Falls Presbyterian Church (OPC)

The healing power of the gospel is God's blessing to us. 1. The display of this healing power: walk! (v.1-10) 2. The source of this healing power: the Jesus that they killed! (v.11-16) 3. The blessing of this healing power given to us: repent! (v.17-26) Where in our lives is the healing power of God? What is similar to the work of Jesus and Paul? Jn 5:5 Acts 14:8-10 Will God hold us responsible for our sins of ignorance? 1 Tim. 1:13 How did we once walk, compared to now? Eph. 2:1-10

Jesus comforts those who mourn! 1. Jesus comforts those who mourn that God is not fully glorified. 2. Jesus comforts our consciences that mourns over our own sin. 3. Jesus comforts us when we mourn together, comfort one another. Friend group application: Do we mourn? If so, about what do we mourn? Psalm 118:136 How do we mourn and be cheerful at the same time? Rom. 12:8 With what do mourners become comforters? 2 Cor. 1:3-7

The essentials of a church family are: learning, loving, worshipping, praying, evangelizing. A learning church family. (v.42) A loving church family. (v.42,44,45) A worshipping church family. (v.42,43,46,47) A praying church family. (v.42) A rescuing church family. (v.47) How must we consider the essentials again? In what ways are we committed to a learning lifestyle? Matthew 28:20 Who needs us to show him/her the love of Christ? Luke 12:32-34 What practical step deepens our prayer life? Colossians 4:2

What is happiness, and where is it to be found? Happy are the repentant, for we own the kingdom of heaven! What makes us repentant people happy? 1. We are not poor (we own the kingdom!), rather we are poor in spirit. 2. We know we have nothing to give for our spiritual debts, nothing to say to our judge, yet we are rich. 3. We know that we need God, or we die, and we have God! Individual or group application: How is our attitude, our 'spirit'? Rich or poor? Prideful or humble? Who is responsible for turning our debts into riches? When do we need Jesus in a such a dire way that we die without Him?

Peter called upon the world to change their minds about Jesus. What about Jesus? He was… 1. Not deserving to be crucified, but to be crowned and honored. (v.37) 2. Not to be rejected, but having the name into which we all must enter, and the gifts we all need: forgiveness and The Spirit. (v.38-39) 3. Not to be considered powerless, but to be known as the Rescuer from a dead community into a living community. (v.40-41) How must we change our minds about Jesus? Why did Jesus come? Mark 10:45 How close are we to Jesus? Eph. 2:13. How must our mind be different than others? Phil.2:14-15

We follow Jesus, because He is able, willing, and ready to heal us of our sins. 1. Able to cure any wound from any sin. (v.23) 2. Willing to receive us as followers, no matter how loathe-some our sin. (v.24) 3. Ready to lead us and teach us. (v.25) Where is God's power evident in the world today? Identify a spiritual sore that you have. What would you say to someone who thinks his/her life is too vile to be forgiven? What do we learn from this text being located just prior to the Sermon on the Mount?

Peter proclaimed the truth about Jesus. 1. Jesus ascended and was exalted. (v.33a) 2. Jesus poured out the Spirit. (v.33b-35) 3. Jesus was declared both Lord and Christ. (v.36) How do we apply this to ourselves? How long must Jesus reign? Luke 2:11 & 1 Cor. 15:25 What was the promise fulfilled; what had to precede it? John 7:39 To whom does Psalm 110:1 refer? Matthew 22:41-46

We are called to keep on trading the old for the new: following Jesus! Why? 1. Because it is worth it for a life constantly renewed in purpose. (v.18-19) 2. Because He causes us to be new and follow…immediately! (v.20,22) 3. Because He went to the cross for our former selves, and then blazed a new trail to heaven for our new selves! How do we explain the change? What difference did it for those that followed Jesus? Acts 4:1-20. What have we given up to follow Jesus? 2 Cor. 5:17 Who said, "Behold I am making all things new"? Rev. 21:5

Peter testified of the Living Christ, using the testimony of David. 1. The words of David. (v.25-28) 2. The tomb of David. (v.29) 3. The faith of David. (v.30-31) What should we say to others about Christ? What do we believe/hearts, say/mouths? Rom. 10:9-10 With whom did David fellowship? 1 John 1:3-4 How do we know that Jesus lives? John 17:4-5

We learn from the preaching of Jesus! 1. Context (v.12-14) a. persecuted b. deliberate re-locating c. fulfilling prophecy 2. Content (v.15-17) a. powerful b. same as John's (3:2 and 4:17) c. kingdom-centered 3. Application (v.17) a. repent b. see the light c. think kingdom! Friend Group Discussion Questions: 1. When is the last time you identified a sin and purposed to turn from it? 2. In what ways were you sitting in darkness? 3. What does the 'kingdom' content of this message mean for us?