Bible ReadingEphesians 2:6 “And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”
[02:29]Acts 3:1-10 “Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, ‘I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”
[14:40]Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
[09:11]Acts 5:12-16 “Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”
[22:44]Acts 9:32-35 “Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. And Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.’ And immediately he rose. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.”
[29:48]Acts 9:36-42 “Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, ‘Please come to us without delay.’ So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”
[31:28]Observation questions- In Acts 3, what does Peter say and do with the lame man, and at what point do the man’s feet and ankles become strong? [17:24]
- In Acts 5, what response do the people have to the apostles’ ministry, and what do they do with the sick as Peter comes by?
- In Acts 9, what are the similarities between Peter’s words to Aeneas and his words to Tabitha?
- What three areas of authority are named, and which one receives the main focus here? [03:55]
Interpretation questions- Ephesians 2:6 says believers are raised up and seated with Christ. How does that change the way a Christian should think about spiritual authority, and why is false humility a problem here? [02:29]
- Hosea 4:6 connects suffering with a lack of knowledge. What kind of knowledge is in view here, and why does knowing God’s will from Scripture matter so much for faith? [09:11]
- In Acts 3, Peter does not stop at speaking; he also takes the man by the hand and lifts him up. What does that reveal about the difference between agreeing with truth and actually acting on authority? [17:24]
- In Acts 9, whole towns turn to the Lord after Aeneas is healed and Tabitha is raised. What does that suggest about the relationship between the power of God and the spread of the gospel? [31:00]
Application questions- Where is there a real gap between what has been given in Christ and how life is actually being approached right now? Is there an area where false humility has sounded spiritual but has really kept a person from standing in what God says is theirs? [02:29]
- When sickness, temptation, or fear shows up, what is usually the first reaction: panic, passivity, or confidence in what God has said? What might it look like to respond more like someone who is authorized in the name of Jesus? [29:01]
- Healing faith begins where the will of God is known. What Scriptures are already known well enough to stand on, and where are the weak spots that still need to be filled in? [40:33]
- Peter started with one man at the gate, and faith grew as he used what he had. What would “starting small” look like in everyday life right now—at home, with children, with a spouse, or with a close friend? [36:56]
- Some people wait until the crisis arrives before they begin to build faith. What would it look like this week to prepare before the emergency comes instead of after it? [38:39]
- Power makes the gospel hard to ignore. Who in life right now needs more than an argument—someone who needs healing, restoration, or a real touch from God? How could prayer become part of loving that person well? [38:00]
- Peter’s authority was used, not merely admired. Is there an area where a person has been mostly agreeing with truth in theory but has not taken any step to act on it yet? What might a wise, simple next step be? [10:44]
