Preschool
Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Early Church Courage
Memory Verses
Primary
Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Junior
Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Background Scripture: Acts 3
Lesson Scripture: Acts 2:41-47; 4:13-22
Introduction
The twelve apostles spread the message of salvation over the known world with a burning passion. All of them except John died at the hands of their persecutors. Martyrs Mirror is filled with stories of those who courageously laid down their lives through horrific suffering. Men hazarded their lives and died translating and printing the Word of God into the language of the people so more could be saved. Thousands laid down their lives on earth to gain the glory of eternal life.
The same Pentecostal fire that gave courage to our brethren in Acts must also burn in our hearts and be the power that propels us to be witnesses to our neighbors and around the world.
Do we still possess the same courage as the early church?
Key Verse
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen (Mark 16:20).
Lesson Scripture
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.
Studying the Lesson
After Jesus was crucified, the disciples and many others who loved Him were very discouraged. Despite all Jesus had done to prepare them and help them understand God’s plan, its fulfillment had eluded them. Furthermore, the disciples were confused, afraid, and in hiding. On the morning of the resurrection, the women told them they had seen Jesus, but their reports seemed like nonsense.
That afternoon, He appeared to those on the road to Emmaus. In the evening, He came to the frightened disciples behind their locked doors. A week later, when Thomas was present, He appeared to them again. After that, He met them on the shore where they were fishing. Finally, they went with Him to the Mount of Olives and watched Him ascend into heaven. The message from the angels gave them hope and courage.
As they awaited the promise of the Holy Spirit, it was still a time of some uncertainty. They did not know what was going to happen, and there was no clear path for the future. But, true to prophecy and Jesus’s promise, the day of Pentecost came; the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them.
They no longer doubted or were afraid. Jesus had told them they would receive power—it came in a way they had never imagined. The heavenly fire that alighted upon their heads now burned in their hearts. They had a message of life and hope for the Jews and for the world.
The disciples left the upper room and found the multitudes in the city. Peter, who had cowered in fear and denied his Lord, now stepped forth with boldness. He told how the disciples had received the Holy Ghost. He preached the same Jesus to them that he had so recently denied and told them that He whom they had crucified and slain was alive and was both Lord and Christ. The Holy Spirit in his heart convicted their hearts. He told them to repent and to be baptized in Jesus’s name and that they, too, would be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Suddenly, instead of the 120 who had patiently waited for the promise, there were thousands of fellow believers. Rejoicing, they broke bread from house to house in fellowship. Their hearts swelled with love, and they freely shared in each other’s needs. Deacons were chosen to minister to the widows. Peter was sent to preach the gospel to the gentiles. Philip explained the Scripture to the Ethiopian and baptized him. It was an exciting time! It is no wonder they were filled with courage.
They soon learned, though, that the unbelieving Jews still bitterly opposed and hated them. They tried to minimize the miracle of the lame man at the temple who leaped and walked. They threatened the apostles and commanded them to stop preaching about Jesus, to which Peter and John replied, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” They were cast into prison. Stephen was stoned. They were threatened and apprehended. The new church scattered from Jerusalem to escape severe persecution.
Why did their courage not fail amid this fierce opposition? What inner power, love, hope, and vision caused them to continue with boldness and gladness, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus?
Practical Truths for Today
Is the courage of the early church possible in our time? What saps us of courage? Jesus said “the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in” (Mark 4:19) suffocate a fruitful spiritual life. The world distracts us through financial opportunity, the bombardment of constant connectivity, expensive vehicles, sports, and fashion. We may recognize the distracting element in these things, but can we see how they are also subtracting from our courage? The trappings of wealth surround us, but our brethren throughout the ages have faced the onslaught of hatred, physical persecution, and death. Today, we face a different foe. The test of our courage may well be equal to theirs.
At the shore of the Red Sea, Moses’s hand may have trembled as he stretched his rod over the water, but his courage was in God’s promise to part the waves. When David picked up five stones and faced the giant, he was only a shepherd boy with courage that the Lord of hosts, whom Goliath had defied, would deliver him. Even though it was a frightening thing to do, Esther courageously presented herself unbidden to the king, knowing that she, her maidens, her uncle, and many more had prevailed in prayer for this moment. When the young men from Judah stood up to the king in Babylon and refused to bow to his image, their voices may have trembled, but their courage was well-placed: God was able to deliver them if He chose to. Daniel’s step may have been slower going to his chamber after being forbidden to pray, but regardless, he knelt before the open window. When Jesus stretched out his hands on the cross, He derived courage from “the joy that was set before him” (Heb. 12:2). Paul and Silas, with their feet in the stocks, could sing in the night with courage, not because they were strong but because they knew that He who had sent them was in the prison cell with them.
Courage is the result of confidence in God. That confidence is the fruit of faith, love, commitment, and obedience to Him. “We are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37). There are those whose nature is bolder, and there are those who are more timid, but it has always been faith in God that has given his children courage, in weakness, to face and overcome self, sin, Satan, and the world. Those who have courageously faced their enemy with God have always gained for themselves a glorious triumph. “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27).
Questions
- Do we lack the courage of the early church?
- How do we overcome fear?
- What is the difference between confidence in ourselves and spiritual courage?
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).