“What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”
Acts 4:16-17
Peter and John recalled and threatened:
So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than Him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.
Acts 4:18-22
Here is our next segment laid before you. Notice I have given you the last two verses from the segment before this to connect the thoughts. I have told you before (Gem 1408) that this whole chapter goes together but it has an interesting flow to it. All the pieces go together and yet they can be separated into units. The connected elements which I highlight from time to time are in sequence. Oh, not chronological sequence necessarily but rather a logical sequence. Or Luke has placed these units sequentially after each other because he intends that they go together. We will talk about that at the end of the chapter. Your task for the moment is to look at this discrete segment and take note of the important elements and pose your own questions. This time I am not going to give you my basic questions beforehand. One of you wrote to me and said when I do that, I take away from them the chance to do it because I come up with far more questions than they ever would. So this time no questions from me to begin with. Time for you to ponder what you want to know or what you think about this passage.
What I will give you is what I give to Deeper Bible Students at 101 level. The following are some of the application questions which have become standard for Christians to interact with the Word of God. Take these questions and apply them to this segment and see how they might guide your thinking.
The Standard Method:
- What is this verse saying to me?
- What does this verse mean?
- Is there anything I don’t understand?
- How can I apply this verse to my life?
The Traditional Method:
- Is there a truth for me to understand?
- Is there a command for me to obey?
- Is there an example for me to follow?
- Is there a sin for me to forsake?
- Is there a promise for me to claim?
The Bob Gass Method:
- Is there an essential concept for me to meditate on?
- Is there a verse to memorise?
- Is there a question to consider?
- Is there an action to take?
John Piper’s IOUs
- Incline my ear to your Testament (Ps 119:56)
- Open my eyes to see wonders in Your Word (Ps 119:18)
- Unite my heart to fear Your name (Ps 86:11)
- Satisfy me with Your steadfast love (Ps 90:14)
For Deeper Bible I have substituted Piper’s 4th step with:
- Show me Your ways Oh Lord (Ex 33:13) – Look at Ps 103:7
As usual, feel free to communicate with me to share your thoughts or ideas. I love it when you to do that. If it is really good I will share it in Gems (unless you ask me not to).
Remember the Deeper Bible adage:
Give a man or a woman a fish and feed him or her for a day. Teach a man or woman to fish and feed them for a lifetime.
Deeper Bible
I am more interested in teaching you how to dig in the Word of God for a lifetime.
Ian Vail
If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.
Thomas Edison
There is no shortcut to a place worth going.
Henry David Thoreau
Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience.
Victoria Wood
Life is going to give you just what you put into it. Put your whole heart in everything you do.
Mark Twain
A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there is no action you haven’t truly decided.
Anon