By Michael C. Mack When is civil disobedience acceptable and appropriate? Read Acts 5:27-29, 33-42. There are two groups in this passage: the apostles and the Sanhedrin members. Match each group with the appropriate emotional response: blaming boldness, defiance, fury, joy, resentment, jealousy (also see v. 17). What do each group’s emotional responses tell you […]
By Michael C. Mack 1. Which is worse—an internal or external attack? Why? Read Acts 4:34—5:10. 2. What is your initial reaction to this story? 3. How would you describe the heart of the early church? (Also see vv. 32, 33.) 4. Compare and contrast Joseph (Barnabas) to Ananias and Sapphira. How were they alike? […]
By Michael C. Mack What observable evidence do you have that God has heard your prayers? Read Acts 4:23-31. How did these believers view God? Jesus? themselves? How did the psalm quoted in the prayer relate to their recent circumstances? What did the believers ask God to do in the midst of their current situation? […]
By Michael C. Mack 1. What are some moral changes that have occurred in our culture over the last 50 years? Read Malachi 3:1-10. 2. Jesus has come and instituted a new covenant, but his second coming is still in the future. Jesus said that day will come as a surprise. With that in mind, […]
By Michael C. Mack Imagine you are the parent of a teen whom you try to teach and lovingly discipline. When you do, however, the teen turns her back to you and puts her fingers in her ears. How would that make you feel? What would you do to remedy this situation? Read Zechariah 7:8-14. […]
