Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Praying for Boldness Lesson 1

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Turn to someone in your class, and name the first person you would tell in these situations. Whom Would You Tell? monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Thinkstock

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Whom Would You Tell? A promotion at work monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Thinkstock

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Whom Would You Tell? A serious health problem monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Thinkstock

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Whom Would You Tell? An amazing answer to prayer monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Thinkstock

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Whom Would You Tell? Losing your wallet or billfold monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Thinkstock

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Whether good or bad news, we usually want to share information right away. The same was true when Peter and John were persecuted for preaching about Jesus. Let’s find out whom they told and why. Whom Would You Tell?

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Lesson Outline Introduction A. Useless Axiom B. Lesson Background

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Fill in the Background To understand what happened in today’s text, we need to look at what occurred right before this. In your groups, answer one of the following assigned questions.

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Fill in the Background 1.Which two apostles were involved? (Acts 3:1) 2.Where were they headed? (Acts 3:1) 3.They encountered a man with a handicap. Was he blind, deaf, or lame from birth? (Acts 3:2)

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Fill in the Background 1.Which two apostles were involved? (Acts 3:1) 2.Where were they headed? (Acts 3:1) 3.They encountered a man with a handicap. Was he blind, deaf, or lame from birth? (Acts 3:2) Peter and John to the temple lame from birth

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Fill in the Background 4.What did the man ask Peter and John to do for him?(Acts 3:3) 5.What did they do for him? (Acts 3:6, 7) 6.How did the man react? (Acts 3:8)

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Fill in the Background 4.What did the man ask Peter and John to do for him?(Acts 3:3) 5.What did they do for him? (Acts 3:6, 7) 6.How did the man react? (Acts 3:8) To give him alms They healed him. He walked and leaped and praised God.

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Fill in the Background 7.What was the crowd’s response to the miracle? (Acts 3:10) 8.Where did they assemble? (Acts 3:11) 9.When he saw the crowd, what did Peter do? (Acts 3:12, 13ff)

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Fill in the Background 7.What was the crowd’s response to the miracle? (Acts 3:10) 8.Where did they assemble? (Acts 3:11) 9.When he saw the crowd, what did Peter do? (Acts 3:12, 13ff) Wonder and amazement Solomon’s porch in the temple He preached about Jesus to them.

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Fill in the Background 10.When the Jewish leaders heard the preaching, why were they upset? (Acts 4:1, 2) 11.What did they do to Peter and John? (Acts 4:3) 12.When the high priest and others questioned them, what did Peter do? (Acts 4:8ff)

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Fill in the Background 10.When the Jewish leaders heard the preaching, why were they upset? (Acts 4:1, 2) 11.What did they do to Peter and John? (Acts 4:3) 12.When the high priest and others questioned them, what did Peter do? (Acts 4:8ff) They taught about Jesus’ resurrection. They threw them in jail. Preached Jesus to them.

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Fill in the Background 13.What was it about Peter and John that surprised them? (Acts 4:13) 14.What held them back from severely punishing Peter and John? (Acts 4:14- 16) 15.What did they do instead? (Acts 4:18)

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Fill in the Background 13.What was it about Peter and John that surprised them? (Acts 4:13) 14.What held them back from severely punishing Peter and John? (Acts 4:14- 16) 15.What did they do instead? (Acts 4:18) Such boldness from uneducated men. The miracle they had performed. They threatened and ordered them not to speak in Jesus’ name.

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Lesson Outline I. Release (Acts 4:23)

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. What Do You Think? What are our church’s policies and practices for sharing various kinds of information? What can be done to help people and share their issues?

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. What Do You Think? What are our church’s policies and practices for sharing various kinds of information? What can be done to help people and share their issues? Talking Points for Your Discussion – Regarding praises – Regarding challenges being or to be faced – Other

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Lesson Outline II. Prayer (Acts 4:24-30) A. Praising the Creator (v. 24) B. Remembering Christ (vv ) C. Requesting Help (vv. 29, 30)

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. How does recognition of God’s sovereignty influence how you pray? What Do You Think?

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. What Do You Think? How does recognition of God’s sovereignty influence how you pray? Talking Points for Your Discussion – Concerning a terminal illness – Concerning a natural disaster – Concerning a personal tragedy – Concerning a national tragedy – Other

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. What Do You Think? What are some ways nations or organizations attempt to work against God’s will today? How should Christians respond?

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. What Do You Think? What are some ways nations or organizations attempt to work against God’s will today? How should Christians respond? Talking Points for Your Discussion – Regarding opposition methods similar to those used in the first century – Regarding opposition methods unique to modern times

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. What Do You Think? How do we know when we should pray for boldness rather than deliverance and vice versa?

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. What Do You Think? How do we know when we should pray for boldness rather than deliverance and vice versa? Talking Points for Your Discussion – Matthew 26:39, 42 – Colossians 4:3 – 2 Thessalonians 3:1, 2 – Other

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Lesson Outline III. Results (Acts 4:31) A. On the Structure (v. 31a) B. On Those Gathered (v. 31b)

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. What Do You Think? Are there times when boldness in witness would do more harm than good? Explain.

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. What Do You Think? Are there times when boldness in witness would do more harm than good? Explain. Talking Points for Your Discussion – Esther 4:14 – Ecclesiastes 3:7b – Amos 5:13 – Other

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Lesson Outline Conclusion A. Do We Have Not Because We Ask Not? B. Prayer C. Thought to Remember

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Courageous Prayer What two practices on the part of Peter and John got them in trouble with the Jewish authorities? (Acts 4:16, 17)

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Courageous Prayer What two practices on the part of Peter and John got them in trouble with the Jewish authorities? (Acts 4:16, 17) – The miracle of healing the lame man – Their boldness in preaching about Jesus

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Courageous Prayer When they prayed, what two things did they ask God for? (Acts 4:29, 30) – More boldness – More signs and wonders

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Courageous Prayer Why would Peter and John pray for more of what had just gotten them thrown in jail and threatened by the authorities? How can we be bolder and more courageous in our prayers? Look at the following situations and describe a bold prayer.

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Courageous Prayer The school your child attends teaches sex education in a way that violates your Christian convictions. Dpyancy/iStock

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Courageous Prayer You have been reprimanded for witnessing to a coworker while you were both on break. Dpyancy/iStock

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Courageous Prayer You’ve been struggling with a secret sin all alone. Dpyancy/iStock

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. Thought to Remember God still grants boldness.

Copyright © 2015 Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. All rights reserved. SHARING WITH SINCERITY Next Week’s Lesson