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Starting Point Class
Rescheduled for Sunday, February 19th @ 11:45a
If you are new to The Bridge Church this is a great place to learn all about our mission and vision and why we believe God has placed us here in this neighborhood.  You will learn all about how we are reaching our community and world, you will also have the opportunity to become a member. Please use the connection card on the website or app to sign up and let us know you will be joining us.

Message Notes

Unstoppable: A Unified Community

Pastor Bill West
February 5, 2023

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:1–12

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 4:23–31

Unity in Christ is Unstoppable!
Obedience May Bring Opposition.
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Acts 4:1–7

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:12–13

Choose to Follow God, Not Men.
If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:9–12

“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:16–20

Pray for Boldness not Comfort. 
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’ Indeed, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
Acts 4:23–28

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 4:29–31

Bottom Line: Unity in Christ is Unstoppable
Previous Messages Can Be Found Here

Small Groups Talk About It

Watch the latest Message Summary:

Discussion Questions
  1.  Talk about a time when you faced resistance and opposition of any kind.  (It does not have to be related to your faith). How did you respond?  What did you feel?

  2. Read Acts 4:1-7. Why were Peter and John arrested? How did they respond to the arrest? What was so upsetting to the religious leaders?  Who were the religious leaders that were there the next day? Read John 18:12-13. What did they want to know?

  3. Read Acts 4:9-12. Talk about Peter’s response to their question.  What was the difference in Peter and John as they stood before these men than when they ran as Jesus was arrested? What’s was so controversial about what Peter said to them and for us in our day?

  4. Read Acts 4:13-17.  Why did the religious leaders respond differently to Peter and John than they did to Jesus?

  5. Acts 4:18-20.  What is the main point of Peter’s response? How would you describe his attitude? When is it appropriate for us to disobey the authorities and when is it not?  Read Roman 13:1-2.

  6. Read Acts 4:23-28.  What was the response of the people when Peter and John showed up? Discuss the content of their prayer. What characteristic of God did they focus on?  What does “Sovereign Lord” mean? What are the implications of God’s sovereignty for our lives today?

  7. Read Acts 4:29-31. What stands out to you in these verses? Is it any different form the prayers we often pray? Is anything in it or missing that might surprise? How do we often respond today when we face any kind of opposition for following Christ?

  8. How do you see their “Unity in Christ” in this passage? How important is our “Unity in Christ” to the effectiveness of the Church today?

Dig Deeper:  preparation for next week’s discussion, please do the following:

Monday:  Read Acts 4:32-5:1-11
  • Describe the way the early church related to each other.
  • What was the driving force behind their impact with each other and the world?
  • What lessons might we learn from them today? 
  • What do you learn from Ananias and Sapphira? What was their motivation? 
  • How did the other disciples respond when they found out they 
  • How is the early church described in Acts 4:32-35 and how much are we like that today?

Tuesday: Read Romans 13:1-7
  • What do these verse teach us about the governing authorities in our world? 
  • How are we to respond to them? 
  • What might we expect if we choose to resist, even for the right reasons?

Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33
  • What are the ways Paul faced persecution? 
  • How did he respond and talk about them?   
  • What kinds of opposition do we face today in the US? 
  • How does it compare to what Paul, the early church and others in the world may face Today?  
  • What can we learn from him about facing opposition for our faith?

Thursday: Read James 1:2-4, Romans 5:1-5
  • How do these give us encouragement and hope when facing hard times?  
  • How can we continue to glorify God when facing hard times?

Friday: Review the prayer again in Acts 4:23-31
  • On a scale of 1-10 how certain are you about God’s sovereignty (His control over all of your life)? 
  • How can you begin to focus on and become more bold in speaking about Christ?
Previous Messages Can Be Found Here