Hey everyone!

So sorry this is so late, but do try to take some time to prepare this lesson as I didn't give clear answers for some questions, especially for application and reflection. If you've any questions regarding the lesson do let me know! :)

Cindy

Acts 5: Trust

Main Point: Trusting God is seen in actions, not words. It is choosing to do what God says even when it doesn’t make sense to us or may even seem to make us worse off.

Background:

Trust. One of the shortest and yet most significant and powerful words in English. We use it freely all the time in our speech, sometimes not quite understanding the particular significance that particular word has. When someone says ‘ I trust you’ , what exactly does it mean? And more importantly, when we say we trust God...well...what exactly is trusting God to begin with? As we go through this lesson, ask yourself these questions. What does it mean to trust God? How do we trust God? Why do we trust God?

Hook: (10 min)

For this lesson’s hook, I think we can use the simple trust fall exercise to get them thinking about trust. Basically, they can pair up and take turns falling and catching each other. Keep the rules strict so they actually experience the freefall before being caught.

While doing the exercise, take note of the times when they seem hesitant or do not follow the rules exactly, eg. Taking a step back, getting the partner to stand closer etc.

The main learning point from this hook is to show that trust is an action with the right motives. Maybe some of us did the trust fall only because the leaders told us to, but didn’t really trust our friend. Even if we agree to trust someone, it is the actions we take in the end that really show our trust.

Lesson Proper:

Read Acts 5:1-11

1) What happened at the end of Chapter 4? (Recap)

Followers shared everything à no needy people. They even sold their property and land so the needs of the other Christians could be met. In chapter we just read, Ananias and Sapphira did just that.

2) What do you think Ananias and Sapphira were guilty of? Weren’t they doing a good deed by donating money to the church?

A &S sold their field and claimed to have handed over ALL their earnings to the Church. However, as seen in the passage, they did not. Instead, what they did shows 2 things:

a. they did not trust God enough to provide for their needs and wanted the money for security. But you know...the one thing you can’t do is lie to God. Coz God looks at your heart.

b. They deliberately tried to deceive people into thinking that they were being more selfless and generous than they actually were, i.e. being hypocrites, pretending to trust God. Look at Matt 6:5-8. Here we see the selfish nature of man in wanting to gain credit where he should not have it.

Note: to simplify things, I did not talk about why they had to die for something that doesn’t seem so serious. However, if your students ask, it may be good to explain things further to them.

Take a look at Luke 21:1-4

3) What do you think it is about the widow that makes her different from A&S?

4) How is this trusting God?

The widow that we read about in Luke actually does something very significant. When we read of her putting in the two coins-her all- we all think wow, that’s very generous giving away all her income to God. What we sometimes miss out, is just how much a step of trusting God this woman has taken. By putting in all her money, the woman was essentially saying in a way that ‘ God I am trusting you for everything in my life’. Women, back in those days had absolutely no means of supporting themselves financially, ie. it was thus very difficult for the widow to even EARN back the money she gave to God. We need only look at Ruth to see just how difficult widow’s lives were. So essentially what we have here is a woman who not only gives her all to God, putting not only her needs and wants after honouring God, but one who also puts her entire life in God’s hands, saying in an extraordinary statement of faith that ‘God, I trust you’.

So, to summarise, in order to trust someone, we need to choose to do what God says even when it doesn’t make sense to us or may even seem to make us worse off.

Read the rest of Acts 5.

5) How would you describe the disciple’s behaviour?

6) Why do you think they were willing to take such bold steps?

In this case, they trusted God and realised that what they were doing was important to Him. So, in order for us to show that we trust God, we also have to know what God wants us to do and strive towards.

7) What are these things that are important in this world?

The things that last (v 33-42). There are many things in this world that may be important to us, but what will happen to those things after we are gone? Many a time, they are just passed on to other people through our wills, sometimes they even get lost. Ultimately, we don’t get to keep them at all. In light of this, shouldn’t we be even more enthusiastic about securing ‘things’ that are eternal, ‘things’ that we can bring to heaven? Matt 6:19-20. While the bible has been vague about treasures specifically, you can be sure that by doing God’s important work of touching lives and reaching out to men, we are storing up ‘treasure’ for ourselves? Who knows, maybe the ‘treasure’ that we gain is actually the happiness at knowing that the people we love are saved. One thing we know for sure though, the greatest treasure we gain in continuing God’s great work is that the more we do God’s work, the stronger and closer our relationship with Him. And that in many ways is the greatest treasure.

8) Why do you think it is important to have the right mindset in doing things for God?

If we look at the disciples, the widow, and A&S. What is it that set the disciples and widow apart? Matt 19:30. Both A&S and the young man in this passage showed that they did not have the right mindset behind serving God. In the case of A&S, the consequences are played out more straightforwardly as death, but in the case of the young man we can see that because he did not start out with the right intentions, he did not carry through what he thought he had set down in his mind to do. Putting it another way, he started the race, but did not finish it. Many times when we are doing things for God, we may have to go through trials and suffering. It’s not fun and many a time even painful. It’s only by having the right mindset of doing it for God and realising that the things we do are important things that we should keep doing no matter what that we are able to keep going. Seemingly kind and good acts that are in fact sparked by selfish ambition will not last under the fire of persecution.

Application/Reflection

If we truly do our work just for God, then even under trials and suffering we will keep going for ‘the Joy of the Lord is your strength’.

In tough times we trust God to protect and provide. If we stop, is it because we don’t trust God?

What do you think about trusting God?

If you had one story to tell about your relationship with Jesus, what would it be? If each of us could share a story... just one story.... it would help our youth get to know all of us better. When we talk about our lives we become real people to them.

It doesn't have to be your greatest struggles... Some things are not for the ears of young kids until they have matured. Those you should share with the brothers and sisters you trust. You just to have to share real stories.

It could become a great faith building experience. But I will not force it... We will do it if we are agreeable on it.

Oh and Jesus rocks. =]

Thanks to Edmund and Seth for this lesson guide.

Theme Verse: Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God (Acts 4:19)

This would be the main point and we’ll talk more about it later.

Hook: Give the youths a mathematical question (e.g. 4578123/1256 * 45.5 + 12478 – 899) and ask them to solve it within 2mins without the use of a calculator. Then find an excuse to leave the classroom. Arrange among yourselves (the leaders and mentors) to leave the room to help the other groups. Other group leaders would offer to help the youths by producing a calculator. (handphone lah!) We must pressure the youths into using the calculator by telling them that they will be forfeited if they either fail to answer the question or answer it wrongly.

Point of hook: This hook would help them to experience what it is like to try to obey under duress. This is relevant to the example of Peter and John that we will share in Acts 4.

Recap:

· Acts 1 - What it means to be a Christian (Jesus instructions before His Ascension)

· Acts 2 – Before and After (A visible and tangible change from non-Christian to Christian)

· Acts 3 – Power of the Cross and Knowing that God gives you what you need rather than what you want (The healing of the crippled beggar)

Context and Summary: Acts 4 happens right after the events of Acts 3. Peter and John have just healed the beggar and the crowd is amazed. Acts 4 narrates the exchanges between Peter, John and the Sanhedrin and the reaction of the believers at that time.

Passage:

1. Acts 4: 1-6 talks about those who heard the healing of the crippled beggar in Acts 3 and Peter and John thrown into jail awaiting persecution (v.3). The Sanhedrin was worried about the teaching of Jesus’ resurrection while the people (about 5000) believed the message (v.4). Whenever disputes arise at that era, the elites/elders will come and judge the proceedings (v.5-7). As John and Peter were starting to get interrogated, their response would amaze everyone present.

2. Acts 4: 7-12 -Important point is that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit (v.8) and attributed the healing to Jesus Christ (v.9). He continued by preaching the Gospel (v.10, 12) Focus on v12 that salvation is found in no one else.

3. Acts 4: 13-22 – The elites were trying to find ways to convict them but in the end Peter and John were only let off with threats (v.21). It wasn’t that they didn’t want to punish them but the fact was they couldn’t do anything about it. Why was that so? 1) The elites were amazed at the uneducated Peter and John being able to eloquently argue that they were empowered by God in the name of Jesus, even quoting the OT (v. 10, 13). 2) Public pressure because everyone saw the miracle healing (v.16) and maybe they even suspected that Jesus is the Messiah.

4. Acts 4:23-31 – Peter and John went back to their people and recounted what happened, and everyone prayed (v.23-31). Take note of the various things they prayed for. There is exhortation (v.25-26), affirmation (v.27-28), protection (v.29) and providence (v.30)

5. Acts 4:32-36 – Everybody shared everything they had and they also evangelized. Important point is all the believers were one in heart and mind (v.32). This is what propelled them forward in such radical living. Discuss with and challenge your youths about this kind of lifestyle among their circle of Christian friends. Bring up the concept of this ideal. If we as believers are not in one heart and mind, how can we expect non-believers to actually believe in what we say? (The heart and mind are the two main things that control us) The Bible is also talking about consistency in our thinking (mind), emotions (heart) and actions. To be truly changed on the inside, is shown by our change in behavior. (Acts 2 butterfly example)

6. Go back to the theme verse. Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God (Acts 4:19) Peter and John’s behavior before the Sanhedrin (v.19) is testament to the fact that they rather obey God than other people (that boils down in doing the right thing too) and also even after they were released with threats (v.17) they continued to preach Jesus’ resurrection to people (v.33). When we truly understand that it is important to obey God rather than man (like what Peter and John did) will we start to see radical change in ourselves as our agendas will align with God’s.

This is actually a very important lesson for young kids. In their new schools, they may have seen others do things that they know is wrong. Cheating, lying, copying homework and so on. They may have also succumbed to similar pressures or seen other Christians succumb to them.

Ask them whether their friends have done wrong in school.
Ask them whether they themselves have done wrong in the school context.
Ask them why they did it.
If they have not done anything wrong, ask them what they think their friend's motivations were.
Ask them what they think they can doing about it. For example, if they have a Christian friend who cheats, perhaps he can pray for his friend and even confront him in love.

Remind them that God has laid out right and wrong... and that even if the world finds wrongdoing acceptable, it is sinful and offensive in God's eyes.

Saw a pastor post this link recently. He asked his friends to pray for revival.. and another pastor asked him to clarify what he meant. So he shared the story of Asbury in 1970 which he described as "revival characterized by a significant number of people experiencing a tangible, deep and heart wrenching conviction of sin, leading to repentance, conversion or re-dedication, followed by a lasting change in the way we live." ... an apt description of what I know many of us want for our youth.

It's not a new video.. but if you have not watched it... do so... and allow the Lord to place the desire for His Spirit of encouragement on your heart.