This is the third lesson in our series on the Book of Acts. This powerpoint presentation covers chapters 3 through 8.

1. ACTSEKKLESIA EMPOWERED

2. LESSON NO. THREE
THE GREATEST GROWTH SPURT EVER

3. EKKLESIA
Is a word that means “assembly.”The church is an
assembly of God’speople with a purpose to teach,
inspire, and lead others to faith inJesus Christ.
The Book of Acts shows us what the Assembly
can do whenthey are empowered by God to
reach out into the whole world.

4. INTRODUCTION
Chapters 3-8 give us a detailed explanation of
the early growth of the Church surrounding
Jerusalem. This time was an exceptional time
for the Church as it grew exponentially due to
the work of the Apostles and other inspired men.
It is the greatest model of Church growth you
can find.

5. A LAME MAN (CH 3)
3:1-10
Peter and John heal a man who was lame
from birth. This man was regularly found at the
Temple so this miracle was something that many
people noticed and “marveled”. It is the
first recorded miracle done after the Church
began. It also set the tone for the work and
influence of the Church in Jerusalem.

6. A LAME MAN (3)
3:11-26
After the miracle, Peter preached to the crowd
that has gathered following the miracle.
This sermon is one that repeats many of the
same points presented in the sermon at
Pentecost (Ch 2).

7. FALLOUT (CH 4)
4:1-22
Following the spectacle in the Temple, Peter and
John are called before the Sanhedrin to explain
their actions and teaching. There is little the
Jews can do to the Apostles due to the
obvious nature of the miracle done in the
Temple.

8. FALLOUT (4)
4:23-31
After their release from the Sanhedrin, the
Apostles when back to the disciples to report
back about what had happened. They prayed
for boldness and were given another
miraculous sign from God (vs 31).

9. FALLOUT (4)
4:32-37
The early Church showed exceptional
closeness and unity especially when it came
to generosity towards others. We’re also
introduced for the first time to a man named
Joseph whom the Apostles nicknamed
Barnabas (“Son of Encouragement”).

10. MORE SIGNS (CH 5)
5:1-11
After the example of unity found when many
people sold their property, a couple named
Ananias and Sapphira decided to do the same.
The difference was they kept some back and
lied to the Apostles and the Church. They
were punished because of their deception.

11. MORE SIGNS (5)
5:12-16
Following the unfortunate situation with Ananias
and Sapphira, many more miracles began to
influence the people around Jerusalem.

12. MORE SIGNS (5)
5:17-42
Following the miracles and the teaching in the
Temple, the Sanhedrin once again arrested the
Apostles and put them on trial. They were put in
jail for preaching, freed by an angel, and
found back in the temple preaching again.
The leaders of the Jews were planning on killing
them until Gamaliel intervened.

13. SERVANTS (CH 6)
6:1-7
Seven men were chosen to be servants to the
early Church so that the Apostles could “devote”
themselves to teaching. These men would be
the first men selected outside of the Apostles
for a specific job, task, or office (i.e. deacon)
in the Church.

14. SERVANTS (6)
6:8-15
One of the seven men chosen to serve earlier
is captured (much like the Apostles earlier) by
leaders of the Jews and put on trial for his
involvement with the Church.

15. ON TRIAL (CH 7)
7:1-53
Stephen stands before leaders of the Jews and
explains (in detail) the history of the Jewish people
and its connection to Jesus Christ. At the end, he
accuses them of ignorance and compared
them to their “fathers” who persecuted the
prophets.

16. ON TRIAL (7)
7:54-60
Stephen is stoned and killed due to his sermon.
The crowd was enraged by his statements and
were furious that he would accuse them of
being the ones who didn’t believe. We’re
introduced the a young man named Saul who
would take a prominent role throughout the rest
of the book.

17. GROWTH (CH 8)
8:1-3
The growth of the Church creates an opportunity
for a young man who served the Jewish leaders.
Saul had witnessed the murder of Stephen and
now was arresting Christians and putting them
into jail under the authority of the Jewish leaders.

18. GROWTH (8)
8:4-8
Due to the persecution found in Jerusalem,
several Christians left and went to Samaria.
There they began to preach and were
received with the same enthusiasm by those
who heard their message and saw the
miracles they performed.

19. GROWTH (8)
8:9-25
After successful preaching in Samaria and the
surrounding areas, the Apostles came their
to give the gift of the Holy Spirit to the new
Christians in that area. There was a man
named Simon who hoped to purchase the
ability to perform miracles.

20. GROWTH (8)
8:26-40
Philip (one of the preachers in Samaria) was
sent by God to teach a eunuch from Ethiopia
who had been in Jerusalem to worship at the
Temple. One his way home he had been
studying from Isaiah 53. Philip taught him about
Jesus and the eunuch was baptized.

21. THEMES
Christianity isn’t a new innovation but instead the
proper fulfillment ofIsrael’s religion and
responsibilitytowards God.

22. THEMES
Sermons will continue to a big part of God’s
message to the world.

23. ACTSEKKLESIA EMPOWERED