July 13th: Acts 3-5 review
God hears from us
Begin with a time of prayer, here’s some suggestions:
Prayers of Adoration
ACTS prayer
Pray through a Psalm
Open Intercession
Read a Liturgical prayer (valley of vision, book of prayer, divine hours, etc.)
We Hear From God: Read Acts 2:42-5:11
There is a lot of text here, divide in a way that seems best to you, but here are some suggested highlights:
Acts 2:42-47; 3:1-10, 13-16; 4:5-16, 29-31; 4:34-5:11
We Hear From Each Other (discussion questions)
What from the last few weeks in the book of Acts has been memorable or challenging?
Together, remind each other what the last few chapters in the book of Acts taught us (leaders see guide for additional support)
Summary: These chapters show the early church as a Spirit-filled community of worship, justice, and deep integrity. This community is threatened from both the inside and the outside. Chapters 3-4 show the first outside threat (a threat which will escalate over the next few chapters) and Chapter 5 shows the internal threats of pride and spiritual illusion seeping into the church.
Discussion Questions:
FOR TABLE OF LIFE:
What should Table of Life BE and DO to embody the kind of community seen in Acts 2:42-47?
How should Table of Life begin by being with Jesus in our gatherings? How will this lead to greater boldness for us?
In what ways can Table of Life grow in encouraging spiritual honesty?
FOR ME:
What are the sign that my faith is being affected by external threats?
What am I believing (or not believing) about Jesus when I try to DO things for Him instead of prioritizing BEING with Him?
What are the symptoms that my faith is being affected by internal threats?
Why can’t I be honest about my spiritual struggles? What am I believing (or not believing) when I am dishonest about my struggles?
leader guide
Below is a summary of the sermons from Acts 2-5. The goal of this discussion is to drive towards false belief. Remember the concentric circles? our SOCIAL actions are driven from our BODY habits and rituals, these are sourced in our MIND’s thoughts and emotions which are rooted in our SPIRIT/HEART’s beliefs. As we discuss we are trying to move from what we are doing as a people towards what we need to believe about Jesus. We begin with a discussion about Table of Life as a whole because it is easier to point to change that needs to happen in an organization or group than it is to turn inward. But the second set of questions are the important part we want to get to: what are these passages showing me that I am believing or not believing about Jesus that leads my boldness to weaken and allow my pride to come through?
Some examples of false beliefs:
If Jesus needs me more than I need him he can’t reject me. So I keep doing things for him so that he can’t leave me. (vacillators)
If I do things for Jesus He will owe me and need to return the favor. (pleasers)
I don’t want to self-examine because as long as I’m “saved,” I’m good enough. (avoiders)
It’s not my fault that I have issues with pride, Jesus hasn’t given me the tools to follow Him. (victims)
Being honest and open causes me to lose control and I don’t want Jesus to have that much control over me. (controllers)
Being with Jesus (Acts 3–4)
Main Passage: Acts 4:13 — “They recognized they had been with Jesus.”
🔑 Big Idea:
Ministry becomes effective not through activity, but through intimacy. Being with Jesus builds boldness, which births wonders and witness.
🧠 Summary:
Being Comes Before Doing: Peter and John were seen as bold not because of education, but because they had been with Jesus. Spiritual presence > human performance.
Prayer Fuels Boldness: Their response to persecution was not fear but prayer for boldness—God answered immediately.
Wonders Follow Intimacy: The healing at the temple gate and Peter’s sermon show the power of a life saturated in Jesus’ presence and scripture.
🧩 Key Concepts:
“Pouring without filling” leads to burnout.
The Gospel isn’t just how we’re saved, but how we live, lead, and minister.
Real power for witness flows from real time spent with Jesus.
Integrity vs. Illusion (Acts 2–5)
Main Passage: Acts 5:1–11 — The story of Ananias and Sapphira
🔑 Big Idea:
The church is meant to be God’s meeting place, but it is most at risk when illusion and performance replace integrity and surrender.
🧠 Summary:
God’s Dwelling Has Moved: From tent → temple → Jesus → the church (people). Acts 2 shows the church embodying worship and justice.
The Threat of Pretense: Ananias & Sapphira wanted the appearance of godliness without the surrender. God judged them harshly—not for holding back money, but for lying to seem more holy than they were.
Application for Today: Many churches collapse not from outside pressure but from inside illusion. We must reject spiritual posturing and pursue honesty with God, self, and one another.
🧩 Key Concepts:
When we prioritize being seen over being surrendered, we fracture the church’s witness.
Confession and vulnerability protect the church’s power.
