Opposition
- Cornerstone Church
- Jul 19
- 3 min read
Acts is the record of Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s work in the beginning and continuation of the church. The author of the book is Luke, and is an extension of the Gospel account written by Luke. The beginning of the Church recorded in Acts spans from the promise of the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ ascension through the coming of the Holy Spirit at the day of Pentecost and further into the spread of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem. Last week recorded the day of Pentecost, and this week will begin the ministry of the Apostles and early believers. The truth of the Apostles’ testimony and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus was confirmed by many signs during this period. The Church begins to see opposition from without and within, and their dependence on God’s enabling power for the work is immediately apparent. We are all unable to do anything apart from remaining in Christ, and that is the Big Picture.
Each week, as you take in the Bible, find some friends to talk it out. You can follow this simple guide to help. First, R.E.A.D. and P.R.A.Y. on your own. Then, meet with friends to share what you've learned.
R - Repeated words
E - Examine and mark
A - Ask what you learn about God
D - Do if there is anything to do
P - Praise
R - Repent
A - Ask
Week 30
Bible Reading Plan
Daily Prayer Plan
START IT.
We're reading the Bible together in 2025 to see how Love Shows Up from the Old Testament and into the New Testament. How do we understand so many stories and lessons through the entire Bible while trying to stick to the "sacred timeline"? The answer is the big picture. If we get the big picture, we get the story the Bible is trying to tell. From Sunday's message or The Big Picture Bible Reading Plan this week in the book of Acts, what is impacting you the most? How has praying daily through the Psalms impacted you? Was there a word, phrase, Bible verse, or theme that impacted you?
STUDY IT.
Read Luke 1:1-4 & Acts 1:1. What was the purpose of Luke writing the Gospel of Luke, according to Acts 1:1? If the Gospel of Luke was about what began, then it follows that the book of Acts is really about what? Who is Acts really about?
Read Acts 3:2 & 4:22. What made this sign so astonishing? Read Acts 3:6-7. What did Peter do, and how was it done? Read Acts 3:12-19. How does Peter respond to the crowd’s amazement?
Read Acts 4:19-20. What is Peter and John’s response to the opposition from the same group of religious leaders that crucified Jesus a couple of months before?
Read Acts 5:3-10. What does this tell us about how God views unity in the Church and how destructive deceit can be?
What names are given to Jesus in the sermons in Acts 3:13-25, Acts 4:8-12, 5:29-32, and 7:52?
SHARE IT.
Read Acts 4:29-31. What was the request of the believers, and how did God respond? How do you need boldness in your life to testify to Jesus?
Read Acts 4:32. What are some characteristics of the early church you notice?
Read Acts 5:40-42. What is surprising about these verses, and how are they encouraging or challenging?
Read Acts 7:55-60. What grace was provided for Stephen by the Lord? Do you have faith that God’s grace will be sufficient for you in difficult trials?
Read Acts 7:60. Where did Stephen get the courage to ask the Lord to forgive those stoning him? (Hint: Luke 23:34) How might this encourage you to forgive your opposition?
FINAL THOUGHT
Christianity is fundamentally different from any other belief system or religion. Every other religion says that you have to work to get into heaven. Be good enough, do these things, do not do these other things and you are in. Christianity is the only religion where God does all the work for you. There is nothing you add. NOTHING. Christ only invites you to come to Him for salvation, receive the Holy Spirit for the enabling of the work, remain close to Him to bear fruit, and your remaining is assured by the Holy Spirit you received. God’s mercies for you are new every morning, and Christians continue in that faith that God’s grace is sufficient for us every day for every trial and every opposition. Rest in God’s saving and sustaining grace today.
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