ACTS - WEEK 8
Leader Note:
Mention: There is a chance to get a taste for what Alpha is like at our ‘Alpha Preview Night’
The preview night is a chance for church members to get a feeling for what Alpha is before inviting non-christian friends and family along.
It will be run exactly how the actual Alpha course will be the following week.
PREVIEW NIGHT - Monday Night - 15th May - 7:30-8:30 pm. Includes Dinner.. RSVP Required (on the facebook event)
ALPHA WEEK 1 - Monday Night - 22nd May - 7:30-8:30 pm. Includes Dinner… Bring your friends!
READ ACTS 4:32-36 5:10
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
DISCUSS:
1. What do these verses show us about how the early christians viewed their relationship to the Church?
2. What is the connection between God’s grace and generosity?
3. What would it look like for the Church to act like this today?
READ ACTS 5:1-10
5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”
9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
DISCUSS:
1. How is Ananias and Sapphira contrasted with the previous section.
2. What does peter say caused Ananias and Sapphira to sin in this way?
3. In what ways did Ananias and Sapphira sin against the God?
4. How would behaviour such as this damage the church if it occurred regularly or repeatedly?
5. What does this passage show us about how seriously God takes sin?
6. How does understanding the seriousness with which God views sin, and the need for judgement help us appreciate more deeply what Jesus has done for us?
Apply
7. In what ways do you personally feel challenged as you read over this story?
8. In what areas do you find that you are trying appear more ‘godly’ than you really are?
Pray
-Pray for Alpha (starting May 22) + Alpha preview night (May 15th)
-Pray for deeper humility and gospel joy
-Pray for vigilance against the deceptiveness of greed