Unsung Heroes of the Bible - Tabitha (AKA Dorcas)

Services

Red Oak Presbyterian Church Sunday - 10:30AM Worship Service

by: Cindy Rolenc

05/04/2021

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Scripture is full of stories of forgotten lives - unsung heroes whose actions and sacrifices failed to win them worldly renown. Yet, these great lives reveal significant people who God was able to use, and whose lives counted for something great. They may not be on the rolls of the rich and famous, yet their lives are still significant because they illustrate what is possible when ordinary people remain faithful to an extra-ordinary God. These men and women are faithful to our God and are integral parts of the story of God saving the world. Despite what the world tells us, we do not need to be powerful, prominent, or rich to have influence.

Questions to Ponder:

1. What gifts did God give Tabitha? Sometimes we desire the gifts others have been blessed with, while downplaying our own gifts. How can you make good use of the gifts God has given you?

2. Scripture tells us Tabitha was a disciple. A disciple is someone who accepted God's authority and rulership in his/her life. To be a disciple means you strive to become the person God wants you to be. In short, it is to do His will in your life. Is there a difference between being a believer and a disciple?

3. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26). We cannot earn our salvation or our way into heaven. Yet James tells us we are dead if we aren't putting faith and good deeds together. Why is our faith dead if we don't do good deeds?

4. Peter's arrival brings hope in its wake. One wonders, however, what Taitha's friends expected when they called Peter. Did they want Peter to know about this extraordinary believer? Did they wish for the memory of her dear friend to be shared with this pillar of the burgeoning church?  Did they perhaps hope for a miracle beyond miracles? Did they perhaps hope against hope for a reprieve from death?

5. One of Peter's first acts in Joppa is to clear the room and pray. Why do we think that is? The text does not tell us anything about the content of Peter's prayer. would we like to know? Why or why not? Do we have ideas about what Peter's prayer might have been?

6. Why do you think God raised Tabitha from the dead?

7. What is Peter raising Tabitha reminiscent of (see Mark 5:21-43)? What is the main difference between the two incidents?

8. What does a story like this do for people today? Does it strengthen faith, challenge faith, raise questions for faith, other?

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Scripture is full of stories of forgotten lives - unsung heroes whose actions and sacrifices failed to win them worldly renown. Yet, these great lives reveal significant people who God was able to use, and whose lives counted for something great. They may not be on the rolls of the rich and famous, yet their lives are still significant because they illustrate what is possible when ordinary people remain faithful to an extra-ordinary God. These men and women are faithful to our God and are integral parts of the story of God saving the world. Despite what the world tells us, we do not need to be powerful, prominent, or rich to have influence.

Questions to Ponder:

1. What gifts did God give Tabitha? Sometimes we desire the gifts others have been blessed with, while downplaying our own gifts. How can you make good use of the gifts God has given you?

2. Scripture tells us Tabitha was a disciple. A disciple is someone who accepted God's authority and rulership in his/her life. To be a disciple means you strive to become the person God wants you to be. In short, it is to do His will in your life. Is there a difference between being a believer and a disciple?

3. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26). We cannot earn our salvation or our way into heaven. Yet James tells us we are dead if we aren't putting faith and good deeds together. Why is our faith dead if we don't do good deeds?

4. Peter's arrival brings hope in its wake. One wonders, however, what Taitha's friends expected when they called Peter. Did they want Peter to know about this extraordinary believer? Did they wish for the memory of her dear friend to be shared with this pillar of the burgeoning church?  Did they perhaps hope for a miracle beyond miracles? Did they perhaps hope against hope for a reprieve from death?

5. One of Peter's first acts in Joppa is to clear the room and pray. Why do we think that is? The text does not tell us anything about the content of Peter's prayer. would we like to know? Why or why not? Do we have ideas about what Peter's prayer might have been?

6. Why do you think God raised Tabitha from the dead?

7. What is Peter raising Tabitha reminiscent of (see Mark 5:21-43)? What is the main difference between the two incidents?

8. What does a story like this do for people today? Does it strengthen faith, challenge faith, raise questions for faith, other?

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