Slide: The Church Acts Session 7

The Church Unites

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Slide: Recap Acts 3

Choosing God’s Greater Blessing Acts 3 1 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

Read Acts 4

SLIDE Proclaim: Read Teaching Text: Acts 4:1-37 NLT 1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead.

Note…Issues with ressurection The Sadducees strictly denied the concept of the resurrection, along with angels and spirits. They were an ancient, wealthy, and conservative Jewish sect. Because they only accepted the first five books of the Bible (the Torah or Pentateuch) as authoritative, they believed Moses never taught an afterlife.

3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. 4 But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

5 The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. 15 So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.

16 “What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. 17 But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” 18 So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? 20 We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

21 The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God 22 for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.

The Believers Pray for Courage

23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— 25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans? 26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ 27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

Define Unity

SLIDE: The Definition of Biblical Unity: In the Bible, unity is the state of harmony, oneness, and peace among believers, rooted in the shared love of God. It is not enforced conformity; instead, it is a diverse group of people functioning together as one body, driven by their common faith in Jesus Christ.

SHOW Miracle On Ice Video

Slide: DISCUSS Team Unity

VIDEO: 1980 USA Hockey Team

The "Miracle on Ice" was an ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. It was played between the hosting United States and the Soviet Union on February 22, 1980, during the medal round of the men's ice hockey tournament. Although the Soviet Union was a four-time defending gold medalist and heavily favored, the United States achieved an upset victory, winning 4–3. The Soviet Union had won the gold medal in five of the six previous Winter Olympic Games, and were the heavy favorite to win another gold in Lake Placid.[1] Olympic rules at the time prohibited professional athletes from competing,[2] but the Soviet government circumvented this by employing professional athletes in symbolic university or military positions, allowing them to focus full-time on sport.[3] As a result, the Soviet team consisted of veteran players with significant experience in international play.[4] By contrast, the United States team, led by head coach Herb Brooks, was composed mostly of amateur players; only four players had any experience beyond that level, and even then all four had only minimal, minor-league experience.

SLIDE: The Church Unites (The Church Becomes One)

Slide: DISCUSS: John 17 Prayer

SLIDE Proclaim: John 17:20-27 NLT 20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

Notes: 1. The Global Expansion of the Faith (v. 20)

Jesus explicitly expands the scope of His prayer beyond His immediate, 1st-century disciples.

• The Main Idea: He prays for future generations of believers—which includes Christians throughout all history.
• The Mechanism: He highlights that this future belief will happen "through their message," establishing the vital importance of the apostles' testimony and the spreading of the Gospel.

2. Radical Unity as a Witness to the World (vv. 21–23)

The dominant theme of this entire passage is a deep, supernatural oneness among believers.

• The Standard of Unity: This isn't just superficial agreement or institutional cooperation. Jesus prays that believers' unity would mirror the trinitarian unity between Himself and the Father ("just as you and I are one").
• The Purpose of Unity: Christian unity is not inward-facing; it is the ultimate evangelical tool. Jesus states twice that when the world sees "perfect unity," it will serve as undeniable proof of two things:
  1. That the Father sent Jesus into the world.
  2. That the Father loves believers just as much as He loves Jesus.

3. The Shared Glory and Eternal Destiny of Believers (v. 24)

Jesus transitions from how believers live on earth to their ultimate, eternal purpose.

• The Main Idea: Jesus desires for His followers to ultimately be physically present with Him in eternity.
• The Reason: The ultimate reward for believers is to behold His divine glory—a glory given by the Father out of love before the creation of the world.

4. Relational Intimacy: Knowing God and Housing His Love (vv. 25–26)

Jesus contrasts the spiritual blindness of the world with the spiritual sight of His followers, concluding with a promise of deep intimacy.

• The Main Idea: While the world remains ignorant of God, Jesus has successfully revealed the Father's character to His disciples and promises to continue doing so.
• The Ultimate Goal: The climax of the prayer is that the very same love the Father has for Jesus will reside inside believers, made possible because Jesus Himself dwells within them ("I will be in them").

Jesus prophesied that this event would occur before the church was formed.

Slide: Discuss Acts 4 Prayer The Believers Pray for Courage

SLIDE Proclaim: Acts 4:23-31 NLT 23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— 25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying, ‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans? 26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ 27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Notes: 1. Corporate Unity in the Face of Opposition (vv. 23–24)

• The Main Idea: Persecution did not scatter or intimidate the early Church; instead, it drove them closer together and immediately to prayer.
• Key Detail: As soon as Peter and John report the threats of the leading priests and elders, the text notes that "all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer." Their first instinct as a community was collective, unified communication with God.

2. The Absolute Sovereignty of God Over Human Schemes (vv. 24–28)

The core of their prayer is an acknowledgment that God is completely in control, no matter how powerful their earthly enemies seem.

• God as Creator: They begin by addressing God as the "Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth," grounding their confidence in His ultimate authority over the universe.
• Prophetic Alignment: They quote Psalm 2 (written by King David), recognizing that the worldly opposition they are facing was predicted long ago.
• The Illusion of Control: They point out that while powerful rulers (Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and the peoples of Israel) united to execute Jesus, they only accomplished what God's will had "determined beforehand." Human rebellion, though evil, ultimately serves God's grand design.

3. A Request for Boldness and Divine Validation, Not Safety (vv. 29–30)

• The Main Idea: Remarkably, the believers do not pray for the threats to stop, nor do they pray for the destruction of their enemies or for their own safety.
• The Petition for Boldness: Knowing the dangers, they ask for "great boldness in preaching your word." They prioritize the mission over their comfort.
• The Petition for Miracles: They ask God to actively back up their bold preaching by stretching out His hand to heal and perform "miraculous signs and wonders" through the name of Jesus.

4. Immediate Divine Answer and Spiritual Empowerment (v. 31)

• The Main Idea: God physically and spiritually validates their prayer, providing an immediate answer to their request.
• The Physical Sign: The meeting place physically shakes, serving as a tangible sign of God's presence and power.
• The Spiritual Equipping: The believers experience a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit, which directly results in the fulfillment of their prayer: they immediately go out and preach the word of God with the exact boldness they asked for.

Slide: Discuss John 17 Prayer The Prayer of Jesus

SLIDE Proclaim: John 17:9-21 NLT 9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. 11 Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you.And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

Notes: This specific section of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer bridges the gap between His immediate disciples and all future generations of believers. It captures His deepest concerns for His followers as He prepares to leave them behind in a hostile environment.

We can break down John 17:9–21 into four core themes:

1. The Divine Ownership and Transition of the Disciples (vv. 9–11a)

• The Main Idea: Jesus establishes a clear boundary between His followers and the rest of the world, highlighting their unique value to God.
• Exclusive Focus: Jesus specifies that this segment of His prayer is explicitly for those the Father gave Him, rather than the world at large, because they ultimately belong to the Father and bring glory to Jesus.
• The Looming Transition: He highlights the tension of His departure: He is leaving the physical world to return to the Father, but His followers must stay behind in it.

2. A Plea for Protection and Perfect Unity (vv. 11b–13)

• The Main Idea: Because He will no longer be physically present to guard them, Jesus hands the care of His disciples over to the Father.
• The Power of the Name: He asks the Father to protect them by the power of His name—the same divine backing Jesus used to keep them safe during His earthly ministry (losing none except Judas, as foretold).
• The Purpose of Oneness: The primary goal of this divine protection is supernatural unity ("so that they will be united just as we are").
• Fulfilled Joy: Jesus prays these things out loud so that the disciples, hearing His care for them, will be filled with His own joy despite His departure.

3. Sanctification for a Mission in a Hostile World (vv. 14–19)

Jesus addresses the reality that His followers will face severe opposition because their allegiance has shifted.

• The World’s Hatred: Because believers have received God's word, they no longer belong to the world's system, causing the world to hate them.
• In the World, Not of It: Remarkably, Jesus does not ask the Father to rescue them out of the world to safety. Instead, He asks to keep them safe from the evil one while they remain in it.
• Sanctification by Truth: He asks the Father to make them holy (set apart for a sacred purpose) by His truth, which is defined as God's word.
• The Commission and Sacrifice: Jesus officially sends them into the world, mirroring how the Father sent Him. He offers Himself as a "holy sacrifice" to ensure they are genuinely consecrated for this mission.

4. The Expansion of the Prayer to Future Believers (vv. 20–21)

• The Main Idea: The scope of Jesus' prayer dramatically widens to historical proportions.
• A Multi-Generational Vision: He extends His petitions beyond the room, praying for every single person who will ever believe in Him down through the centuries as a result of the disciples' preaching.
• The Witness of Unity: He prays for total oneness among all generations of believers—a unity rooted in the Father and the Son ("as you are in me, Father, and I am in you"). This unity is designed to be a compelling, public proof that convinces the world that Jesus was truly sent by God.

It is powerful to see how Jesus systematically moves from ownership to protection, then to sanctification, and finally to multiplication.

Slide: Discuss Acts 4 Unity

SLIDE Proclaim: Acts 4:23-31 NLT 32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

Note: 1. Total Radical Unity (v. 32)

• The Main Idea: The spiritual unity the believers displayed while praying under threat translated directly into emotional and practical unity in their everyday lives.
• Key Detail: The text emphasizes that the entire community of believers was "united in heart and mind." There was no division or factionalism; they functioned as a single cohesive body.

2. Radical Generosity and a Shift in Ownership (vv. 32, 34–35)

The believers completely rethought how they viewed material wealth and possessions.

• A New Mindset: They did not look at their possessions as their own ("they felt that what they owned was not their own"). They prioritized people over property.
• Sacrificial Actions: Those who owned surplus assets, like land or houses, willingly sold them.
• The Result: They brought the proceeds to the apostles for fair distribution. Because of this self-sacrificing generosity, "there were no needy people among them." The community successfully wiped out poverty within its ranks.

3. Powerful Witnessing and Divine Favor (v. 33)

• The Main Idea: The spiritual and material unity of the Church created a powerful platform for their message.
• The Message: The central focus of the apostles' preaching remained the physical resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They did not compromise or water down their message despite the earlier threats from the authorities.
• The Blessing: The verse notes that "God’s great blessing [or grace] was upon them all." Their lifestyle and their preaching were validated by divine favor.

4. Exemplary Leadership: The Introduction of Barnabas (vv. 36–37)

• The Main Idea: The text moves from a general description of corporate generosity to a specific, real-world example of it in action.
• The Example: We are introduced to Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles nicknamed Barnabas ("Son of Encouragement").
• The Act: He models the exact behavior described earlier by selling a field he owned and putting 100% of the money at the apostles' feet to help those in need, setting a standard for Christlike leadership and encouragement.

Discuss Acts 2 Unity

SLIDE Proclaim: Acts 4:23-31 NLT 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Note: (Note: The text you provided actually comes from Acts 2:42–47, which takes place right after the Holy Spirit falls at Pentecost, rather than Acts 4. It provides the foundational blueprint for how the first Christian community operated.)

This passage describes the beautiful, vibrant snapshot of the very first church in Jerusalem. We can break down its main ideas into four core pillars of the early Christian lifestyle:

1. Devotion to the Spiritual Essentials (v. 42)

• The Main Idea: The spiritual growth of the community was built on four deliberate, non-negotiable daily habits.
• The Four Pillars:
  • The Apostles' Teaching: They committed themselves to learning the truths about Jesus and the Scriptures.
  • Fellowship: They intentionally prioritized deep, authentic relationships with one another.
  • Sharing in Meals (The Lord's Supper): They frequently broke bread together, combining regular meals with the remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice.
  • Prayer: They maintained an active, communal communication with God.

2. A Culture of Supernatural Awe and Radical Generosity (vv. 43–45)

• A Deep Sense of Awe: The profound reverence the believers had for God was amplified by the "many miraculous signs and wonders" the apostles performed, validating their message.
• Radical Sharing: Their spiritual unity translated directly into economic unity. They voluntarily rejected selfish ownership, meeting in one place and sharing everything.
• Abolishing Poverty: When someone in the community was in need, others would willingly sell their lands, property, and personal possessions to provide the necessary money.

3. Integrated Worship and Harmonious Community Life (vv. 46–47a)

The believers seamlessly blended their public faith with their private lives.

• Public and Private: They gathered publicly for corporate worship at the Temple courts each day, but they also met privately in individual homes to eat, celebrate the Lord's Supper, and build community.
• Joy and Generosity: Their communal life was defined by genuine happiness, sincere hearts, continuous praise to God, and a distinct lack of legalism or resentment.

4. Divine Favor and Exponential Growth (v. 47)

• The Main Idea: The attractive lifestyle of the church naturally drew outsiders in.
• Goodwill: Their love and integrity earned them the "goodwill of all the people" in the surrounding city.
• Supernatural Multiplication: Evangelism wasn't just a program; it was a daily byproduct of their healthy community. The text notes that the Lord actively added new believers to their group on a daily basis as people were being saved.

It is incredibly powerful to look at this passage alongside the others you have asked about. In John 17, Jesus prays for unity. In Acts 2 (this text), we see the immediate, beautiful result of that answered prayer. In Acts 4, we see that same unity tested by persecution and holding strong.

Conclusion: Discuss Compass Unity