Setting Up Stephen

This is the study page for the meeting on Thursday, October 4.  The study will be on Acts 6, and we will look at some apostolic puns in addition to the normal course of people and events.

Read through the chapter and into chapter 7 (yes, read ahead) to get a sense of the more complete story.  After that, focus on the 15 verses of this chapter for a few read through's.  As you go through the chapter, look for strange wording, unexpected decisions or actions, and anything else that doesn't seem to make sense.  Jot those down as questions.

As you go through a final few times, consider the questions below:

• The text doesn't say "Jews" specifically with either group.  What do these designations tell you about the make up of this gathering of believers?
• Who has been responsible for this ministry to widows?  What were the clues to this in previous chapters?
• This is the word (G1248) in verse 1 for "distribution" or "service". Use the pronunciation feature. What English "church" word does this sound like?
• This is the word (G1247), "wait" or "serve" with regard to tables.  Be sure to use the pronunciation feature again.  How is it similar to the one reviewed previously?
• In verse 6, "ministry" winds up being the same word (G1248) used in verse 1 for food distribution.  What does that tell you about the apostles view of studying Scripture?
• Both these words are derivatives of this one (G1249).  What's the difference between them?  What English words have the same sort of meaning, and possibly even mean the same thing? (think "church work" if you are having trouble with this one)
• One more word-play:  In verse 1, "increasing" or "multiplying" translates this word (G4129).  In verse 2, the word for the group the apostles summon is this word (G4128).  Again, use the pronunciation if you don't see the similarities in meaning.  What words do we use that have the same connection to each other that these seem to have?
• I have been told that the seven names of the seven selected for this work are all "Greek" which I think means they are not "Aramaic" transliterations (like for John, Peter, Simon, etc).  But I'm having trouble verifying that.  Assuming that they are Greek names, what does this tell you about the solution to the food distribution problem?
• What group is mentioned as joining the group that is very surprising?  What do they risk more than others with this decision?
• Stephen is very active among the people in what way?  Is this his "job"?  Why is he doing it?
• Stephen is opposed by a group of men.  They seem to be from one Synagogue, referred to as of "Freedmen", or previous slaves.  Look at a map of the Mediterranean and find the four regions mentioned.  Do you notice anything peculiar about the regions to which it refers?
• How does this group do in their debates with Stephen?
• What do they do in response?  What seems strange about their choice of response?
• What correspondence do you see between their accusations of Stephen and both the accusations against Jesus, and the teachings of Jesus?
• What similarities and differences do you see between the group that accosts Stephen, and the one in Chapter 5?
• How might the accusations in verse be 14 true?

This is going to prove to be a fun chapter to study, and it leaves us with a "cliff-hanger" for next week (October 11).  I'm looking forward to meeting this Thursday!

If you have questions beyond these that you feel can't wait until Thursday, post them as "Comments" and then we can address them even before we meet.  If you are a "follower" of this blog, I believe you are notified when someone posts a comment.

Have a blessed week!

Staying Alive In Church

This is the page for the small group meeting Thursday, September 27.  This week we will be in Acts 5 (or at least start it).  It's a long chapter and a lot happens, so we'll get through as much as we can in the time we have.

As you read through the chapter, notice that the first eleven verses really are a continuation of the last 5 of chapter 4.  The rest of the chapter is made up of the near extinction of very happy apostles.  Read through the chapter a few times and look for the odd things people do, or don't do (the religious leaders, the apostles, and what are the people doing?).  Write down questions that come up and bring them to the group Thursday.

After reading through several times, consider these questions as you read through a final time:

• When did Ananias claim all the money was at Peter's feet?
• What would Ananias and Sapphira gain by lying? What probably motivated them?
• Why would they think they could "pull it off"?
• Why do you think Sapphira didn't hear about her husband's death at some point?
• When verses 13 and 14 are taken together, how do people join the group?
• What is drawing people from the outlying areas into Jerusalem?
• What does it take to be healed by Peter?
• Who do the religious leaders lock up?
• Which segment of the religious leaders does this?
• Who leads the apostles out, and why tell them to go back to the temple?
• If the captain and his officers fear being stoned by the people, why would the religious leaders not fear the same thing?
• Read the article on the sect of the Pharisees at this link (or at least the part on their beliefs - section II).  Why would this group give any support to the believers against the Sadducees?
• What about Gamaliel's point makes some sense?  What doesn't?
• Look up Theudas at this link.  Which explanation sounds better to you?
• Look up Judas of Galilee at this link.  Which of these two do you think makes better support for Gamaliel's point?
• Consider the reason for the apostles (remember Acts 1:21-22), what might have happened to the church had the assembly carried out their initial intent?
• So, instead of killing them, what does the assembly do?
• How effective a threat/punishment is it?
• What do the apostles do after the flogging?
• How does the church respond to these events?

That should do for the next few days.  I am looking forward to studying this passage with you.  Remember each other before our Master.  Blessings upon you until we see each other Thursday!

Responding to Adversaries

This is the blog entry for our small group meeting on Thursday, September 20.  The passage is Acts 4, and it completes the story begun in Chapter 3.  It might be a good idea to re-read that chapter and then spend some time in this one.

Be sure to read through it all at once, in one sitting.  Then, the second and subsequent times you read through, jot down observations, points of interest, and anything questions that the text does not readily answer.  Once you have a good feel for the chapter, read it again and consider the questions below:

• Who are these people who disrupt Peter's sermon?
• Why were they disrupting and imprisoning the three (Peter, John, and the formerly lame man)?
• How many people were added to the existing group of believers?
• The big-wigs meet and put the three amigos in the center.  What do they want to know?  How does their question seem odd after verse 2?
• What is it about Peter that enables him to come up with his answer?
• How does Peter's answer differ from the concerns that motivated his arrest?
• What's the prime similarity between this speech and the previous two?
• Peter uses another passage of Scripture, Psalm 118.  The reference is to verse 22.  What do you notice about this verse (perhaps with the one on either side with it) that seems an odd addition to this Psalm?  What about it seems to fit very well?
• What about Peter's speech can be taken as blasphemy by the assembly?
• What is the dilemma the assembled leaders face?
• What is their answer?  Why that answer considering their conundrum?
• What is Peter's response to their response? What does this response do to the leader's conundrum?
• Why can't Peter and John be charged with blasphemy?
• The freed captives go back to the other believers and report.  What is the response of that assembly?
• How does the assembly of believers see their problem?
• What do the people pray for?
• What is the immediate answer?
• The people are "filled" again with the Holy Spirit, again the effect is speech, but what is different here?
• How is verse 32 similar to chapter 2:44?  What other similar behaviors do you observe here to those in chapter 2?
• What isn't mentioned here but was a big part of the description of the church in chapter 2?

Keep in mind that the ending of this chapter sets us up for chapter 5.  I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday!  Blessings upon you until then (Chicken and Dumplings for Dinner!).

More Than Silver And Gold

This is the blog page for the small group meeting on Thursday, September 13.  The topic will be Acts 3, which is only half of the story.  It is completed in Chapter 4, and I encourage you to read that chapter as well.  It will be difficult not to move on to that chapter, but there are elements of both that merit two weeks of study.

I suggest that both chapters be read together just to get a sense of the story.  Then go back over 3 more slowly, looking for anything that sticks out about events, the main characters, the setting, and dialogue (or monologue, as it turns out).  As you read the second time, jot down questions or observations.  Be sure to look up words that jump out at you as either important or peculiar in some way.

As you read the third time consider the questions below:

• Considering the previous chapter's ending, how unusual is it for Peter and John to be going to the temple?
• How often must they have seen this guy before? Why now would it be a different response to him?
• Peter speaks, but how involved does John seem to be?
• How old is the lame beggar?
• Exactly at what point did the man's legs and feet become "strong"?  Why is that significant? (or is it?)
• Consider the sight of the three entering the temple.  How possible is it for the people inside and out to miss the entrance?
• The people's response is again "wonder" and "amazement" but different words are used here. The first is "wonder" (G2285) and the second is "amazement" (G1611).  Which one seems more descriptive and why?
• In Peter's response, he uses a word from the last chapter, "Amazed" (G2296), so how is this crowd's reaction similar to the crowd on the Day of Pentecost?
• Peter again lays the death of Jesus at the feet of the people (v. 13-16), but after that how does he "soften" his approach in ways he didn't in the previous chapter?
• What different Biblical elements does he use here not used in his previous "sermon"?
• Peter finally quotes some Scripture, Deuteronomy 18.  How did he apply this to Jesus?
• How does Deut. 18 describe the penalty for not listening to the Prophet? Does it really say the person not listening will be "destroyed" or "cut off"?
• Peter then refers to the blessing of Abraham.  How does this apply to Jesus?
• Peter acknowledges that the blessing is to every "family", but who "first"?  Why them?

You will probably have more questions, so bring them on!  If you want to post them as comments to this entry first, we can all be thinking about them before Thursday.

I am looking forward to meeting again Thursday.  Our last meeting was amazing.  Blessings upon you all!