- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- This Herod is the nephew of the Herod who ruled in Jesus' day. What do we know about Agrippa’s background? His rise to power? Why did Agrippa initiate a persecution against the church? What do you learn about his character in verses 20-23? Why would his choice to arrest (vv. 2-4) Peter please the Jewish leaders? Why do you think Herod, as a Roman official, would now join in the Jewish opposition to the church?
- How did Agrippa react to Peter's escape from prison? What does this tell you about his character?
- Why couldn't persecution prevent the gospel from spreading?
- Does chapter 12 suggest to you that John's brother James died because the believers did not pray for him (12:2)? If so, why? If not, why is this fact important?
- What part did the believers in Jerusalem have in Peter's escape from Herod (12:5)?
- In what sense did Agrippa "play to the crowd"? What does Agrippa's behavior prove about his sense of justice? When are you most tempted to "play to the crowd" in your life?
- What situation had moved the Jerusalem church to urgent prayer (12:5)? Do you believe that God changes things in response to prayer? Why? What evidence do you have that God acts when we pray? What can you do to increase the prayer in your church?
- Why do you think Peter chose to go to Mary's house upon his deliverance from prison?
- When Rhoda announced who was at the door, what would you have said if you had been there?
- How do you feel about the fact that God saved Peter but not James? Was there something wrong with the way the believers prayed for James as opposed to Peter? The wrong words? Scriptures? posture? Was there not enough faith? In light of John 21:18-19, how might Peter re respond to this question? Did God love Peter more than James?
- Who is the James of verse 17 (see Galatians 1:18-19)? Why do you think he is mentioned? What does this tell you about his importance in the Jerusalem church?
- Putting yourself in the place of the soldiers (v. 18), what would you say to each in the morning?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- Who truly has power here: Herod or the Lord? What does this tell you about how Christians ought to deal with opposition and persecution? What worldly forces seem all-powerful to you? How does this chapter put them in perspective?
- How are you like the people at the prayer meeting in this story (v. 12)?
- If you were arrested by a dictatorial government for being a Christian, what evidence might they use as proof of your guilt? What could some "well-meaning" character witnesses point to as proof of your innocence?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Series: Immeasurably More “Revival
& Revolution in Acts”
It sometimes takes
something big and extraordinary to get our attention. In the book of Acts, we
see God establish and unleash the Church, and change the world forever! With
just a handful of eyewitnesses and a powerful story, God did more than anyone
could’ve imagined. And He still does today. It’s time to open your eyes and see
God do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine.
Title: “Without a Doubt” (Acts 12:1-19)
Bookmark: Click Here
Opening Thoughts: Is it possible to know
without a doubt there is a God and He is active in our world? Genuine faith
sees evidence, no coincidence. What do you see?
v Prayer: God, help us dare to
imagine what you can do, and give us the faith to see when you do it.
Ø Challenge us to imagine what God
is doing and be aware of it.
v
Teen sleepwalks
for nine miles overnight. Taylor Gammel was found safe this morning.
Ø
It’s
hard to see God when you’re living in a fog.
v Romans 8:28 NIV - And we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose.
Ø What does it mean for God to be
working in our life?
===============================================================
Text: Acts 12:1-19
Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison
12 It was about this time that King
Herod arrested
some who
belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He
had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When
he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize
Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After
arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four
squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial
after the Passover.
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the
church was earnestly
praying to God
for him.
6 The night before Herod was to bring him
to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two
chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly
an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck
Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains
fell off Peter’s wrists.
8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your
clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow
me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out
of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really
happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They
passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the
city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they
had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
11 Then Peter came to himself and said,
“Now I know
without a doubt that
the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from
everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
12 When this had dawned on him, he went to
the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people
had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at
the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When
she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without
opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her.
When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they
opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter
motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had
brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and
sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.
18 In the morning, there was no small
commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After
Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he
cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
Herod’s Death
Then Herod went from Judea to
Caesarea and stayed there.
===============================================================
Summarize the main story: Describe the events of
the story in your own words.
·
Review and retell the story.
Reflections for applications:
v MEV = “extended his hands” vs. 5
“earnestly praying” (extending their arms)
o
“Stretch
out your hands” =Peter’s conversation with Jesus in John 21:18-19
§ When we know God is working in
all things to accomplish His will, we can rest easy.
v Do you notice the visible signs
of God’s work in your life?
o
Genuine
faith sees evidence, not coincidence
o
God may
be working, but still not shield me from suffering.
§ John 16:33 NIV - "I
have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
§ Witness = “martyr”
o
God is working to set you free!
Challenge to say this prayer throughout the series: “God, help us dare to imagine
what you can do, and give us the faith to see when you do it.”
==============================
Digging Questions:
·
How will
you respond to God’s “Revival”? What transformative move needs to be made?
·
What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·
What is God calling us (me and you individually) to do?
Take Away Challenges
·
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in
this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
·
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
·
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What
beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?
Hashtags #Doubt#God #Spirit #Peter
Sunday sermon link
https://youtu.be/HZxUZEtbMxA
Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources:
Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes
Comments and resources with some more resources:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+12%3A1-19&version=NIV
The Kingdom Unleashed - Part 5 from North Boulevard Church of Christ on Vimeo.
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