JESUS’ HEALTH: Acts 9:26-31

BIG IDEA

In Acts 9, Luke highlights three signs of health for Christians: walking in the fear of the Lord, walking in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and multiplication. Walking in the fear of the Lord means you live your life freed from what others think and say, because your chief concern is what Jesus thinks and says. The fear of man is a trap, but those who fear the Lord are safe (Proverbs 29:25). Jesus tells us that the main job of God the Holy Spirit in our lives is to be our Comforter. He comforts us by preaching the gospel of Jesus to our hearts. Therefore walking in the comfort of the Holy Spirit means you seek to walk in the fear of the Lord and are constantly thinking of the gospel. The Christian life is one of obedience and constant dependence. The final sign of health that Luke gives us is multiplication. As the Church walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Therefore it’s our job to be faithful to and dependent on Jesus. It’s Jesus’ job to build His church.

SCRIPTURE

ACTS 9:26-31 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

DISCUSSION

1. Was there anything from the sermon, the big idea, or Acts 9:26-31 that stood out to you, challenged you, or confused you?

Walking in the fear of the Lord means you live your life freed from what others think and say, because your chief concern is what Jesus thinks and says. The fear of man is a trap, but those who fear the Lord are safe (Proverbs 29:25).

2. What does walking in the fear of the Lord look like day-to-day? Help one another see the practical ways in our jobs, at home, in school, and in the city that we can walk in the fear of the Lord.

Jesus tells us that the main job of God the Holy Spirit in our lives is to be our Comforter. He comforts us by preaching the gospel of Jesus to our hearts.

3.1 Is “Comforter” the main thing you think about when God the Holy Spirit comes to mind? Why or why not?
3.2 Have you had moments when it was (or is now) very clear that the Holy Spirit was comforting you by preaching the gospel to your heart? Explain.

As the Church walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Therefore it’s our job to be faithful to and dependent on Jesus. It’s Jesus’ job to build His church.

4. In what things do you need to grow in obedience to Jesus? In what ways do you need to grow in dependence on Jesus? Share honestly with the group and pray for one another in light of your answers.

GOOD WORD

The Father will give you another Comforter, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17