Bible Study Notes

One thing we hear mentioned regularly at Grace Reformed Church is the concept of helping bear the burdens of your brothers and sisters in Christ. It is something that can at times be hard to define, as what one person may carry as a heavy burden may be minor in the life of someone else. One of the great things about the church is how it is made up of many different types of believers. This diversity of backgrounds can also be a challenge as we try to find the best way to care for one another.

In the case of the beggar laid at the gate of the temple in Acts 3, culture itself was a hindrance to those entering the temple properly caring for their brother in need. As they looked to him day in and day out, there was likely an air of superiority they had while passing him on the way into the temple. Persons in the state of this man were thought to be the product of a sinful life. Past the obligation they had to give to the poor, there would be very little interaction with this individual.

QUESTION: Do cultural barriers exist today, both inside and outside the church, that would prevent us from properly caring for our fellow Christians?

Answers to questions like these often contain some sort of element of us not wanting to stray from our comfort zone. Oftentimes in this modern version of Christianity, it is easy to confuse comfort with peace. God promises peace, and I’m comfortable (read: peaceful), so therefore I must be doing something right.

This outlook, however, does not appear in scripture where it concerns the works of the apostles in the growth and care of the early church.

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.[a] 
2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 
3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 
5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 
6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 
7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 
8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 
10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter and John were walking into the temple where they knew there would be immediate opposition. This was a Jewish house of worship, and many they would encounter as they enter this building would have whole heartedly supported the execution of Jesus Christ.

Furthermore, there is a point that could be made there was a bit of personal awkwardness they had to overcome even to walk into this arena together, as one man stayed faithful and remained by the side of the savior throughout the entire ordeal of the crucifixion, and the other denied his savior multiple times when asked if he knew him out of fear and a desire for self preservation. Despite this, they walked side by side up to the temple in order to further the mission of expanding the church.
QUESTION: Have there been times in your life where you experienced conflict with a brother or sister in Christ that clouded your ability to serve with joy? Are these examples past, or current?

QUESTION: How were you able to overcome these moments?

Peter and John walked into the temple unified in their goal to spread the gospel and expand the church. On the way up the steps they saw a brother in need, and their actions show the motivation behind them. In verse four, Luke tells us they both looked directly at the beggar, and had him look back at them. They made this interaction very personal even before healing his affliction.

That personal connection as we try to help our brothers and sisters is difficult sometimes. We can get bogged down in the awkwardness of social norms that have been assigned to interactions with people in time of need. If we are not able to break down this barrier of shame and discomfort, we can not effectively serve our fellow Christians.

QUESTION: Have you ever wanted to help a fellow Christian in a trial, but passed because of how uncomfortable you felt in the circumstance?

QUESTION: How were you able to move past that feeling and serve your brother/sister?

The miracle performed by Peter in the name of Christ was no doubt an amazing sight to behold for all at the temple. It is hard to imagine the words that would follow could be any more shocking and amazing than the act of the miracle itself. However, once Peter begins to speak, we can see the miracle was a precursor to him exposing something even greater.

Peter accuses the crowd in the temple of being responsible for the death of the very one sent to redeem them, and then after his accusation, he proceeds to tell them there is still redemption through Christ, despite their actions. He follows up a miracle by exposing things far more miraculous: the conquering of death by Jesus Christ, and the salvation of unworthy sinners through that death.

QUESTION: At GRC, we constantly remind the congregation “we are all in equal need of grace”. Does this truth help at all when you are struggling to overcome the uncomfortable moments that come with serving your brother or sister in Christ?

QUESTION: Do you ever feel like you’ve taken your salvation for granted, and not seen it as the miraculous work of redemption it truly is?

As Christians it is important to keep the gospel the center of our message and our lives. Once we begin to lose sight of the magnitude of Christ’s work on the cross for us, we can allow ourselves to shy away from the seemingly uncomfortable moments that are necessary for bearing one another’s burdens, and keeping each other strong in our faith in the redeemer.

PRAISE, PRAYER, AND CONFESSION:
What can you offer to the Father in glory?
What is a sin you need to confess?
What is a burden we can carry?
What can we take to our Father in prayer?