Little Resurrections for Great Gospel Impact
Neil Schindler
September 4, 2022
Acts 9:32-43
Aeneas and Tabitha: “Little resurrections” pointing people to Jesus The context: The gospel’s spread to “all Judea and Samaria”
Aeneas: From “stuck” in bed to useful for the Lord
Tabitha: From “finished” to springing up for more good works
God’s purpose: That such news would lead to people trusting Jesus
How might these short accounts apply to our Christian walks today?
1) Jesus loves to work wonders through “ordinary” body members
2) Even “good” distractions must be put outside to seek God’s will
3) Good works don’t “earn” favor…but God loves to highlight them!
Sermon-based small group discussion questions
Neil Schindler
Acts 9:32-43 – September 4, 2022
Little Resurrections for Great Gospel Impact
1) Are there any Bible passages about which you have been tempted in the past to think, “This isn’t as important; I can just skim over it?” Why did you think this way, and how did God convict you otherwise?
2) Think about a situation where you or someone close to you was “physically stuck” (i.e. long illness/COVID, cancer treatment, major surgery recovery), and no amount of health care or fervent prayer had changed things. Regardless of the whether God chose to “heal” or not, and regardless of his means, how now do you see God’s merciful purposes on display through that “stuck” season (note: John 9:3; Isaiah 55:6-13; James 5:7-11)?
3) Why do you think Peter was so confidant telling Aeneas, “Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed?” Are there steps we as Jesus’ followers should take before making any similarly bold pronouncements, considering both the Holy Spirit’s nature and the difficulty of knowing God’s ultimate will (what will happen)?
4) Did you resonate with the application point of needing to “put outside good distractions” which might prevent you from hearing God’s voice? What are some distractions you know you need to be careful for, so that you don’t “go on autopilot” in assuming God’s will? What does it look like for you to “put them outside?”
5) How do you personally confront temptations in your heart—or unbelievers’ assumptions (i.e. “karma”)—which presume that our individual good works are being “recorded” by God in such a way that we can expect to get favors in return from God someday (like Tabitha’s miracle)? Which Bible passages might you use to repel this pernicious line of thinking?
6a) If Tabitha’s record of plentiful good works didn’t “earn” her this miracle of a temporary resurrection, why then might God have chosen her—and not others—to raise from the dead?
6b) Given Paul’s argument that “death is gain” for the Christian, since being with Jesus is “better by far” (Philippians 1:20-23), in which way was her resurrection a “reward?” Note Proverbs 11:30-31—in particular the “repayment” language and how it connects to spiritual fruitfulness.
Questions for further individual or group study:
7) How comfortable are you with the concept of God working acts of physical healing in the world today, in response to the prayers of his people? How much potential discomfort is linked to seeing selfish motives / abuses among some professing Christians wanting to be “famous” (i.e. Simon in Acts 8:9-24)? On the other hand, how might texts like John 14:12-13, 15:1-8, and James 5:13-18 challenge you to trust that Jesus might be pleased to use even you, and pray fervently and accordingly?
8) Take note of the resurrection accounts which are found in the Bible—are there any words/phrases, character similarities, responses, or elements of setting which they all have in common? Think: How are all the “temporary” resurrections in Scripture meant to shed light on the permanent resurrection (first spiritual, and finally one day physical) which Jesus’ own resurrection has guaranteed for us, his followers?
Actual resurrection passages: 1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:18-37; 13:20-21; Luke 5:17-26; Luke 7:11-17; Luke 8:40-56; Luke 24:1-12+44-48; John 11:1-44; Acts 20:7-12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:4-6+11-15
Other allusions and resurrection themes: Job 19:23-27; Isaiah 25:6-9; 26:18-19; 53:9-12; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Hosea 6:1-3; Matthew 17:1-7; Matthew 22:31-32; John 6:35-40; 1 Corinthians 15; Philippians 3:20-4:1
