Remembering God’s Faithfulness





Remembering God's Faithfulness

Teaching Tips

September 27, 2015

Bible Study Guide 4

Words You Should Know

A. Covenant (Acts 7:8) diatheke (Gk.)--A solemn agreement. B. Tabernacle (v. 46) skenoma (Gk.)--The "tent of meeting"; provisional meeting place for God and His people until the temple was built.

Teacher Preparation

Unifying Principle--Stand Firm. People will defend against all criticism of their beliefs, even if their life is in danger. How do people stand up to such perilous criticism? When Stephen spoke to his accusers in the council, he summarized the history of God's faithfulness to the Israelites and then challenged the council members for not keeping the Law themselves. A. Read the Bible Background and Devotional Readings. B. Complete Lesson 4 in the Precepts For Living? Personal Study Guide. C. Reread the Focal Verses in another modern translation.

O--Open the Lesson

A. Open with prayer. B. Have a student read the Aim for Change and In Focus story.

P--Present the Scriptures

A. Ask for volunteers to read the Focal Verses and The People, Places, and Times. Discuss. B. Read and discuss the Background section. C. Encourage students to discuss the faithfulness of God in history and in their own lives.

E--Explore the Meaning

A. Review and discuss the Search the Scriptures and Discuss the Meaning questions and the Lesson in Our Society section. B. Ask students to share the most significant point they learned and how to use that point this week.

N--Next Steps for Application

A. Complete the Follow the Spirit and Remember Your Thoughts sections. B. Remind students to read the Daily Bible Readings in preparation for next week's lesson. C. Close in prayer, thanking God for His faithfulness.

Worship Guide

For the Superintendent or Teacher Theme: Remembering God's Faithfulness Song: "Great is Thy Faithfulness" Devotional Guide: 1 Corinthians 1:1?9

Remembering God's Faithfulness

Bible Background ? ACTS 7:1?53 | Printed Text ? ACTS 7:2?4, 8?10, 17, 33?34, 45?47, 53 Devotional Reading ? 1 CORINTHIANS 1:1?9

Aim for Change

By the end of this lesson we will: STUDY Stephen's proclamation before the council in which he reminded the Jews of God's faithfulness through the ages and their disregard of God's law; REFLECT on the meaning of beliefs and a willingness to stand firm in life-threatening circumstances; and COMMIT to stand for beliefs about God in all circumstances.

In Focus

Anna was interviewing for a position at a prestigious publication. She had been praying that she got the position because she had been unemployed for two years. She was behind on her mortgage and car payments. She really needed this job. The interview had been going well. Her interviewer, Alex, seemed to really like her and Anna felt very positive about the interview. Toward the end of the interview, Alex asked if she would be willing to oversee the Sexuality section to ensure that the publication embraced, affirmed, and represented diverse sexual lifestyles. Her heart sank. She had bills to pay. Should she speak up or just do what the position required? "Alex," she began, "I can't cover the sexuality section. I believe in what the Bible says about sex and sexuality. Anything outside of that is not right, and I cannot condone or promote it." "That would be a large part of this job. I don't think this is the right position for you." Anna nodded. Alex thanked her for coming and she stood to leave, knowing that she had made the right decision. Stand for your beliefs even when it may be unpopular and could result in unpleasant consequences. How can we find strength to stand for our beliefs in the face of opposition?

Keep in Mind

"But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:55).

Focal Verses

KJV Acts 7:2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,

3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.

4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,

10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

17 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,

33 Then said the Lord to him [Moses], Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.

45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

47 But Solomon built him an house.

53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

NLT Acts 7:2 This was Stephen's reply: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me. Our glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran.

3 God told him, `Leave your native land and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.'

4 So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran until his father died. Then God brought him here to the land where you now live.

8 God also gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision at that time. So when Abraham became the father of Isaac, he circumcised him on the eighth day. And the practice was continued when Isaac became the father of Jacob, and when Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs of the Israelite nation.

9 These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with

him

10 and rescued him from all his troubles. And God gave him favor before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. God also gave Joseph unusual wisdom, so that Pharaoh appointed him governor over all of Egypt and put him in charge of the palace.

17 As the time drew near when God would fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased.

33 Then the LORD said to him [Moses], `Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.

34 I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now go, for I am sending you back to Egypt.'

45 Years later, when Joshua led our ancestors in battle against the nations that God drove out of this land, the Tabernacle was taken with them into their new territory. And it stayed there until the time of King David.

46 David found favor with God and asked for the privilege of building a permanent Temple for the God of Jacob.

47 But it was Solomon who actually built it.

53 You deliberately disobeyed God's law, even though you received it from the hands of angels."

The People, Places, and Times

Stephen. Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to serve the church as the first deacons. Because the Scriptures he uses in his defense are from the Septuagint (i.e., from the Greek translation of the Old Testament, rather than the original Hebrew), Stephen was most likely a Hellenist (Greek-speaking) Jew. He preached Christ with wisdom and power, which angered the religious establishment. As a result, Stephen became the church's first martyr.

Background

Following the release of the apostles in Acts 5, the message of Christ continued to spread with power. The apostles chose seven men to serve, including Stephen, who were filled with the Spirit and wisdom. Today's lesson highlights some of Stephen's speech to the Sanhedrin after his arrest. He was charged with speaking blasphemy against God, His temple, and Moses. Stephen's response does not directly answer the Sanhedrin's charges; rather, he turns their charges against them and explains how they have rejected God. In addition to being full of the Spirit, Stephen was well acquainted with the Scriptures and the history of Israel. This made a powerful combination as he spoke before the Sanhedrin.

At-A-Glance

1. God's Promises to Abraham ( Acts 7:2?4, 8)

2. God's Deliverance Through Joseph (vv. 9?10)

3. God's Deliverance Through Moses (vv. 17, 33?34, 45?47)

4. Israel's Rejection (v. 53)

In Depth

1. God's Promises to Abraham ( Acts 7:2?4, 8)

While Stephen is accused of being a blasphemer and an apostate from the Jewish faith, he refers to Abraham as "our father Abraham," counting himself among the faithful. Stephen begins his discourse with the call of Abraham, the father of the Jewish faith. God calls Abraham out of Mesopotamia, which was filled with idol worship. Abraham's initial move was to Haran, where he remained until his father died five years later. From there, he moved to Canaan. He was promised a son and given a covenant which was sealed with circumcision. When Isaac was born, he was circumcised on the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, who was the father of the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. God was faithful to the promise he made to Abraham that he would have a multitude of descendants.

2. God's Deliverance Through Joseph (vv. 9?10)

As he continues the history of God's work in Israel, Stephen then describes the story of Joseph. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt. However, God accomplishes His purposes in spite of them.

God was with Joseph and delivered him from his troubles. He found favor in the Pharaoh's sight and was placed in a position of authority. In turn, God used Joseph's position to deliver the patriarchs in a time of famine. The patriarchs sojourned in Egypt, which was a fulfillment of God's proclamation that they would be sojourners in a land that was not their own (vv. 6?7). God was faithful to every word He had spoken.

3. God's Deliverance Through Moses (vv. 17, 33?34, 45?47)

Stephen then touches on the story of Moses, who fulfilled God's promise to deliver Israel. The Exodus and the establishment of the tabernacle were major points in Jewish history. Stephen describes the way that Moses was commissioned and that his coming was the fulfillment of promise. Again, God intervened in Israel's history to show His kindness and faithfulness. The Israelites were delivered from bondage in Egypt, sustained in the wilderness, and given the Law; yet they rejected God by rejecting Moses (e.g., Exodus 12:1?2, 16:3).

After the Exodus, the Lord established the tabernacle with Israel. The Jews accused Stephen of speaking against the temple because they equated the temple with the presence of God. However, Stephen demonstrates that the presence of God was with His people long before the temple was built.

4. Israel's Rejection (v. 53)

In his discourse, Stephen shows the Sanhedrin that they have been resisting God from the beginning. The Jews were quick to identify themselves as children of Abraham, but they failed to demonstrate the faith of Abraham. They felt that their biological ties to Abraham took precedence over their personal faith in his God.

The Jewish council was guilty of the same sin their forefathers committed: rejecting those sent by God. Stephen turns the council's own charges against them. They were the sons of the murderers of the prophets and they were following in their father's footsteps by killing Jesus. Though they had received the Law and had the presence of God with them, they continued to resist God and those He sent. This was the ultimate example of the nation's unfaithfulness in spite of God's faithfulness to them.

Search the Scriptures

1. Abraham is the father of the Jewish faith. How did he demonstrate his faith in God ( Acts 7:4, 8)?

2. In what ways did God fulfill his promises to Abraham (vv. 17, 33?34)?

Discuss the Meaning

1. How can we remember God's faithfulness, both past and present?

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