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Bible Study Week 2

First Name

Last Name

Your New Name

SCRIPTURE: Acts 11:19–26; Revelation 2:17

BACKGROUND & CONTEXT

After the death of Stephen (the first Christian martyr), believers were afraid and began to scatter. But they took the Gospel with them and reached out to Gentiles, where many believed and became Christians, a term only mentioned three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). The “ian” means “belonging to the party of” so Christ-ians are people who belong to the party of Jesus. When we choose to follow Jesus, our names are changed in a sense because we now wear the name of Christ as part of his following (Christ-ians). While we take on an association with Christ’s name on earth, it appears that when we unite with him in eternity, God will give us a new, deep name (Rev. 2:17).

Read Acts 11:19–24 and discuss 1–2 of these questions:

• How did God use persecution to spread the Gospel?

• Why is it important that the church had an identity and name greater than that of a Jew or Gentile?

• Why is it important that a person representing a name fit the identity of that name?

Read Acts 11:25–26 and discuss 1–2 of these questions:

• Why was the name “Christian” a good term to describe a church made up of Jews and Gentiles?

• What characteristics should come with using the name “Christian”?

• How does your life reflect your Christian identity?

Read Revelation 2:17 and discuss 1–2 of these questions:

• What excites you about God giving you a new name in heaven?

• What would it look like to live with eternity in mind?

CONNECTION:

• If the way you live your life defined how people thought of Christ-followers, what would they think?

APPLY IT

As followers of Jesus, we have taken on his name and identity when we call ourselves "Christians." What will you do this week to “wear” Christ's name the best you can?

Be Specific:

What are you going to do?

When are you going to do it?

Is there someone who can keep you accountable?

PRAYER:

Take time to pray for each other’s applications in the upcoming weeks.

MEMORY VERSE:

Parent Disscussion Questions.:

*What characteristics should come with using the name “Christian”?

*If the way you live your life defined how people thought of Christ-followers, what would they think?

*What would it look like to live with eternity in mind?