Miraculous Boldness (Acts 3-4)

Message Listening Guide

Guiding Question: Where does boldness come from—and why do some believers find it while others don’t?

1. Boldness to Help (3:1–10) At the hour of prayer, Peter and John encounter a lame man at the temple gate. Instead of offering charity, they offer transformation—healing him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Boldness begins by recognizing opportunities and responding to the needs right in front of us.

2. Boldness to Speak (3:11–4:22) As crowds gather, Peter proclaims that the healing proves Jesus is alive—the very One Israel rejected and God exalted. Hauled before the same council that condemned Jesus, the apostles declare that there is salvation in no other name. The rejected stone has become the cornerstone of God’s new temple.
Boldness isn’t surprised by opposition—it expects it.

3. Boldness to Pray for More (4:23–31) After being released, the church prays—not for protection, but for greater n courage to keep speaking and for God to confirm His word through fresh works of power. God answers with a holy tremor: the place shakes, and the Spirit fills them again.
Boldness grows as the church prays for it.

The Point: The Holy Spirit makes ordinary people extraordinarily bold.

Connection Group Conversation Guide

Pray: Begin by updating one another on prayer requests and spend a few minutes praying together.

Get-to-Know-You Question: Share your name and answer this: are you the type who blurts things out and later regrets it, or who stays quiet and wishes you’d said more?

Opening Question: Who is someone you respect for their boldness? What about their courage is admirable to you?

Review: In Sunday’s message, we looked at Acts 3–4, where the Holy Spirit empowered Peter and John to heal a lame beggar and boldly proclaim the good news about Jesus. Arrested and brought before the same council that condemned Christ, they preached again with courage and clarity, showing that the Spirit makes ordinary people extraordinarily bold. After their release, the believers gathered—not to seek safety, but to pray for even more boldness—and God gladly answered.

Discuss: One of the points of the message was that opposition to Christianity is normal. How do you usually respond when you face pushback for your faith? Do you expect it, or does it catch you off guard?

Read: Have someone read Acts 4:5–14 aloud.

Discuss: The religious leaders know they can’t deny the miracle, yet they’re unwilling to repent or accept the message. Why do you think some people resist truth even when it’s undeniable?

Discuss: How would you describe the difference between boldness and rudeness?

Discuss: Most American Christians tend to pray more for safety than for boldness. Why do you think that is?

Discuss: Where do you sense God inviting you to take a bolder step of obedience right now—helping someone, speaking truth, or praying more courageously?

Pray: Close in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to fill you with courage, gentleness, and boldness to point others to Jesus this week.