Key Thought: Following Jesus’ commission and empowered by the Spirit, the early believers shared what they had, lived lives of faithful service to those in need.

August 31, 2019

1. Have a volunteer read Acts 9:36.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. If you passed away, would your contribution to others and the church be missed and mourned?
3. Personal Application: How would you like to be described in your life and ministry? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Why was Dorcas considered such a great person? All she did was sew and make clothes to give to the poor. Almost every city has places that do the same thing and it doesn’t seem to spread the gospel much.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read 2 Corinthians 8:7-15.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. How does Paul equate the gospel with giving generously?
3. Personal Application: How should we prioritize our giving when we can’t give to every cause or need presented to us? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “It seems to me there would be some great problems that would arise if some people followed this idea. Are we supposed to give to and support the lazy, indolent, drunken, drug-addicted, and rebellious in our midst, encouraging them in their vices?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Romans 12:10-13.

1.  Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. Do you believe our ministry should be well-balanced with discipleship, evangelism, and social action; or should one be more important and focused on than the others?”
3. Personal Application: What are some attitudes and practices in your community you need to resist to help you live and love well? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Do these instructions work in the real world; are they realistic and practical ways to live, or are they ideals that really can’t be reached?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read James 2:1-6.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. Why is James so harsh on the rich people here? Is it because they are rich, or because they misused their riches.
3. Personal Application: How well have you done with the resources God has given you? Could we do better? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/8mhSv9PtfzU/

As the church began to spread—as Jesus predicted—“in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NIV), new believers took up the faith and ministry of Jesus. Among these was Dorcas—also known as Tabitha—in the city of Joppa. She obviously took seriously Jesus’ particular instruction that when clothing the naked, she was doing it for Jesus Himself (see Matt. 25:38, Matt. 25:40).

Read the description of Dorcas and her ministry in Acts 9:36. How might your life and ministry be described in a similar format to this verse? How would you like to be described?

Dorcas

It seems that Dorcas’s ministry was such that the description of her as a “disciple” (see Acts 9:36) and her faithfulness, energy, and focus on others were recognized even beyond her hometown.

Peter was visiting the nearby town of Lydda, and the people of Joppa asked him to come in response to Dorcas’s untimely death (see Acts 9:37-41). On his arrival in Joppa, Peter was met by many of the people Dorcas had helped through her work for the poor. They showed him the clothes that she had made and undoubtedly told him many stories of how she had helped them and others.

That Peter then prayed for Dorcas and God returned her to life is, of course, no guarantee that life will always work out well for those who devote their lives to serving others. After all, Dorcas had already suffered illness and death, and Stephen, one of those first deacons appointed to minister to the widows in the church, had also become the first martyr (see Acts 7:54-60). A life of service is not a smooth path; at times it could even be the rougher road.

However, in this story God used the recognition of His love and power in both Dorcas’s life and death to make a strong impact on the people of Joppa: “This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord” (Acts 9:42, NIV).

Amen!(0)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/YZpjY4Z6wQI/