How You Can Help Change the World Acts 4 

You have a God given right to share about Jesus, so increase your boldness. 

Icebreaker: Can you think of a time when you were blessed significantly by a fellow believer? 

Outline: 

  • Who gives you the right? Read Acts 4:1-13

     Note: Peter and John were arrested by the religious authorities and they were questioned as to what they were doing. 

  1. Who is asking John and Peter by what power they are doing this? (v. 5) How did John and Peter answer their question? (v.10-12) 
  2. What would it have been like for Peter and John to oppose the religious authority of the day? 
  3. In what way(s) did Peter change in two months? Compare Luke 22:56-62 and Acts 4:8,13 
  4. What is the key to being changed? (Acts 4:8)

  • Expect adversity and criticism 

Pastor Dave: External pressure builds internal cohesion 

       5. How do we usually react to criticism?  

       6. How should you react to criticism? (Proverbs 15:31,32) 

       7. How does pressure build cohesion? (James 1:3,4) 

       8. Can you share a time when a difficult situation led to unity or cohesion? 

 

  • Stand up for God’s truth. Read Acts 4:14-31

        9. Is a Christian ever justified in disobeying the law? When? (Acts 4:18-20) 

       10. Should a Christian fear the consequences of willful disobedience of the law of land?(i.e. Acts 4:3, Acts 4:21, Acts 7:54-60)  

       11. When we do fear, what should be our response? (Romans 8:38,39) 

       12. How do we grow day by day in our relationship with Truth? (John 15:1-8)

  • Stay united with your church and be generous. Read Acts 4:32-37 

Pastor Dave: We pull tighter, we pull together, we pull in the same direction 

      13. We are all so different! Yet what does the Bible command us to be? (Phil. 2:2) 

       14. How can we possibly be of the same mind? (Acts 4:24,31,32)

       15.  In Acts 4:32, it says that all believers were one in heart and soul. But it also says that they shared everything. What can we do, as Christians, to deepen our sharing experiences? 

       16. We are to read Acts 5 for next week. Persecution abounds in chapter five, but also God’s mercy. Can you thank God for something merciful in your life?