Acts 3:11-26
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This is the fourth week in our series on Acts and the Early Church. This sermon is called "Reckoned Time Strangely
Questions and going deeper resources
Small group questions
Connect What do you need to surrender to live more like this household of faith?
Warm-Up
- What is the most common advice that you’ve heard about how we are to use our time?
- How do you set up your annual calendar? How did the Romans create a sense of order of time?
Read Acts 3:11-16
- What has happened prior to this in Acts 3? How did people respond when they witnessed the miracle?
- Who do the people think is the cause of the miracle? Who does Peter redirect the focus to?
- Has there been a time in your life in which understanding your past gave meaning to your present?
- In order to understand what has happened, to what history does Peter point the people to?
- According to Peter, how did Jesus fulfil the prophets? In what way does he fulfil God’s covenant?
- If Jesus is the ‘author of life’, how far back does his history reach? Why is it significant that Jesus is eternal?
- As Christians, in what ways is our confidence for the future (and in the present) built on a foundation of God’s faithfulness through history? What is the ultimate past event that gives us confidence?
- Do you think contemporary Christians value God’s faithfulness through history? Why or why not?
- What role does the reading of the Old Testament shape our gratitude for God’s faithfulness over time?
- What role does the reading of the New Testament shape our gratitude for God’s faithfulness, too?
- What are the annual rhythms of the Christian calendar? How does it help to grow our confidence in God?
- In what way are we caught up in God’s salvation plans throughout history as we turn to Jesus?
Read Acts 3:17-26
- What does Peter say is yet to happen? (cf. Verse 21).
- What will the arrival of this future be like? What will the fulfillment of this future be like?
- Ultimately, who is our eternal future dependent on? Why can we be confident of this?
- How practically does having a certain future hope transform your roles on various frontlines?
- How does having a certain future hope help you to feel secure daily? Can you think of an example?
- As we think about the present, what is our primary and first response to God?
- How was the early church transformed by the constant presence of the Holy Spirit?
- What does it mean to you to know that Jesus is present with you in every moment?
Apply As you use your time for God, which of these should be your focus: (a) Rejoicing more in God’s presence; (b) Responding more regularly to God’s purposes; or (c) Resting with confidence that God is in control?
Prayer
Almighty Lord, thank you that you are the author and redeemer of time. Help us to live in recognition of what Christ has done and in anticipation of his return. Praise be to God for ever and ever, Amen.
Going deeper resources
On Your Frontline this Week
Where might God be using your weakness this week, to witness to the Gospel?
For Families
- Download: some of the family resources to use at home: stbartskids.org
Listen, Watch, and Read
- Listen (sermon): “Peter at Solomon’s Colonnade” by Al Gibbs:
https://stebbes.org/sermons/peter-at-solomons-colonnade/#sermons - Listen (sermon): “The Blessings of the Gospel” by John Stott:
https://www.allsouls.org/Media/AllMedia.aspx?show_media=51363&show_file=54568 - Listen (sermon): “God’s Raising Agents” by William Taylor:
https://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/talk/57502/ - Read (book): “Becoming Friends of Time” by John Swinton 📚
- Read (book): “How to Inhabit Time” by James K. A. Smith 📚
Series Resources
- Read (book): “Strange Religion” by Nijay Gupta. 📚
- Read (commentary): “The Challenge of Acts” by Tom Wright. 📚
- Read (book): “Why the Gospel” by Matthew Bates.
- Read (advanced commentary): “Acts: Witnesses to Him” by Bruce Milne.
📚 Available to borrow in the Church library
