction of the man?

  • Why did he go with them into the temple courts?

  • Why did he walk and jump and praise God there?

• How do you react to this moment? Is there anything you feel challenged by...inspired by...confused by...?

Read Acts 3:11-26

This is the second time Luke has recorded an impromptu sermon by Peter in the early days of the church...

• What stood out to you about this sermon?

  • How is this similar to the sermon in Acts 2?

  • How are they different?

    
    

Peter mentions Moses and Samuel and Abraham. He probably has other prophets like Isaiah (chapters 43 and 53) in mind as well...

• How does Peter's appeal to the prophets help his audience to understand what he's saying?

• Do you think the Old Testament still helps us to understand these things today? Why/why not?

  • Would you use these sorts of things to explain the message of Jesus to a friend who doesn't believe?

• What (if anything) do you think we can learn from this whole episode, as we seek to share Jesus with those who don't yet know him?

Spend some time praying together. Perhaps you'd like to pray for each another that we would be as bold and as wise as Peter and John, to pray and to share about Jesus with those who don't yet know him. Pray as well for friends or family members, that God would provide opportunities this week to share Jesus in word and in deed.