(Note: For remote participants and BFG leaders, these questions are meant to be used in conjunction with the pastor’s sermon. Attempting to use these questions absent the sermon’s teaching could lead to unbiblical or unhelpful conclusions.)

For Kids:  One of the things you need to understand as you grow up is that there are all kinds of authority in this world, good authority and bad authority.

• How can we tell the difference between good and bad authority?  
• What does Acts 4:1-22 teach us about God’s authority? 
• How can we make sure we are following the good authority of God? 

For Discussion:

• Sermon Recap:  
  • Acts 4 details the first of many conflicts between the church and earthly authorities. What was at the heart of the conflict in Acts 4 (see Acts 4:2, 7, 10)? Why is it important to realize the conflict is over something more than just healing a lame man?  
  • What parts of Peter and John’s interaction with the earthly authorities are similar to Jesus’ arrest and trial (Acts 4:3, 7, 13, 21)? Why is that connection important?  
  • Peter made it clear that the lame man was healed in the “name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 4:10). What does it mean in Scripture for something to be done in the name of Jesus? How might someone misunderstand or abuse that concept? 
  • Why is it important to recognize that, though Peter and John were not educated according to the standards of the day, they were by no means untrained for the task of leading God’s people (Acts 4:13)?  
  • When the earthly authorities realized they were up against irrefutable evidence, they did not admit defeat but instead changed tactics (Acts 4:16–18). What implications ought Christians rightly infer from their behavior?  
  • What virtue(s) are evident in Peter and John as they answered the earthly authorities in Acts 4:19–20? What implications ought we draw from those verses?  
• Going Deeper:  
  • (Have people look up Psalm 118:19–24; Isaiah 8:11–15; Luke 20:9–18; 1 Peter 2:4–8.)  
  • When Peter and John were confronted by earthly authorities, they took the opportunity to share the gospel with them. A key theme in their proclamation is that of Christ as the chief cornerstone and is found throughout Scripture. Let’s look at some of those passages.  
    • (Someone reads Psalm 118:19–24.) What is the theme of this passage?  
    • (Someone reads Isaiah 8:11–15.) What is the theme of this passage?  
    • (Someone reads Luke 20:9–18.) Who are the tenants? What was Jesus telling them?  
    • (Someone reads 1 Peter 2:4–8.) Who is Peter talking to in this passage?  
  • Based on what we read in these passages, what was Peter likely trying to impress upon the authorities in Acts 4?   
  • These authorities were clearly antagonistic, but Peter and John did not respond in the same way, opting instead to share the truth of Christ with them. What implications should Christians today gather from Peter and John’s actions?  
  • What gave Peter and John the confidence to speak the way they did?  
  • 
      
• Application:  
  • How ought we respond to anyone opposing the truth of Christ around us?  
  • Have you ever been reluctant to speak the truth of Christ? Why?  
  • What have you learned from Acts 4:1–22 that might give you courage to speak the truth of Christ boldly?  

Questions are welcome! Post them in the Sermon Discussion group of our WhatsApp chat community.