Bible Study Lesson # 4
ACTS Getting Along With Others Acts 6:1-15
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Getting Along With Others Even the best plan has flaws. Human responses, even the best intentioned, can still leave some needs unmet. As the community of followers of Jesus expanded, certain challenges naturally developed. These challenges may have revealed deeper racial and social issues in the community, but the pressing problem had to do with one group’s basic needs and someone being willing to serve. From an early age, most of us were taught about how to get along with others. If we were blessed with siblings, one of the first words we learned to say was “mine,” and one of the first things our parents tried to teach us was “share.” But sharing and serving don’t come naturally, for most of us are pretty self-centered. In our 4th lesson from Acts (Acts 6:1-15) The apostles were asked to solve the practical problem of how to get “faithful” people on the same page. 1
Acts 6:1-15 New Life Version
Church Leaders Are Chosen 6 In those days the group of followers was getting larger. Greek-speaking Jews in the group complained against the Jews living in the country around Jerusalem. The Greek-speaking Jews said that their women whose husbands had died were not taken care of when the food was given out each day. 2 So the twelve missionaries called a meeting of the many followers and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to hand out food. 3 Brothers, choose from among you seven men who are respected and who are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will have them take care of this work. 4 Then we will use all of our time to pray and to teach the Word of God.” 5
These words pleased all of them. They chose Stephen who was a man full of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. They also chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas of Antioch who had become a 2
Jew. 6 These men were taken to the missionaries. After praying, the missionaries laid their hands on them. 7
The Word of God spread further. The group of followers became much larger in Jerusalem. Many of the religious leaders believed in the faith of the Christians. Stephen Is Brought in Front of the Religious Leaders’ Court 8
Stephen was a man full of faith and power. He did many great things among the people. 9 But some men came from their place of worship who were known as the Free people. They started to argue with Stephen. These men were from the countries of Cyrene and Alexandria and Cilicia and Asia. 10 Stephen spoke with wisdom and power given by the Holy Spirit. They were not able to say anything against what he said. 11 So they told other men to say, “We have heard him say things against Moses and God.” 12 In this way they got the people talking against Stephen. The leaders of the people and the teachers of the Law came and 3
took him to the religious leaders’ court. 13 The people were told to lie and say, “This man keeps on talking against this place of worship and the Law of Moses. 14 We have heard him say, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is going to pull down this place. He is going to change what Moses taught us.’” The men sitting in the religious leaders’ court were looking at Stephen. They all saw that his face looked like the face of an angel. 15
Bible Study Questions 1. What problem arose in the early church regarding people’s needs?
2. What solution did the apostles offer? Why didn’t they volunteer to be the solution?
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3. How did the group respond to the apostles’ idea?
4. What does this passage reveal about Stephen’s character and relationship with God? .
5. How did God use Stephen to help the early church? 6. How did the Jews from the “Synagogue of the Freedmen” try to stop Stephen’s work?
Personal Reflection Questions 7. What are some things that cause tension and disagreements in the church today?
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8. Why is it important for Christians to get along with one another?
9. What can you learn from the early church leaders about resolving differences?
10. What happens when believers criticize and argue with one another?
11. What character traits do believers need to possess to get along with one another? .
12. How can you and your church better cultivate these qualities?
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Book Club
3:00 PM ET - Saturday July 30th
www.zoom.us Meeting ID: 695 669 5487 Call 301 715 8592 ID: 695 669 5487