BOOK OF ACTS Session 4

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BOOK OF ACTSSession 4

• Church of the Holy Family
• Confirmation 1

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Learning Objectives

• At the end of the session, the students would be
  able to
• Appreciate the struggles of the early Christian
  community as it gives birth to the Christian
  church
• Understand the Churchs mission to spread the
  gospel to the ends of the earth
• Define apostles and disciples

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Enthronement

• Jesus we enthrone you
• We proclaim you are King
• Standing here in the midst of us
• We raise you up with our praise
• And as we worship build your throne (3x)
• Come Lord Jesus and take your place.

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Prayer Session - Great Awakening

• Lord pour out your Spirit
• On all the peoples of the earth
• Let your sons and daughters
• Speak their words of prophecy
• Send us dreams and visions
• Reveal the secrets of your heart
• Lord our faith is rising
• Let all heaven sound the coming of your day.

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Chorus

• Theres gonna be a great awakening
• Theres gonna be a great revival in our land
• Theres gonna be a great awakening
• And everyone who calls on Jesus
• They will be saved.

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Great Awakening-cont

• 2. Lord pour out your Spirit
• On all the nations of the earth
• Let them see your glory
• Let them fall in reverent awe
• Show your mighty power
• Shake the heavens and the earth
• Lord the world is waiting
• Let creation see the coming of your day.

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Background Acts

• Purpose - To give an accurate account of the
  birth and growth of the Christian church
• Author Luke ( a gentile physician)
• To whom written Theophilus and all lovers of
  God
• Date Written between A.D. 63 to 70
• Setting Acts is the connecting link between
  Christs life and the life of the church, between
  the Gospels and the Letters.

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Background Acts

• 6 Key Verse But you will receive power when
  the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my
  witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
  Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
• 7 Key People Peter, John, James, Stephen,
  Philip, Paul, Barnabas, Cornelius, James (Jesus
  brother), Timothy, Lydia, Silas, Titus, Apollos,
  Agabus, Ananias, Felix, Festus, Agrippa, Luke
• 8 Special Features Acts is a sequel to the
  gospel of Luke. Because Acts ends abruptly, Luke
  may have planned to write a third book,
  continuing the story.

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SCENE 1- Ascension(40 days after resurrection)

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Scene 2 Pentecost (10 days after ascension)
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Scene 3 Peter Addresses a crowd (empowered by
the Holy Spirit)
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Scene 4 Peter heals the crippled beggar
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Scene 5 Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
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Scene 6 Apostles persecuted
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Scene 7 Stephen, the first martyr
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Scene 7 Expansion of the Church and Pauls
Conversion
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Learning Points (Summary)

• Church beginnings The community of believers
  began by faith in the risen Christ and in the
  power of the Holy Spirit who enabled them to
  witness, to love, and to serve. (By faith in
  Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy
  Spirit, the church can be a vibrant agent for
  change.)

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Learning Points (Summary)

• Holy Spirit- The church did not grow by its own
  power and enthusiasm. The disciples were
  empowered by Gods Holy Spirit. He was the
  promised Counselor and Guide when Jesus went to
  heaven. (Thus the church became more Holy
  Spirit-conscious than problem-conscious. By
  faith, any believer can claim the Holy Spirits
  power to do Christs work.)

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Learning Points (Summary)

• Church Growth - Acts presents the history of a
  dynamic, growing community of believers from
  Jerusalem, to Syria, Africa, Asia, and Europe.
  IN the first century, Christianity spread from
  believing Jews to non-Jews in 39 cities, and
  30countries, islands or provinces. (When the
  Holy Spirit works, there is movement, excitement,
  and growth. He gives us the motivation, energy,
  and ability to get the gospel to the whole world.

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Learning Points (Summary)

• Witnessing Peter, John, Philip, Paul, Barnabas,
  and thousands more witnessed to their new faith
  in Christ. By personal testimony, preaching or
  defense before authorities, they told the story
  with boldness and courage to groups of all sizes.
  (We are Gods people, chosen to be part of his
  plan to reach the world. In love and by faith,
  we can have the Holy Spirits help as we witness
  or preach. Witnessing also strengthens our faith
  as we are confronted by people who challenge it.)

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Learning Points (Summary)

• Opposition Through imprisonment, beatings,
  plots, and riots, Christians were persecuted by
  Jews and Gentiles. But the opposition became a
  catalyst for the spread of Christianity. Growth
  during the times of oppression showed that
  Christianity was not the work of humans, but of
  God.

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Group Discussion

• If you lived during the first century, and you
  heard the Apostles preaching the Good News, what
  would your reaction be?

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Journaling

• There are only 28 chapters in the Acts of the
  Apostles. If you were to write Chapter 29, how
  would you continue the story?