WEBCAST –
Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers,
It had been around twelve years since Jesus had returned to heaven and the New Community of His followers was established in Jerusalem through their miraculous signs, preaching, and teaching. The great joy and excitement of the earliest of those years came to an end with the persecution of Jesus followers in Jerusalem. Escaping for their lives they scattered throughout the easter Mediteranean region. That led to more people from different backgrounds outside of Judea and Judaism believing in Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
However, more persecution was about to begin – this time aimed at the leaders of the New Community. It would be a season of “civil unrest” for the Apostles and Jesus’ followers, initiated by the Jewish religious leaders and carried out by the Jewish civil authorities. Joy in Jesus would be accompanied by fear of man.
You have had seasons of “civil unrest” in your life when you were treated in an uncivil manner by others who did you harm. Such turbulence brings fear to the surface of your consciousness, and that fear can be overwhelming. You know the feeling of desperation. Although it may not seem like it, God oversees such scenarios in the lives of His children. Being mindful of His favor toward you as HIs beloved daughter or son enables you to have rest while receiving uncivil treatment. These seasons of trial often change the trajectory and focus of our lives. What was true for early followers of Jesus is also our experience.
Join us this Sunday morning as we continue in the theme To The Remotest Part of the Earth, and our Discussion Bible Study in the History of the Early Church. Please prepare by reading the entirety of Acts 12. This week’s title is “Uncivil Rest”.
Attached is an outline (in two sizes) of the text we will be focussing upon this Sunday morning. Please print it ahead of time, as it will help you take part in the discussion. We will also have copies when we gather on Sunday morning.
Here is the Table Discussion Questions for Sunday:
Christians today sometimes say that they would like to have been alive in the era of the Apostles when being a follower of Jesus was really exciting. If you could, would you like to have lived then and there instead of here and now? Why or why not?
In this series we have already discussed the following texts and topics:
The New Era Begins: Acts 1:12-2:21
Who is to Blame for Good Friday?: Acts 2:22-23
The New Community Begins: Acts 2:24-47
The First Official Pushback Is Pushed Back: Acts 3
The First Official Pushback Is Pushed back – Part 2:Acts 4
God Elevates His Purity and His Principals: Acts 5:1-11
God Elevates His Purity and His Principals – Part 2: Acts 5:12 – 6:7
The Spark That Ignited The Flames of Persecution – Part 1: Acts 6:8 – 7:43
The Spark That Ignited The Flames of Persecution – Part 2: Acts 7:44 – 8:3
The New Community’s Pearl Harbor: Acts 8:1-25
Going Global: Taking The New Community International: Acts 8:26-40
Going Global: Taking The New Community International: Acts 9:1-25
Not “E Pluribus Unum”, But “Nos, Et Nos Nos”: Acts 9:26-31
The Border Crisis: God’s Path For Foreigners To Become Citizens: Acts 9:32-10:33
The Border Crisis: God’s Path For Foreigners To Become Citizens – Part 2: Acts 10:34-11:30
We hope that you will join us online this Sunday morning or in person at Bay Lodge at 9:00am!
We love you all!
Jim and Jenny