Jesus Protects His Church

Delve with us into Acts 5:1-16 this morning as we look at how Jesus is still at work and protecting the church not just in Bible times, but still today.

Sermon Discussion

1. We saw that this passage is more about who Jesus is than it is a warning against lying. Why is this distinction important? What picture of Jesus and his love for his church does this passage give?
2. What is one takeaway from this passage and one question that you had after studying this passage?
3. Read Acts 4:35–5:2. Describe the practice of the early church. Discuss the difference between Barnabas and Ananias.
4. Read Acts 5:3. Here Peter attributes Ananias’s lie to Satan. In what way is this declaration crucial for understanding this passage?
5. Read Acts 5:3; Ephesians 4:26–27. What does spiritual warfare look like according to these verses? What does it mean that spiritual warfare is primarily fought “on the plane of morality”?
6. Read (or skim) Joshua 6–7. How do Ananias and Sapphira compare to Achan? How does Joshua 6–7 influence our understanding of Acts 5?
7. Read Acts 5:5, 11. How would you define “fear” according to this passage/these verses?
8. Read Acts 5:12–16. What do these verses teach us about the flourishing of the early church?
9. At the end of our sermon, we saw that this passage encourages us to “guard, trust, and awe.” What does this mean? Which of these words is God calling you to focus on this week?
10. This Time Tomorrow: How does this passage transform your thoughts, actions, or interactions at “this time tomorrow”?