Your God is Too Absent Your God is Too… Series

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Your God is Too Absent Your God is Too… Series Eleanor Mumford October 31st and November 1st, 2015 Acts 4:1-14

Sermon Summary This week, Eleanor Mumford continued our journey through the series “Your God is Too…” with a message entitled: Your God is Too Absent. In her message, Eleanor expounded on the Holy Spirit who is present to empower, to be experienced, and to transform. She shared many miraculous stories of healing, deliverance, and transformation. The common thread with each of her stories was God coming upon, using, and transforming ordinary people. The Lord responds to faith regardless of its size. Background and Context The Book of Acts is, in truth, the second part of Luke’s gospel. It is his “Good News Part 2.” He was writing to a seemingly wealthy benefactor named Theophilus who wanted to hear a complete account of Jesus’ life and ministry. Acts 1:1-2 reads: “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.” With Jesus’ ascension into heaven the disciples may have wondered, “Why? Why be absent from us now that you’ve conquered sin and death? What about the mission to heal the world?” Jesus’ words and the Book of Acts answers these questions. Acts provides an account of the movement and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the disciples and those they encounter. God does not abandon his followers or abandon his mission to heal the world. He remains fully present in the person of the Holy Spirit.     In the previous chapter a man had been healed in the presence of many witnesses. These witnesses spread the news of the miracle and it caused a great stir with the religious leaders and elite class in Judaism. Pray Link to the Sermon -

What do you think it takes to become an astronaut? What do you think it takes to become an Olympic gold medalist in figure skating? What  do  you  think  it  takes  to  become  a  brain  surgeon?           Do you think that this is how faith and the Kingdom of God work? What qualifications, prerequisites, and practices are needed to be effective in the Kingdom of God?

This Week’s Bible Study (Have a few volunteers read the passage aloud. It may serve you well to read it twice!)

Acts 4:1-14 1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest's family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.

Study & Discuss 1) Why  were  the  Pharisees,  Sadducees,  Temple  Guard,  Teachers  of  the  Law,  and   Priests  of  Judaism  so  upset  with  Peter  and  John?    Who  was  typically  seen  as   the  authority  in  Jerusalem  in  religious  matters?  

(The teaching and preaching about Jesus, the resurrection. Plus, John and Peter placed the reason for Jesus’ crucifixion upon them!) 2) In  verse  1  we  see  that  Peter  and  John  were  “caught  in  the  act”  in  their   proclaiming  truth  about  Jesus.    Have  you  ever  been  stopped  in  the  middle  of   something  you  were  doing  and  had  someone  be  upset  with  you?    What  feelings   usually  arise  in  us  when  someone  steps  in  to  stop  us  in  the  middle  of   something  we  think  important?           (Allow people to share. Frustration, disappointment, resentment, embarrassment are typical feelings when we are halted/stopped in the middle of something.) 3) Why  do  you  think  the  High  Priest  asked  John  and  Peter  “By  what  power  or   what  name  did  you  do  this?”           (It seems to be an “authority” question. “By what right and who said you could do all these things?”. Great follow-up question— Where does our authority come from to share our faith, pray for the sick, cast out demons? Is it the church? The senior pastor? Ourselves?— It comes from Jesus! Matthew 28:18-20) 4) In  the  passage  just  previous  to  the  one  we’ve  read,  John  and  Peter  also  healed   a  person  who  had  an  infirmity  for  several  decades  (It  is  mentioned  by  the   disciples  in  verse  10  of  tonight’s  reading).    It  got  them  a  lot  of  attention.     Would  you  feel  comfortable  with  such  attention  if  it  meant  being  used  to  heal   someone?    What  would  you  share  with  a  crowd  in  the  Short  North,  downtown   Westerville,  or  Circleville  Pumpkin  show  that  might  gather  if  you  participated   in  the  Holy  Spirit  healing  someone?   (Allow people to be honest about how they would feel if this happened. This is a safe place to be yourself!) 5) What  do  you  feel  qualified  to  do?    What  jobs/activities  are  you  engaged  in  that   you  feel  competent  in?    Why  do  you  feel  qualified  to  do  this?   (Allow for people to answer.) 6) According  to  verse  13,  what  is  the  qualifying  mark  that  enabled  the  disciples   to  engage  fully  in  preaching/teaching/healing/ushering  in  the  Kingdom  of   God?   (They had been with Jesus.) 7)  Much  of  the  New  Testament  sees  teaching/preaching/witnessing  about  Jesus   accompanied  with  signs,  healings,  etc.    Many  American  and  European   Christian  movements  sought  to  use  reason  and  critical  thinking  to  convince   people  of  God’s  existence.    And  even  though  THIS  IS  A  GOOD  THING  THAT  WE  

SHOULD  ALL  SEEK  because  WE  HAVE  TO  LOVE  GOD  WITH  OUR  MIND,  what  key   elements  do  you  see  missing  if  that  is  your  sole  approach?       (Power, authority, good miraculous works that work for the good of those present.) 8) Do  you  think  it  adds  MORE  or  LESS  validity  to  the  power,  presence,  and   transforming  character  of  God  that  ordinary,  unschooled  people  are  qualified   agents  of  Kingdom  God?    Why  do  you  think  this?       (**Answers will vary. Try give space and time for this. etc.)

 

Ministry Time These are suggested ways to pray as a group and in smaller groups. We encourage each group to break up into smaller groups of 2-3 people and pray for one another on a regular basis in addition to “ministry time”  or “waiting on the Lord.”  This allows for greater transparency and honesty. Setting time for God to speak: Don’t forget to explain what you are about to do! This may be awkward for some of the people in the group. That is okay. It is okay to be uncomfortable sometimes! Explaining will relieve some anxiety that people may feel. •

If  there  are  not  many  words  for  the  group  that  night,  then  perhaps  pose  this  to  the   group.    “Who  is  perhaps  a  bit  nervous  about  your  clear  qualifications  (according  to   this  passage!)  in  being  an  agent  of  transformation,  power  and  presence  of  the  Holy   Spirit?    Who  would  like  us  to  pray  for  courage  to  respond  obediently  when  we  feel   the  Spirit  prompting  us  to  pray  for  healing  once  we  leave  this  room  tonight  and  go   back  to  our  regular  week?”    

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Who  is  still  struggling  with  whether  or  not  they  are  qualified  to  hear  from  God  or   talk  about  Jesus  or  pray  for  people?    Let’s  pray  into  this  and  ask  God  to  speak  to  you   about  this.  

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Is  there  anyone  who  wants  to  have  something  to  defend?    Is  there  anyone  who   wants  to  talk  about  Jesus  to  others  and  hopes  that  a  situation  with  God’s   transforming  power  opens  that  door?    Let’s  ask  God  to  use  you!