Acts - The Unstoppable Church - Acts 12

Homiletics                                             Study – Acts & Letter of Apostles

Lesson     8                                             Passage: Acts  12

Content (List of Topics or Events)

King Herod kills James and arrests (binds) Peter during Feast of Unleavened Bread; God frees (Acts 12:1-10) a. King Herod kills James and arrests Peter during Fees (1-4) b. Church earnestly prays for prisoned Peter (5) c. Angel wakes Peter taking him out of prison to freedom (6-10)

Rescued Peter returns to astonish believers (Acts 12:11-17) a. Peter knows that God rescued him Herod and Jewish hopes (11) b. Peter goes to house of Mary and knocks (12) c. Rhoda recognizes Peter at door, neglects to open it  and runs to tell disbelieving others (13-15) d. Peter astonishes followers and tells of freedom experience (16-17)

Herod punishes, addresses people and in arrogance is struck down; Gospel flourishes (Acts 12:18-25) a. Guard cross-examined in disappearance if Peter and executed (18-19a) b.  Herod goes to Caesarea to bring peace (19b-20) c. Herod speaks and people declare him a god; Herod arrogance brings death (21-22) d. Gospel spreads and flourishes (23-25)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

King Herod kills James and arrests (binds) Peter during Feast of Unleavened Bread; God frees	Acts 12:1-10
Rescued Peter returns to astonish believers	Acts 12:11-17
Herod punishes, addresses people and in arrogance is struck down; Gospel flourishes	Acts 12:18-25

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Herod persecutes and prisons; while God’s goodnews frees and vindicates.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATL that God hears our prayers and works to amaze His followers with His Good News.

Specific Application Questions

1	In what ways is God tapping you on the shoulder to be free from what binds you?
2	How are you astonished in what God is doing?  Who will you tell of that truth?
3	Where is there arrogance in what you have done?  What do you need to give up to be aligned with God’s will?

Principles to Remember

1	Prayers do make a difference.
2	God will astonish you with what He will do.
3	Arrogance brings punishment

Characteristic of God

Ever present help

Theme

God hears our prayers and will amaze those who follow him.

God’s Word  - What’s happening?

God’s Heart – What does God care about?

Today’s World – How does this connect to what is happening in my world today?