The Young Church on the Move: Lessons from Acts for Today 2016 RECTOR’S LENTEN STUDY

OVERVIEW Feb. 17 – They went out. Acts 2:5-47 Feb. 24 – They faced opposition. Acts 4:1-21 Mar. 2 – They prayed. Acts 4:23-31; 12:1-19 Mar. 9 – They organized. Acts 6:1-7 Mar. 16 – They crossed boundaries. Acts 10:1-35

PURPOSE OF STUDY The purpose of this study is to look at certain actions of the early church and to consider how these actions might be used in the revitalization of today’s church. The start-up period for any organization is one of energy, excitement and activity. The Christian Church is no exception. As we look back, let us also look forward.

Week 3 They prayed Acts 4:23-31; 12: RECTOR’S LENTEN STUDY

BACKDROP TO TODAY’S STUDY For the past two weeks, we have been looking at some of the activities of the Early Church. So far, we have seen that they didn’t stay behind closed doors but went out into the larger community boldly announcing Jesus and, as a result, faced opposition. Today we look at yet a third activity. At every critical junction, they prayed. In this session, we shall focus on two incidences in which the young church prayed, but first a general overview of prayer in Acts.

WHEN DID THE CHURCH PRAY? 1.In times of crisis (7:59; 12:5,12; 16:25) 2. When making decisions or establishing leaders (1:24; 6:6; 14:23) 3.When repenting (8:22; 9:11) 4.When saying "Goodbye" (20:36; 21:5)

FOR WHAT DID THE CHURCH PRAY? 1.Its leaders (1:24; 6:6; 14:23) 2.The manifestation of the Holy Spirit (8:15) 3.Sinners to repent (8:24; 26:29) 4.Missions (13:3) 5.Physical safety (27:29) 6.Healing (9:40; 28:8)

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THEY PRAYED? 1. Pentecost (1:14) 2. Earthquake and Evangelism (4:31; 16:25) 3. Resuscitation (9:40) 4. Miraculous Release (12:5) 5. Healing (28:8)

PLAN FOR THIS SESSION In this session we are going to look at two specific times the church prayed. -- After Peter and John’s release following their detention at the hand of the Jewish authorities. This detention stemmed from the sermon Peter preached in response to the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. (Acts 4:23-31) -- In response to a subsequent arrest of Peter under an order from King Herod. (Acts 12:1-19)

AUTHORITIES LET THEM GO After further threats they [the Jewish authorities] let them go. They could not think of any way of punishing them because of the attitude of the people. Everybody was thanking God for what had happened—that this miracle of healing had taken place in a man who was more than forty years old. (Acts 4:21-22, J.B. Phillips)

FOLLOWING THEIR RELEASE After their release the apostles went back to their friends and reported to them what the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard it they raised their voices to God in united prayer and said, “Lord, you are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ’. For truly against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word, by stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ (Acts 4:23-30)

OVERVIEW -- They prayed in a united spirit. (“They raised their voices to God in united prayer.”) -- They prayed within a Biblical framework (quoting Psalm 2). -- They prayed in thanksgiving. (‘Thanks’ or ‘thanksgiving’ is not mentioned in the text, but gratitude is what prompted this prayer). -- They prayed specifically – for holy boldness and for signs that would point men to Jesus.

FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION One characteristic of prayer in the early church was that it was ‘common’ or ‘united prayer’. “They raised their voices to God in united prayer,” the text tells us. -- How does the Prayer Book ‘keep us together’ when praying as a congregation? -- How does ‘Common Prayer’ dovetail with individual prayer? -- Must we choose one or the other? Or, is it an ‘and’ and ‘both’ situation?

KEEPING A COMMON FOCUS What about our Lenten ‘Pray-for-Three’ cards? Might not these cards help channel our prayers in a common direction? (These cards, distributed at the beginning of Lent, have three lines for people who have made no profession of the Christian faith or who have fallen away in their observance of the Christian faith. Those identified are to be prayed for each day.)

FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION -- How does reading and knowing the Bible help us pray rightly? (*1 John 4:14-15) -- What are some elements of prayer other than ‘asking’? -- Give some examples of praying specifically over against praying generalities? *"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him“ (1 John 5:14-15).

SECOND EXAMPLE OF THE YOUNG CHURCH PRAYING This incident comes on the heels of a subsequent arrest of Peter. This arrest was at the direction of King Herod. He had killed James the brother of John (the sons of Zebedee). So popular was this killing among the unbelieving Jews that Herod decided to increase his popularity even further by doing the same to the spokesman of the group – Peter. In response to Peter’s arrest, the young church prayed.

WHO WAS KING HEROD? Herod Agrippa (11 BC – 44 AD), was grandson of Herod the Great and the son of Aristobulus IV and Berenice. His territory included Judea and Galilee. The details of his death are recorded in Acts 12:21,22: “So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel sat on this throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.” Herod Agrippa

HEROD MOVES AGAINST PETER It was at this time that King Herod laid violent hands on some of the Church members. James, John’s brother, he executed with the sword, and when he found this action pleased the Jews he went on to arrest Peter as well. It was during the days of unleavened bread that he actually made the arrest. He put Peter in prison with no less than four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. So Peter was closely guarded in the prison, while the Church prayed to God earnestly on his behalf. (Acts 12:1-5)

PETER’S MIRACULOUS RESCUE 6-8a On the very night that Herod was planning to bring him out, Peter was asleep between two soldiers, chained with double chains, while guards maintained a strict watch in the doorway of the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” His chains fell away from his hands and the angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” (Acts 12:6-8, J.B. Phillips)

PETER’S MIRACULOUS RESCUE (cont.) 8b-15a And he did so. Then the angel continued, “Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.” So Peter followed him out, not knowing whether what the angel was doing was real—indeed he felt he must be taking part in a vision. So they passed right through the first and second guard-points and came to the iron gate that led out into the city. This opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and had passed along the street when the angel suddenly vanished from Peter’s sight. Then Peter came to himself and said aloud, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel to rescue me from the power of Herod and from all that the Jewish people are expecting.” As the truth broke upon him he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John surnamed Mark where many were gathered together in prayer. As he knocked at the door a young maid called Rhoda came to answer it, but on recognising Peter’s voice failed to open the door from sheer joy. Instead she ran inside and reported that Peter was standing on the doorstep. At this they said to her, “You must be mad!”(Acts 12:6-8 J.B. Phillips)

PETER’S MIRACULOUS RESCUE (cont.) 15b But she insisted that it was true. Then they said, “Then it is his angel.” But Peter continued to stand there knocking on the door, and when they opened it and recognised him they were simply amazed. Peter, however, made a gesture to them to stop talking while he explained to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. Then he said, “Go and tell James [the brother of the Lord and leader of the Jerusalem church] and the other brothers what has happened.” After this he left them and went on to another place. (Acts 12:15b-17, J.B Phillips)

FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION -- What part of this story is funny? Why? -- Does Rhoda make the story more believable? -- Have you or someone you know ever acted like those who attended this prayer meeting?

PETER’S ESCAPE INFURIATES HEROD But when morning came there was a great commotion among the soldiers as to what could have happened to Peter. When Herod had had a search put out for him without success, he cross-examined the guards and then ordered their execution. Then he left Judea and went down to Caesarea and stayed there. (Acts 12:18-19, J.B. Phillips)

WHAT MIGHT WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY? If you are praying for rain, you need to pick up an umbrella on the way out the door!

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT What are some of the things substituted for prayer in today’s church? Are ‘prayer’ and ‘doing’ irreconcilable opposites? How might these two work together? Can you think of any recent answers to prayer in this community?

FOR THOUGHT The state of affairs in church, nation and world have led some to despair and to give up. This was not the way of the early Christians. Though a small minority in the ancient world, they went out, faced opposition and prayed. Might we do less?

QUOTE “Remember the supreme wonder of the history of the Christian Church is that always in moments when it has seemed most dead, out of its own body there has sprung up new life; so that in age after age it has renewed itself, and age after age by its renewal has carried the world forward into new states of progress, as it will do for us in our day, if only we give ourselves to devotion to its Lord and take our place in its service.” --William Temple, 98 th Archbishop of Canterbury

IN CONCLUSION Some of the key points of tonight’s study : -- We should be united in prayer, sharing a common focus and mission. -- We are to pray specifically, rather than lapsing into vague generalities. -- We are to remember prayer involves more than ‘asking’. Adoration, thanksgiving and waiting all have their place. -- We are to see humour in Bible characters, no less than in ourselves. -- When we pray, we are expecting something to happen. (Don’t forget your umbrella!)

DEPART TO SERVE

Next Week: They organised Acts 6: RECTOR’S LENTEN STUDY