Introduction

Briefly comment on the persecution that results from Stephen’s death and how it serves to bring the gospel into new areas.

God’s church is catholic

• Explain: how does the special coming of the Spirit serve to confirm the catholicity of God’s church?

• Explain/Apply: what does it mean for God’s church to be catholic? What does this imply for the way we treat each other in church? Are we allowed to divide based on race or gender?

• Apply: consider some of the practices in your church. Do they serve to promote a division where there should not be one? For example, do men and women sit apart from each other or together in families? If they do sit apart from each other, why? Is such a division helpful in promoting catholicity? 

God’s church is no place for pagan thinking

• Explain: what is the thinking behind Simon’s request? What has he failed to understand about God?

• Explain/Apply: God’s church is exclusive. We are devoted to Christ and we must not mix Christianity with pagan ideas. What are some of the pagan ideas that have influenced us as Christians?

• Encourage: it is hard for us to let go of pagan ways. We have all been taught to think in a certain way by our families and society. Praise God that his grace is greater than our sin. Peter offered Simon the chance to repent and ask forgiveness and Simon’s response appears to be genuine. He was a believer captive in sin but restored to Christ through repentance. Praise God that the blood of Christ is sufficient to pay for all our sins, that Christ was able to live a life completely free of pagan thought and practice. 

Conclusion

God’s church is both inclusive and exclusive. All those who repent and believe in Jesus Christ must be welcomed, but there is no place for pagan ideas and practices. May the Lord help us to love fellow church members. And may he help us to meditate on his Word so that our minds can be renewed by his Spirit.