ACTSEKKLESIA EMPOWERED

LESSON NO. THREETHE GREATEST GROWTH SPURT EVER

EKKLESIAIs a word that means “assembly.”The church is an

assembly of God’s people with a purpose to teach,inspire, and lead others to faith in Jesus Christ. The Book of Acts shows us what the Assembly can do when they are empowered by God to

reach out into the whole world.

INTRODUCTIONChapters 3-8 give us a detailed explanation of

the early growth of the Church surrounding Jerusalem. This time was an exceptional time

for the Church as it grew exponentially due tothe work of the Apostles and other inspired men.

It is the greatest model of Church growth youcan find.

A LAME MAN (CH 3)3:1-10

Peter and John heal a man who was lame from birth. This man was regularly found at the Temple so this miracle was something that many

people noticed and “marveled”. It is thefirst recorded miracle done after the Churchbegan. It also set the tone for the work and

influence of the Church in Jerusalem.

A LAME MAN (3)3:11-26

After the miracle, Peter preached to the crowd that has gathered following the miracle.

This sermon is one that repeats many of the same points presented in the sermon at

Pentecost (Ch 2).

FALLOUT (CH 4)4:1-22

Following the spectacle in the Temple, Peter andJohn are called before the Sanhedrin to explain

their actions and teaching. There is little theJews can do to the Apostles due to the

obvious nature of the miracle done in the Temple.

FALLOUT (4)4:23-31

After their release from the Sanhedrin, theApostles when back to the disciples to reportback about what had happened. They prayed

for boldness and were given another miraculous sign from God (vs 31).

FALLOUT (4)4:32-37

The early Church showed exceptionalcloseness and unity especially when it came

to generosity towards others. We’re alsointroduced for the first time to a man named

Joseph whom the Apostles nicknamedBarnabas (“Son of Encouragement”).

MORE SIGNS (CH 5)5:1-11

After the example of unity found when manypeople sold their property, a couple named

Ananias and Sapphira decided to do the same.The difference was they kept some back and

lied to the Apostles and the Church. Theywere punished because of their deception.

MORE SIGNS (5)5:12-16

Following the unfortunate situation with Ananiasand Sapphira, many more miracles began to

influence the people around Jerusalem.

MORE SIGNS (5)5:17-42

Following the miracles and the teaching in theTemple, the Sanhedrin once again arrested theApostles and put them on trial. They were put in

jail for preaching, freed by an angel, andfound back in the temple preaching again.

The leaders of the Jews were planning on killing them until Gamaliel intervened.

SERVANTS (CH 6)6:1-7

Seven men were chosen to be servants to theearly Church so that the Apostles could “devote”

themselves to teaching. These men would bethe first men selected outside of the Apostlesfor a specific job, task, or office (i.e. deacon)

in the Church.

SERVANTS (6)6:8-15

One of the seven men chosen to serve earlieris captured (much like the Apostles earlier) by

leaders of the Jews and put on trial for hisinvolvement with the Church.

ON TRIAL (CH 7)7:1-53

Stephen stands before leaders of the Jews andexplains (in detail) the history of the Jewish peopleand its connection to Jesus Christ. At the end, he

accuses them of ignorance and compared them to their “fathers” who persecuted the

prophets.

ON TRIAL (7)7:54-60

Stephen is stoned and killed due to his sermon.The crowd was enraged by his statements and

were furious that he would accuse them ofbeing the ones who didn’t believe. We’re

introduced the a young man named Saul whowould take a prominent role throughout the rest

of the book.

GROWTH (CH 8)8:1-3

The growth of the Church creates an opportunityfor a young man who served the Jewish leaders.Saul had witnessed the murder of Stephen andnow was arresting Christians and putting them

into jail under the authority of the Jewish leaders.

GROWTH (8)8:4-8

Due to the persecution found in Jerusalem, several Christians left and went to Samaria.

There they began to preach and were received with the same enthusiasm by those

who heard their message and saw the miracles they performed.

GROWTH (8)8:9-25

After successful preaching in Samaria and thesurrounding areas, the Apostles came theirto give the gift of the Holy Spirit to the new

Christians in that area. There was a man named Simon who hoped to purchase the

ability to perform miracles.

GROWTH (8)8:26-40

Philip (one of the preachers in Samaria) wassent by God to teach a eunuch from Ethiopiawho had been in Jerusalem to worship at the

Temple. One his way home he had been studying from Isaiah 53. Philip taught him about

Jesus and the eunuch was baptized.

THEMESChristianity isn’t a new innovation but instead the

proper fulfillment of Israel’s religion and responsibility towards God.

THEMESSermons will continue to a big part of God’s

message to the world.

ACTSEKKLESIA EMPOWERED