New Testament #6: Ananias & Sapphira

HIGHS AND LOWS: (15 minutes)
Write down one high and one low from your week in your prayer journal and share them with the group.  Pastor Breen or another student will gather them in prayer as we light our candles.

REVIEW: (3 minutes)
What sticks with you from last class?  You may refer to your one sentence summary from last week if you are stumped.  What questions remain about the believers holding all things in common?

INTRODUCTION: (5 minutes)
Last week in the movie, we met Ananias and Sapphira, a rich couple who had sold all they had to come and follow Jesus.  They were discussing whether they should really give everything or not, and decided to hold some back, in case it didn’t pan out.  Then, they lied to the disciples and said that they gave everything.  Today we will learn about the results of that lie.

1. Have you ever tried to lie to someone? What was that experience like?
2. Have you ever been lied to? What was that experience like?
3. Have you ever tried to lie to God? What was that experience like?
4. How do you think God feels when we try to lie? To God or to others?

EXPERIENCE THE WORD: (7 minutes)
Today, we will watch a scene from the miniseries “AD:  The Bible Continues” which shows the community of new believers.  I do not recommend the whole series because much of the material is fictional, but when they do get to the Bible sections of Acts, it is visually stunning and impactful.  Begin on disc two, and choose “play all.”  Fast-forward to 35:18 and watch until 39:08.

DWELLING IN THE WORD: (25 minutes)
First, read Acts 5:1-11 from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (take turns reading aloud, verse by verse).  Answer the following questions about the whole story as completely as possible (group activity:  do this with your parents):

Comprehension Questions:

1. To whom was Ananias married?  (verse 1)
2. What did Ananias do with his property? (verse 1)
3. What did he keep back? (verse 2)
4. What did he lay at the apostles’ feet? (verse 2)
5. What did Peter ask Ananias? (verse 3)
6. To whom did Ananias lie? (verse 4)
7. What happened when Ananias heard what Peter said? (verse 5)
8. What seized all who heard it? (verse 5)
9. What did the young men do next? (verse 6)
10. When did Sapphira, the wife, come in? (verse 7)
11. Did she know what had happened? (verse 7)
12. What did Peter ask Sapphira? (verse 8)
13. How did Sapphira respond? (verse 8)
14. Who did Peter tell Sapphira was at the door? (verse 9)
15. What happened immediately? (verse 10)
16. What did the young men do? (verse 10)
17. What seized the church? (verse 11)

Content Questions:

1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
2. What is my favorite part of this text?  Why?
3. What stories or memories does this text stir up in you?  You might remember a time when you held back something, for example.
4. What is God doing in this text?  What is God up to?

TAKING IT HOME (3 minutes)

1. During this week, in your prayers, try using “My God, My All” as your title for God. You might choose to pray all of your prayers out loud this week.
2. Write a one sentence summary in your prayer journal. In this sentence, describe your answer to the question “What did you learn about in Confirmation class this week?” in as much detail as possible

OUT LOUD PRAYER: (2 minutes)
Bury it Prayer of Confession:  Fill a dish with sand and give participants small pieces of paper to write on.  Ask them to write down a time that they lied, either to God or others.  Then, have them crunch their piece of paper into the smallest ball that they possibly can.  Each participant can take a turn burying their sins in the sand, saying, “Bury my lies and raise me to the truth.”  Speak a word of forgiveness when all the lies have been buried.
Conclude your time together with the Lord’s Prayer.