Acts 13:1-52

Circle Group Questions from Acts 13:1-52 

Ice-breaker: Please describe a visit to a different culture and describe what you did to fit in and not disrespect yourself or the guests.  

Fun Facts: 

• 1st Missionary Journey is described in Acts 13-14 
• The focus of the ministry described in the earlier chapters of Acts begins to shift away from the Jews and toward the Gentiles 
• The last reference to the name of Saul (later known as Paul) was made in Acts 13:9 

Preparation Undertaken Before Proclaiming God’s Word 13:1-5 

Read:  Acts 13:1-5 

 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.  

4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.  

1. From this passage, what could you deduce about the status and activities of the church in Antioch?  

2. How did they prepare themselves for hearing from the Holy Spirit? What can we do to be open to hearing from the Holy Spirit in our lives and circumstance? 

3. How do you think the Holy Spirit spoke to the congregation? (i.e. verbal, dream, etc.) If the Holy Spirit were to speak today, what elements and emphasis would you expect to be present?

4. What do you believe is the significance of the “laying on of hands” for those who are sending people into service? (Numbers 27:23; 2 Timothy 1:6) 

5. What is the significance of being sent forth by the Holy Spirit? (13:2) 

6. What appears to be John Mark’s main focus of work during the missionary journey? What are the values of being helpers in the ministry? 

Opposition to the Proclaiming of God’s Word 13:6-13 

 Read:  Acts 13:6-13  

 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. 13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 

7. Why do you think Sergius Paulas was interested in “hearing the Word of God”?  

8. What are some things you can provide which may raise “interests” in others to get them to investigate more of the Word of God? 

9. What influence do you think Bar-Jesus (Elymas) may have had on Sergius Paulas? Why would Paul intervene in this relationship and call out Bar-Jesus? How can our choice of friends affect our relationship with Jesus? (Prov 12:26) 

10. What kind of things do you think will turn people away from wanting to “hear more of the Word of God?”  

11. Please describe some things John would encounter during the journey which would lead him toward leaving the missionary team and traveling back to Jerusalem? (Acts 15:36-41) 

Methodology Used for Proclaiming of God’s Word 13:14-52 

Quick Summary of Acts 13:14-52:   

On the sabbath day, they went into the synagogue, sat down, listened to the reading of the law and prophets. When asked to speak, Paul provided a basic Jewish history about how God had worked amongst their nation through the time of King David.  

Paul transitioned from the promises given to David and described how they were fulfilled in Jesus. The focus of Paul’s words was on God who raised Jesus from the dead (see Acts 13:32-33 & Psalm 2:7) and that there would be no corruption to the body of Christ. (see Acts 13:34-37 & Psalm 16:10) Lastly, Paul stated that Jesus was preached for the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, which could not be justified by the Law of Moses. (see Acts 13: 38-39) 

12. What was the purpose/benefit of following the decorum of the day in the Jewish synagogue? Describe some benefits Paul received as a result of following the customs of the day? (Acts 13:14-15, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23) 

 Read:  Acts 13:42-52 

13. What was the reaction of the people and the Jews to Paul discussing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ? 

14. Why do you believe Paul and Barnabus did not spend much time arguing with the Jews regarding Jesus’ resurrection and the proclamation of the Gospel? (Acts 13:46-47) 

15. When we are sharing the gospel with others, please describe any benefits of not engaging in arguments for the sake of arguing.  

16. Why do you think the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit even though they were driven out of town? (Acts 13: 49-52) When we are faced with opposition and roadblocks, what should be our reaction? 

by Candace Hampton

Believing The Prayers You Pray- Acts 11-12

 BELIEVING THE PRAYERS YOU PRAY

 ACTS 11-12  

I. ICEBREAKER: Think of one memory in the past year where you realized: “Isn’t God good?!”  

II. REMAIN TRUE TO THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART  

Acts 11:19-26  19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  

22  News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24  He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.   

1. How was God’s hand with them in time of persecution? 
2. How did the persecuted believers’ actions show that they remained true to the Lord? What were the outcomes? 

III. GOD IS WALKING YOU OUT OF A HARD SPOT BEFORE YOU RECOGNIZE IT 

Acts 11:27-30  27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.      

3. What can we learn about our God who sent Agabus to foretell of the severe famine?  

4. What does God say about helping one another in time of need? (Acts 20:35, Romans 12:13, James 2:14-17) 

5. Why would help from the Antioch Gentiles to Judea Jewish believers be considered significant? 

Acts 12:1-11  1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3 When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.  

8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” 

6. How did God deliver Peter from prison? 

7. What did Peter learn from this deliverance experience? 

8. What does God promise in time of persecution? (Matthew 5:10, II Corinthians 12:9-10)

9. Can you describe a time when God intervened when others were praying for you? 

IV. GOD IS ANSWERING YOUR PRAYERS AS YOU PRAY, NOT AFTER YOU HANG UP 

Acts 12:12-19  12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. 18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. 

10. Why were all the people (Peter, Rhoda and the people in the house) astonished when God delivered Peter while they were praying? 

11. Have you been astonished when you have prayed, and realized later that all the while God was intervening? Have you prayed all the while not believing God will intervene, but God intervened anyway? What did you learn? 

V. PRAY TO THE TRUE GOD & DON’T MAKE YOURSELF GOD 

Acts 12:20-24  Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. 21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish. 

12. Who was Herod’s god? How did he display himself? What lesson came out of Herod’s demise? 

13. How was Herod’s demise beneficial to the church? (12:23-24)  

14. God's movements of blessings and judgment can be discerned in our world today. How ought they shape our world view and values?   

15. Living as we do in a secular anti-Christ world; how should we behave as mature believers? 

by Candace Hampton

Change Is In The Air - Acts 10

Circle Group Questions
CHANGE IS IN THE AIR -ACTS 10

Ice Breaker Question: As a child, what foods did you refuse to eat? What foods do you still dislike?

Read Acts 9:31-43

1. Why do you think Peter was travelling throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria? To whom was Peter ministering? (Acts 9:32,38,41) What do you think God’s purpose was for Peter to travel throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria?

2. How did the events in this section help accomplish these objectives in Lydda, Sharon and Joppa? (Acts 9:31,35,41,42) How can our ministering to the Lord's people help to build up the church and bring others to Christ?

3. At the end of this section, we learn that Peter is staying with a tanner named Simon. A tanner was a leather worker who preserved the skins of dead animals. Why would it be unusual for a Jewish leader like Peter to be staying at the home of a tanner? What might this say about Peter changing perspective?

4. Are there perspectives you once held that have changed over the course of time and because of your relationship with Jesus? Please explain.

Read Acts 10:1-8

5. What do we learn about Cornelius and his character in this passage? (Extra Credit: Use your study notes or commentary to learn more, like what was a centurion)

ESV Study Bible Note: 10:2 Devout man who feared God identifies Cornelius as a “God-fearer” (cf. v.22; 13:16, 26), a Gentile who worshiped Israel’s God and was in some way attached to a synagogue but who had not submitted to Jewish conversion rites (esp. circumcision). He followed two of the primary expressions of Jewish piety—prayer and almsgiving. Alms are gifts to the poor. (Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008. Print.)

6. What was the instruction of the Angel to Cornelius? What did Cornelius do?

7. How does Peter’s and Cornelius’ angelic appearance seem to fit with God’s always seeming to have “one more move”? (Pastor Dave’s comment from the previous week’s sermon)

Read Acts 10:9-23

8. In Peter's vision, what was Peter's response to "kill and eat"? Why would he answer this way? (Leviticus 20:25) (For your own study you will find a complete list on the distinction between clean and unclean animals in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.)

Leviticus 20:25 (NIV) You must therefore make a distinction between clean and unclean animals and between unclean and clean birds. Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you.

9. How did the voice respond to his answer? (Mark 7:14-19) How did Peter later interpret this answer? (Acts 10:28,34) How do you think he came to this view? (Genesis 12:1-3; John 3:16; Ephesians 3:6)

Mark 7:14–19 (NIV) 14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” 17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

Acts 10:28 (NIV) 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.

Acts 10:34–35 (NIV)34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Genesis 12:1–3 (NIV)1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a  blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

John 3:16 (NIV)16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 3:6 (NIV)6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

A question from Pastor Dave's Sermon: "Interestingly God deals with Peter in 3’s. Three times Peter denied Christ, 3 times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him in John 21 as Jesus reinstates Peter, and now 3 times He repeats the same vision."

10. When God is trying to get your attention, what do you think is your number? Is it 3? 30? 300? How many times does God have to get your attention on a particular issue (matter) before you become open to what he wants to change in your heart?"

11. How did Peter respond to the emissaries from Cornelius? Why? (Acts 10:20-23)

Read Acts 10:24-35 - GOD’S WILL IS TO CHANGE YOUR HEART TOWARDS THOSE YOU REJECT

12. What criteria do people use today to keep themselves from engaging others? (Examples: a different political party, people in authority, unchristian behaviors and lifestyles, perfect people, the poor and homeless) What is the Biblical view? (Acts 10:28, Colossians 3:11, James 2:8-9)

Colossians 3:11 (NIV)11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

James 2:8–9 (NIV) 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

13. In light of this truth, how is the Christian to regard others from other nations and races, social position or other reasons? (Acts 10:34,35) How can loving others unconditionally lead to our sharing our faith with them?

Read Acts 10:36-48 -THE SIGN OF GOD’S ACCEPTANCE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT

14. What was the response/reaction to Peter's presentation of the Gospel? (Acts 10:44,46) What was the significance that this revealed? How has this event change the direction of the early church? (Acts 11:19-21)

15. What was the reaction of the believers with Peter? (Acts 10:45) What preconception was revealed by the believer’s response?

16. How did Peter respond? (Acts 10:47-48) Why did Peter respond differently? Why do you think Peter had them baptized after receiving the Holy Spirit? (Acts 11:15-17)

Acts 11:15–17 (NIV) 15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

17. How has God changed your thinking to match His love? What changes in behavior have resulted in your changed thinking?

GOD CHANGES YOUR THINKING TO MATCH HIS LOVE

by Candace Hampton

The Right Kind of Risk - Acts 9

Circle Group Questions
The Right Kind of Risk - Acts 9

Icebreaker: Can you remember a time when it seemed like life’s circumstances suddenly changed? Explain.

Acts 9:1-9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who
belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

Pastor Dave: God always has one more move.

1. Describe the ministry of Saul before he saw the light. What did he hope to accomplish?

2. How might it be fitting that Saul was made blind?

3. What did Saul mean when he called out “Lord”?

4. How might Saul have felt realizing that he had given his life to a wrong view of God?

5. Was there a time before you became a Christian where you felt bewildered and lost?

Acts 9:10-16 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

6. What does the Lord tell Ananias? How does Ananias object (four things)?

7. Who is Saul to proclaim the name of Jesus to? What does the Lord show him? How do you think Saul must have felt when he was shown?

8. People are called to difficult situations to follow God every day. Can you think of someone you know called to a difficult situation? What can you do to help?

Acts 9:17-19 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

9. What does Ananias call Saul (v. 17)? How is Ananias treating Saul? What does this mean about Ananias’ trusting God?

Pastor Dave: Godly Risk is Always Right - Our fears are legitimate! But faith drives out fear. When we let fear drive our lives…there’s a word for that…the word is faithless. Faithless. You only believe to a point, then you choose self, instead of dying to self. In this moment, God is calling Ananias to die to his self-preservation and meet with Saul.

10. What risks is Ananias taking by talking to Saul? How should we be bold in talking to others?

11. How is fear legitimate for us to feel? Are there times our faith will overcome fear? How do we know? (Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 4:18; Lamentations 3:26)

Romans 8:38–39 (NIV) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 4:18 (NIV) 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Lamentations 3:26 -26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

Acts 9:20-22 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

12. What was Saul’s new message (v. 20)? What did those who saw him say? Why was Saul puzzling to society? How did your friends and acquaintances respond when you came to faith in Christ?

13. Who are the Sauls in our society? Are there people who change so dramatically that they are puzzling?

Acts 9:26-31 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.  27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.  28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.  29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.  30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Pastor Dave: Don’t Miss Out on Your Barnabus Moment

14. When Saul went to Jerusalem what was the reaction? Who was afraid of him? Did that include the apostles?

15. What did Barnabus do that was different from everyone else? How can we be a Barnabus to those around us?

by Candace Hampton

The Hand of God, Moves the Church- Acts 8

The Hand of God, Moves the Church

Circle Group Questions

Acts 8

Icebreaker: Describe a time in your life, when something you thought was terrible happened, but it worked out to your benefit in the long run.

Summary of Acts 2-7:

• In Acts 2, Peter addresses the crowd and states that Jesus was handed over to the people by God, and with the help of wicked men, was put to death on the cross. The people’s reaction is that they were “cut to the heart”, and asked, “Brothers what shall we do?”

• In chapter 4, Peter and John address the Sanhedrin, saying, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” Their reaction was to threaten them not to teach in the name of Christ.

• In Chapter 6, the leaders had the Apostles arrested again. The leaders say to the Apostles, “We told you not to preach in this name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

• In Acts Chapter 7, Stephen reviews the history of the leadership of Israel, concluding with, the leaders never saw what God was doing among His people, and they fought against God’s messengers. Stephen concludes with an indictment of the Sanhedrin in Acts 7:51-53, saying that they are always stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears. Just like your fathers, you always resist the Holy Spirit. He ended with you betrayed and murdered the Righteous one.

• Their reaction is that they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. When Stephen proclaimed that he saw “the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God”, they rushed Stephen and stoned him to death.

1. Why do you think that the people were open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, and willing to repent (Acts 2), but the Jewish leadership resisted the Holy Spirit, and were unwilling to repent? (Acts 4, 6&7) Why is it that those who taught the scriptures were the last ones open to conviction and repentance?

2. Stephen’s point was that the people who knew God’s Word missed God’s hand in history, and frequently fought against it. Do you see the hand of God in your life, or do you fight against what He is doing? Can you look back on your life and see God’s hand in your suffering? Do you see spiritual progress because of your suffering? (2 Tim 3:12)

3. Do you see God’s hand in the history and the present of America, or do political happenings upset you? What can you do to give your fear back to God and trust His plan for our nation?

I. Persecution of the Church in Jerusalem (Read 8:1-3)

The result of the persecution of the Jerusalem church was that the church was scattered throughout the land of Israel, as promised in Acts 1:8. The church moved from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and continued witnessing.

4. What happened just prior to initiate the persecution of the church? (Acts 7:54-59)

5. Why did it take persecution for the church to move out and be witnesses for Jesus?

6. How do you think that the Jerusalem church members felt about this persecution? (Matthew 5:11,12) How could they see God’s hand in their fleeing Jerusalem? (Acts 1:8)

7. Consider the loss of Christian fellowship in your life because of the governor’s mandate the last few months. Can you see the hand of God in the things that cause you pain? What good things have come from your pain? (Isaiah 55:8,9)

II. Philip Travels to Samaria (Read 8:4-8)

8. What is the Great Commission according to Matthew 28:18-20? What role do you think you are to play in the Great Commission? (Matthew 4:19, Acts 1:8)

9. How competent are you at sharing the gospel? Giving your testimony? Would you be interested in a class where sharing your faith is part of the curriculum? If interested, please contact the church office.

III. Simon the Sorcerer (Read 8:9-25)

Simon the Sorcerer was a man who had impressed others so as to be important. In the account of Simon, Pastor Dave said that Simon the sorcerer wanted to buy God and add the power of God to his spirituality. Simon assumed that the Apostles had the same motives as he had. Simon offered them money to convey power to him.  (Read the rebuke of Acts 8:20-23)

10. What is wrong with Simon’s attempt at buying the gift of God? What does this indicate about Simon’s heart? (Acts 8:20-23)

11. How can self-interest affect one’s response to the Gospel and the Holy Spirit? How do we guard against selfishness affecting our faith?

12. Pastor Dave mentioned our culture has normalized other sources of information such as astrology, mediums, horoscopes. What sources of information compete with God for Truth in our culture? (i.e. science, politics, etc.) What can we do to ensure that we walk in faith and reject anti-God messages? (Psalm 119:9-11, Hebrews 4:12, Ephesians 6:10-18)

IV. Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Read 8:26-40)

Philip was led by an angel to take the road from Jerusalem to Gaza that the Ethiopian eunuch was on. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading the book of Isaiah, a section about the Messiah. As Philip walked alongside the chariot, he heard the eunuch reading and understood the language. Philip reached out to the eunuch and asked if he understood. Philip then explained the meaning of the passage and how it related to the Messiah.

13. What does the fact that the eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship and was reading Isaiah say about the eunuch? Why did the Ethiopian eunuch want to be baptized after hearing the gospel? What does this indicate about his character? Have you been obedient to the command to be baptized?

14. What does this passage say about the sovereignty of God? How does this story show how God will orchestrate events to accomplish His will and bring those to Him who will believe?

15. How was Philip especially equipped for the meeting with the eunuch? What can we do to ensure we are better equipped?

by Candace Hampton

Why We Rush Through Transitions- Acts 7

Acts 7 Circle Questions

Icebreaker: What is the most impactful speech or sermon to which you have listened? Why?

Fun Fact: This chapter records the longest single speech in the Book of Acts.

I. Stephen (1 of 7) men known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. (Acts 6:3-6) Work of Stephen: “…great wonders and miraculous signs among the people." (Acts 6:8)

1. Describe what you think makes an individual one who is considered full of the Spirit and wisdom.
2. Stephen's original accusers in Acts 6:9-10 could not refute his wisdom. Have you ever noticed that the opposition to the works of God can often come from individuals within the religious community? Why do you think this happens?
3. Who were the people opposing Stephen? (Acts 6:9-13) Hint: there are 5 groups.

II. Opposition Subject Matters:

4. What were the charges the high priest referred to in 7:1? (Act 6:11-14)

The Jewish leaders were upset because these new believers were attacking their law and their temple.
5. Why do you think they thought these two subjects were so important, special, and worthy to quarrel and fight over?
6. Describe what you think were the real issues of the heart related to these subjects.
7. Can you think of instances when your heart keeps you from seeing what God is doing?

III. High Priest question: “Are these charges true?” (Acts 7:1)

IV. Message:
Stephen does not dispute the “false witnesses, their testimony”, and/or the accusations they leveled against him (Acts 7:1-53).

Note: Historical Sketch of God’s Activities toward Israel, and Israel’s conduct in return to His workings. Additional information regarding these events can be found in the Old Testament and will require additional readings and studies.

Stephen’s Sermon:
 The call of Abraham to the settlement of Jacob in Egypt (Acts 7:1-16)
       The Settlement in Egypt to the Exodus (Acts 7:17-36)
       From the Exodus to the Building of Solomon's Temple (Acts 7:37-50)
       Brief and Pungent Statement of the Nation's Treatment of the Lord's Designs and Messengers (Acts 7:51-53)

8. Why do think Stephen did not directly attack his accusers? (character, stories, inconsistencies with their evidence, etc.)
9. If the command is to be a witness for Christ, how should we respond to false accusations?
10. Stephen used the “Word of God” which in other passages has been described as a “sword" (Ephesians 6:17); which is living and active, and judges the attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) Discuss why you think it is important to use the Bible when talking to others regarding their personal salvation. (Romans 1:16, John 3:16-18)
11. Describe how important it is for us to know Biblical history and stories? (1 Corinthians 10:11, 1 Peter 3:15-16)

V. Indictment:

12. Provide a description of your understanding as to the core issues which caused the anger described in Acts 7:54. (See Acts 7:51-53)

VI. Results:

13. Stephen was granted a view into heaven where he saw the “Glory of God” and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55-56)
14. During the process of Stephen dying by stoning, he expressed his love toward his accusers and killers by asking the Lord not to hold this sin against them. (Acts 7:59) Who else in the Bible made a similar request? (Luke 27:34)
15. Describe some activities you could engage in to express your love to those who choose not to love you.

Acts 8:1-2 1….on that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.

From Pastor Dave’s message:
“Throughout history mortal people have chosen to disobey, disbelieve and ignore God. Unfortunately, the results are always the same. People cannot live forever, they fail in their self-righteousness and God will always prevail."

by Candace Hampton

The Potential In Every Problem- Acts 6

THE POTENTIAL IN EVERY PROBLEM, ACTS 6

Icebreaker: Please share an instance when you were facing a problem but managed to “turn the lemons into lemonade”, figuratively speaking.

Read Acts 6:1-7

I. FIND THE OPPORTUNITY IN EVERY PROBLEM

1. What problems did the early church encounter? (6:1)
2. What were the possible pitfalls of mishandling the problems?
3. What were the opportunities in the problems? (6:2-4)

II. DEFINE THE PRIORITY – MINISTRY OF THE WORD & PRAYER

4. What solutions do the Apostles address? (6:2,4)
5. How does this focus them and the church on the proper priorities?
6. What should our focus be when looking for solutions within the church?

III. PEOPLE OF CHARACTER BECOME SOLUTIONS

Read Ephesians 4:11-17
7. What were the spiritual characteristics required for the solution? (Acts 6:3-5)
8. How are these spiritual characteristics developed and by whom? (Ephesians 4:11-12)
9. What are the goals of the solution? (Ephesians 4:13-14)
10. What are the proper outcomes beyond feeding the widows? (Acts 6:7; Ephesians 4:15-17)
11. How does being a follower in Christ necessitate moving from being a spectator to getting involved in the ministry of the church?
12. What characteristics do you possess or want to develop to be part of the solution that challenges the body of Christ?

IV. CHARACTER SHOWS UP IN YOUR CONVERSATION AND COUNTENANCE.

Read Acts 6:8-15
13. Stephen is now put to the test outside of the body of Christ. What opposition did Stephen have to face? (6:9)
14. How did the passage describe Stephen’s countenance in the midst of opposition? (6:8,10)
15. What did the opposition resort to and how did Stephen respond? (6:12-15)
16. What did Jesus promise when we face opposition? (Luke 12:11-12 or 21:12-19)
17. What kind of opposition are you facing? How would others describe your countenance in the face of opposition?
18. How can we be like Stephen, full of faith, full of the Holy Spirit, full of grace and full of power, the next time we face opposition?

by Candace Hampton

Fighting Against God- Acts 5

FIGHTING AGAINST GOD - ACTS 5

Icebreaker: Can you think of a time you did something to fit in or appear important?

Read Acts 4:33–5:11

1.   What did Barnabas do? Why? (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
2.   What did Ananias and Saphira do? Why? What was wrong with their gift? (Acts 5:3-4,9, Joshua 7:11-12, Malachi 1:14, 1 Timothy 6:10) How were they fighting against God?
3.   What principles can we infer/deduce/extract from the comparison of Barnabas with Ananias and Sapphira?
4.   What was the result of what happened to Ananias and Sapphira for the life of the new church? (Acts 5: 5,11) Do we have a proper fear/reverence of God? Why or why not?

Read Acts 5:12-18

5.   What was the result of the growth of the church? (Acts 5:14-15)
6.   How are the events of Acts 5:12-16 an answer to prayer in Acts 4:29-31? (Acts 5:29-32)
7.   How did the high priest respond to growth and popularity of the church? Why? (Acts 5:17-18)

Read Acts 5:19–27 (NIV)

8.   Why do you think the angel of the Lord helped the Apostles escape only to have them return to the temple to be arrested again?

Read Acts 5:28–33

9.   In what way is teaching in the name of Jesus obeying God rather than human beings? (Acts 5:29 and Acts 1:8)
10.   What did the high priest and the full assembly of the elders want to do to the apostles? (Acts 5:33)

Read Acts 5:34-42

11.   What was Gamaliel’s argument that kept them from killing the apostles?
12.   What were they hoping would happen when they let them go after flogging them and warning them again? (Act 5:38-39) How does their response demonstrate their faith? (Acts 5:41)
13.   Can you think of a time when those in authority has found themselves “fighting against God”? (Past or present) (Acts 5:39)

Note from Pastor Dave’s sermon: The church has not failed even with centuries of opposition and persecution. If it was of human origin it would have failed. Don’t overlook that fact.

14.   How is unbelief the same as “fighting against God”? (Luke 11:23) What is the result of unbelief? (John 3:18)
15.   Was there a time in your life that you found yourself fighting against God? What turned things around for you?
16.   How did the Apostles demonstrate that they were fighting for God? (Acts 5:41-42)
17.   How are you fighting for God in your life? (Ephesians 6:10-18)

by Candace Hampton

How You Can Help Change the World -Acts 4 

How You Can Help Change the World Acts 4 

You have a God given right to share about Jesus, so increase your boldness. 

Icebreaker: Can you think of a time when you were blessed significantly by a fellow believer? 

Outline: 

• Who gives you the right? Read Acts 4:1-13

   Note: Peter and John were arrested by the religious authorities and they were questioned as to what they were doing. 

1. Who is asking John and Peter by what power they are doing this? (v. 5) How did John and Peter answer their question? (v.10-12) 
2. What would it have been like for Peter and John to oppose the religious authority of the day? 
3. In what way(s) did Peter change in two months? Compare Luke 22:56-62 and Acts 4:8,13 
4. What is the key to being changed? (Acts 4:8)

• Expect adversity and criticism 

Pastor Dave: External pressure builds internal cohesion 

       5. How do we usually react to criticism?  

       6. How should you react to criticism? (Proverbs 15:31,32) 

       7. How does pressure build cohesion? (James 1:3,4) 

       8. Can you share a time when a difficult situation led to unity or cohesion? 

• Stand up for God’s truth. Read Acts 4:14-31

        9. Is a Christian ever justified in disobeying the law? When? (Acts 4:18-20) 

       10. Should a Christian fear the consequences of willful disobedience of the law of land?(i.e. Acts 4:3, Acts 4:21, Acts 7:54-60)  

       11. When we do fear, what should be our response? (Romans 8:38,39) 

       12. How do we grow day by day in our relationship with Truth? (John 15:1-8)

• Stay united with your church and be generous. Read Acts 4:32-37 

Pastor Dave: We pull tighter, we pull together, we pull in the same direction 

      13. We are all so different! Yet what does the Bible command us to be? (Phil. 2:2) 

       14. How can we possibly be of the same mind? (Acts 4:24,31,32)

       15.  In Acts 4:32, it says that all believers were one in heart and soul. But it also says that they shared everything. What can we do, as Christians, to deepen our sharing experiences? 

       16. We are to read Acts 5 for next week. Persecution abounds in chapter five, but also God’s mercy. Can you thank God for something merciful in your life? 

by Candace Hampton

Turning Your Pain Into Praise- Acts 3

TURNING YOUR PAIN INTO PRAISE - ACTS 3

Icebreaker: What is something you did or someone has done for you that you thought was exceptionally kind or thoughtful?

Acts 3:1-8

Going to the temple at the time of prayer - Now a man crippled from birth (over 40 years old – Acts 4:22) was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk.

     Times of prayer: (verse 1)

9:00 am, - Acts 2:15 – aka Third Hour

12:00 pm, - Acts 10:9 – aka Sixth Hour

3:00 pm, - Acts 3:1 – aka Ninth Hour

1. Why do you think individuals continued to attend the “temple” (for us today - churches, religious gatherings, meetings, etc.) in spite of experiencing difficult and troubling times?

2. How do you encourage others toward being a part of religious meetings?

3. How do we react when confronted by people with needs; such the homeless, disabled and less fortunate? How did Peter and John change the conversation from meeting his money needs to meeting his real needs?

4. Sometimes the needs of others are evident, but often there are needs below the surface. How can we speak to their needs to introduce them to Christ?

5. What do you think was significant about Peter’s commands? (1) Look at us! Acts 3:4, and (2) Why do you stare at us? Acts 3:12.

6. What happen to the beggar? What was his response?

7. Can you think of a time when you became elated by what God had done in your life?

Acts 3:9-12

9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

8. The miraculous healing generated a tremendous interest from those in attendance. What do you think these people were looking for?

9. When God performs a miracle in the life of an individual, how should we respond to the miraculous act and what then becomes our responsibility(s), if any, to pass on what we have witnessed?

Acts 3:13-16

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

10. What was the Gospel message Peter taught in verse 15?

11. What made the testimony of Peter so powerful?

12. What are the two elements of Peter’s message that provided evidence as to how this miracle took place? (verse 16)

13. Where should your speech (talking points) be focused after personally experiencing or being a witness to a miracle?

14. How can our witness to God’s resurrection power be used to share our faith with others?

by Candace Hampton

How Not To Make A Name For Yourself - Acts 2:1-47

How Not To Make A Name For Yourself
Acts 2:1-47

I. Icebreaker: What has been the biggest event in your life, that changed your walk with God?

II. In the sermon Pastor Dave emphasized the importance of believing in Jesus and being baptized from Acts chapter 2. He has instructed the Circle Groups to study what the early church looked like according to the end of Acts chapter 2 and to go deeper. In this study we will quickly review what happened in Acts chapter 2 and focus on the community of believers created after the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

III. The Baptism of the Holy on the day of Pentecost - Read Acts 2:1-13

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

1. Jesus had commanded the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Why do you suppose God wanted the disciples to remain together, and in Jerusalem, until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit?

2. How does the text of Acts 2:4-13 describe the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

3. What was the effect of the Holy Spirit in the life of the new church, (Acts 2:42-47; 4:8,13)? What is the effect of the Holy Spirit in our lives (2 Tim 1:7)?

IV. Peter addresses the Crowd – Read Act 2:14- 40 (Optional)

In Jerusalem, Peter got up and addressed the crowd proclaiming that God sent Jesus and accredited Him with signs, wonders and miracles. Peter then proclaimed that the people, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death on the cross, but God raised Him from the dead. Now God has poured out the Holy Spirit and is calling them to repent and be baptized.

V. The Fellowship of the Believers – Read Acts 2:41-47

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Verses 41 through 47, describe the church as it ought to be: unified, effective and growing. The Disciples/Apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit, and preached to the crowds. The crowds were convicted of their sin, repented, submitted to the teaching of the Apostles, and were obedient to the command to be baptized.

The result of their devotion to God, and baptism of the Holy Spirit was being filled with a sense of awe, and love for their fellow believers. This resulted in the new church being held in high regard by all the people and more people were submitting themselves to God, by repenting and being baptized. “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (v. 47)

Be Baptized (v. 41)

4. Why should you be baptized? (Luke 3:21-22; Acts 2:38, 41; Rom 6: 3-4)

5. Have you been obedient to the command to be baptized? If not, what is holding you back? Notice that baptism immediately follows belief and signifies belonging to the body of Christ.

Be Taught (v. 42)

6. Why do we need to be taught? And what teaching should we focus on? (Colossians 2:6-7; 2 Timothy 2:2; 3:16-17)

7. What does “teaching to observe all that I commanded you,” mean to you? (Matthew 28:18-20)

8. Are you currently learning and growing? How can we express “being devoted” to Biblical teaching/learning and growing spiritually?

Be in a Circle (Fellowship) (v. 42, 46)

Christian hospitality was a large feature of the early church. The people ate together and enjoyed fellowship with each other. Sun Grove has Circle groups for the purpose of having members connected to each other,  enjoying close friendships and caring for each other.

9. What does this Circle do to develop fellowship and what can more can it do in this regard? (Hebrews 10:24-25)

10. What keeps us from extending Christian hospitality within and outside our Circle?

11. Are there people who you know, who are not involved in a Circle group, whom you can invite? What can your Circle group do to encourage you to invite these people?

Be a Worshiper (v. 47)

12. What is worship? What different ways we express God’s worth? In the church? In our lives? As a Circle?

13. What could we do to improve our personal worship experience?

Be Generous (v. 44-45)

14. The members of the church sold their possessions to provide for those in need. What keeps us from being generous with each other and those in need?

15. Why is it important to support the ministry of Sun Grove and other ministries around the world? (2 Cor 9:6,7)

VI. Summary – The Growth of the Church

The result of the Christians being unified, spirit-filled and generous was that the church was growing, with large numbers of people coming to faith in Christ, everyone having a sense of awe, and God was performing miracles through the Apostles. Worship, prayer, fellowship and teaching were all part of the worship experience of the church.

Contact the church if interested in:

• Being baptized.

• Learning opportunities. There are many sources of teaching available to us. A library of Sun Grove sermons is available online, on the Sun Grove website. Also, there will be a New Believer's class available online, as well as Discipleship Training.

• If you want to be in a Circle Group.

by Candace Hampton

I Need You and Need to be Your Witness - Acts 1:1-26

I Need You and Need to be Your Witness    Acts 1:1-26 

I. Icebreaker: Given a chance whose biography would you like to write? Why? 

II. Introduction:

The book of Luke follows the life of Jesus Christ and this book of Acts is an account of the Apostles and disciples as witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. This book will challenge us to be fully devoted in our heart, sold out in our actions, counting the cost of following Jesus. It is all about being witnesses for Christ. 

WITNESS: One who tells what he or she has seen or personally experienced, often in a court of law. The term may also refer to the testimony the person has given. (Tyndale Bible Dictionary 2001)  

In chapter 1 there are about 120-150 people who follow Jesus, but by the end of chapter 3 there were 3,000 to 5,000, then tens of thousands to currently a billion Christians worldwide. Acts means the actions of the Apostles and disciples.  

Read Acts 1:1-5 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles He had chosen. 3 After His suffering, He presented Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 

1. While Jesus was with His followers after the resurrection, what did Jesus make sure that they understood? (1:3)
2. What did Jesus want them to do and why? (1:4-5) 
3. What was this baptism to which Jesus was referring? Why was it so important? (1:5, John 16:13-14)

III. God, I need You, and I need to follow You. It’s both! 

This is the tension of the disciple (learner): our desperate need for God and our devoted following of God. He must become greater and I must become less. He is greater than I. 

Read Acts 1:6-7 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  

       4. What is the kingdom they thought Jesus was going to restore? What was Jesus’s response to their question? Why do you think he answered in the way he did? 

       5. What is the kingdom that Jesus announced in 1:3? (Matthew 28:18, 4:17, 23) 

       6. Why should we ask about restoring the kingdom?  How are we involved in this restoration? 

IV. “You will be my witnesses.” 

God calls us to become a disciple; and a disciple (according to Jesus) always becomes his witness.  

Read Acts 1:8-11 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” 

       7. We are called to be His witnesses. How can we be a witness for Jesus when we haven’t seen Him physically?  Why is it easy to be His witness when we know Jesus personally? How do we get to know Christ personally? 

       8. In Acts 21:37 to 22:10 how did Paul bear witness for Jesus before a hostile crowd?  

       9. What event is the two men in white speaking about when saying, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”? Why was the departure and return of Jesus important to us in light of being His witnesses? (1:8, John 14:3) 

       10. In what ways can we be witnesses? 

V. Be fueled by the Holy Spirit. 

We were created to be fueled by the Holy Spirit. Your soul will respond to the Spirit of God. Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us understand the Scriptures and how it applies to our life and circumstances. The Holy Spirit makes His home in us to strengthen us, guide us through the Scriptures and bring peace and wisdom and direction and purpose in our life. 

       11. How can we be fueled by the Holy Spirit? (Acts 1:8, Ephesians 5:13, Ephesians 4:30, Galatians 5:18, 22, 23, I Thessalonians 5:19) 

       12. When we are fueled by the Spirit, God gives us the fruit of the Spirit.  How have you seen the fruit of the Spirit making you a better witness for Christ? (Galatians 5:22, 23) 

VI. Gather/Join together in prayer. 

The great challenge of modern believers is to gather together and pray. When Christians really believe they gather, when they doubt and fear, they scatter.  

Read Acts 1:12-14 12Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 

       13. What are the differences between to “pray by yourself” and “gather to pray?” 

       14. Where are your opportunities and commitment to gather to pray? 

VII. Apostles and Disciples 

There were only 13, 12 Apostles, minus Judas, replaced through prayer by Mattias plus Paul called directly by Jesus on the road to Damascus. To be an Apostle you had to be an eyewitness to the life of Jesus. They were authorized to launch the early church. But everyone else is called a disciple.  

Read Acts 1:15-26  15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17He was one of our number and shared in our ministry. 18(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and,“ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” 23So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. 

       15. What did replacing Judas accomplish? 

       16. As you are asked to be trained as a disciple for His witness, what is your next step? 

Opportunity is now to take steps to become a disciple of Jesus Christ for His witness. 

by Candace Hampton

TENSION: GOD is Good and You Should Do GOOD

TENSION:  GOD Is Good and You Should Do GOOD. 

Ice Breaker: If you had the resources and ability to solve one big problem in this world, what problem would you seek to solve and why? 

1. What does God is good mean? (Mark 10:18; Psalm 100:4-5; Psalm 119:68, and excerpt from 1 Packer, J. I. “Good.” Ed. D. R. W. Wood et al. New Bible dictionary 1996: 424–425. Print. (below) 

“God is good: for he is morally perfect, and gloriously generous. The acknowledgment of God as good is the foundation of all biblical thinking about moral goodness. ‘Good’ in Scripture is not an abstract quality, nor is it a secular human ideal; ‘good’ means first and foremost what God is (‘he is good’, Ps. 100:5, et al.), then what he does, creates, commands and gives, and finally what he approves in the lives of his creatures…. The biblical position is that God, and God alone, is good without qualification (Mk. 10:18); and he is the arbiter and judge, as he is the norm and standard, of creaturely goodness. Man is good, and things are good, just so far as they conform to the will of God. Woe, then, to those who invert the divine scale of values, giving the name of good to what God calls evil, and vice versa (Is. 5:20).” 

       2. In what ways is God good in his creation and to us?(1 Timothy 4:4; Psalm 25:7-8, 84:11; Romans 8:28) What should be the effect of his goodness? (John 16:13; Romans 2:4,) 

       3. How has God been good in your life? What has been your response to his goodness? 

       4. What does it mean to be good (for humans)?( Amos 5:14-15; Matthew 5:38-48, 22:37-40)  

       5. Why are good works for God impossible for human beings? (Psalm 14:1-3; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 4:22; Romans 7:14-18) 

       6. How does God provide for us to produce good works? (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Colossians 1:9-10; 2 Tim 2:19-21, 3:16-17) 

       7. What is the tension between the two concepts- God is good and you should do good? What is the importance of this tension? 

Sermon Point 1: If you don’t fight for the tension, you set others up to reject what is true because of what they will experience. 

       8. If being good doesn't help me get God's approval or help me to go to heaven then why should I do good? (Ephesians 2:10; Heb 13:16; Galatians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 6:17-19) 

       9. How does being good demonstrate God's goodness? (Matthew 5:16; Colossians 4:5-6; 1 Peter 2:12)  

Sermon Point 2: Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone. 

       10. What keeps us from doing good or doing good for the right reasons? What can we do to overcome the tendency to enjoy God’s goodness, but avoid from doing good or serving others? 

       11. How can a big problem keep us from action? Can you give an example where you met the need for one even though you wish you could meet the need for all? 

Sermon Point 3 & 4: The modern miracle is awakening people of faith who are silent, and getting them to speak and act. Religious people will criticize the freedom and miraculous work of God in your life. Act anyway. 

       12. What can Christians do to address the helpless and harassed? (Matthew 9:35-38; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15) 

Sermon Point 5: When you ask God to send workers into the fields, God works in your heart to do good in your field. 

Sermon Series Summary: Here is the list of tensions addressed in this series. 

• You can KNOW God - God is a MYSTERY. 

• God has an IDEAL - God uses BROKEN people. 

• The Bible is all true and everything true about life is not in the Bible. 

• You can know God in a MOMENT & It will take FOREVER to figure it out. 

• Your beliefs matter, and people matter more. 

• You should Enjoy CHURCH - You should enjoy living in the WORLD. 

• TRUST Leads to Stronger Faith & DOUBT Leads to Stronger Faith. 

• God is Good, and you should do good. 

       13. Which tension/s discussed in this series resonated with you the most? 

       14. How does understanding that there are tensions to manage rather than just problems to solve, help us in our Christian walk and our relationships with others and God? 

       15. What changes have you made or intend to make in light of the series? 

 Final exhortation: God wants you to do good. It’s time to stop consuming and start contributing. Start a watch party, don’t come back to church alone. Volunteer, do something! Build his church, reach to the hurting and make your life count for something bigger than you. 

by Candace Hampton

Trust Leads to Stronger Faith & Doubt Leads to Stronger Faith

TENSION 

Trust leads to stronger faith & doubt leads to stronger faith 

Icebreaker: Can you think of a time when God definitely answered your prayers? How does that help your confidence in God? 

Pastor Dave tells us, in his introduction, that sometimes our reaction to doubts moves us away from authentic faith. He tells us that “doubts lead to questions, questions lead to answers, answers lead to truth, and Jesus said the truth will set you free.” “Instead of being a sign of weakness,” he says, “doubt can actually be something that causes us to dig deeper into our relationship with God and make our faith stronger.”  

1. What is meant by trust? (Hebrews 11:1, Proverbs 3:5,6)
2. How can we increase our trust in God? (Phil. 3:13-15)
3. What do we mean by doubt? (Matt. 14:29-33) 
4. How does the world look at faith? (1 Cor. 1:18, 21)
5. What happens to the believer who trusts in him? (Romans 15:13) 
6. How can doubts excite the tension of our faith, helping us to grow stronger? (John 20:24-28, Mark 9:21-25) 

• When in doubt, focus on WHO not HOW 

  Pastor Dave tells us that there is a difference between HOW, which reaches for certainty, and WHO, which reaches for Jesus. 

          A. HOW reaches for certainty 

          7. How does our world system promote certainty (evidence-based decision)? How can certainty undermine faith? (Heb. 11:1, Psalm 20: 7-8) 

          8. How are we as believers reaching for certainty, when we ought to reach for faith? 

Pastor Dave quotes from the Institutes (John Calvin), saying “Surely, while we teach that faith ought to be certain and assured, we cannot imagine any certainty that is not tinged with doubt, or any assurance that is not assailed by some anxiety.” In the Institutes, (3,2,17) Calvin gives us an example of that doubt in the life of David: 

          Scripture does not set before us a brighter or more memorable example of faith than in David, especially if regard be had to the constant tenor of his life. . . .When he rebukes the turbulent movements of his soul, what else is it but a censure of his unbelief? Why art thou cast down, my soul: and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God. (Psalm 13:6) His alarm was undoubtedly a manifest sign of distrust, as if he thought that the Lord had forsaken him. 

           9 . How does David show his uncertainty (doubt) of God's plan? 

          10. What does David do to answer his uncertainty? In the end, how is his faith stronger? (Psalm 13) 

          B. WHO- requires trust and vulnerability.  According to the sermon trust is highly relational, requiring interdependence and faith.  

          11. What does it mean to focus on the Who (person of Christ) rather than the How?  If we are to focus on the WHO, not the How, how might we begin to grow? (Titus 2:11-14)

          12. How does the testimony of others help us to focus on Who? (Hebrews 12:1) 

 Near the end of his sermon, Pastor Dave quotes C.S. Lewis in a moving quote. That quote is just the first sentence in a very moving paragraph. The paragraph is below: 

 Now Faith, in the sense in which I am here using the word, is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. For moods will change, whatever view your reason takes. I know that by experience. Now that I am a Christian I do have moods in which the whole thing looks very improbable: but when I was an atheist I had moods in which Christianity looked terribly probable. This rebellion of your moods against your real self is going to come anyway. That is why Faith is such a necessary virtue: unless you teach your moods ‘where they get off’, you can never be either a sound Christian or even a sound atheist, but just a creature dithering to and fro, with its beliefs really dependent on the weather and the state of its digestion. Consequently one must train the habit of Faith. (Mere Christianity) 

          13. How have circumstances caused your faith to grow or diminish? (2 Cor. 4:16-18) 

          14. In the midst of difficult circumstances, is there a way we can choose to trust and grow? (Phil. 3:12-14) 

"My struggle without you is lonely, so I cling to your control, and as I work through these feelings, please help me to let go, when I just want to know why." - Dave Flaig

by Candace Hampton

Tension- You Can Enjoy CHURCH and You Can Enjoy Living in the WORLD

TENSION
You can Enjoy CHURCH and You can Enjoy living in the WORLD

ICEBREAKER: What is your fondest memory in Church? What do you enjoy most, outside of Church?

Introduction:
Some people will say that Church is boring. They only go to church for weddings and funerals. Other people feel guilty for enjoying the outdoors, vacations, or an abundance of material wealth. Still others may suffer guilt, feeling as though we should experience destitution.  Others have discovered that serving in church can be fun. Exactly what is it that God wants us to enjoy and what are we to avoid enjoying?

1. What do you think that God means by enjoy? (Psalm 73:11, 19; Ecc. 5:19; Acts 9:31)

2. How do you feel about church; is it boring or do you enjoy it? How can serving in church be fun?

3. What keeps us from serving? What is the value of serving in the church? What ministries would you enjoy serving in?

4. Why do you suppose some people would feel guilt over enjoying material wealth or things?

5. Apart from anything spiritual, what are the hobbies that give you the most joy?

Pastor Dave said “I’m not talking about the world system. I’m not talking about the invisible world system that is at war with God, promoting evil, gratifying earthly desires and taking God’s rightful place in your heart. I’m not talking about the system that advocates destroying and devaluing people…I’m talking about the physical world around us.”

6. How do you see the world system at war with God in today’s world? How do you see the world’s system promoting evil?

7. How does the world system compete for God’s place in our hearts?

8. What does it mean to be in the world, but not of the world? How can we know when we are living, “of the world”?

9. How does the world system devalue people and destroy people and families?

I. The world of people, the world of culture, the world of nature! God designed it for us to enjoy!

Pastor Dave said the importance of this tension is that your kids are going to grow up and begin enjoying some things that you may not have defined as spiritual.  It’s okay to say to them, you can enjoy some things other than church! Pastor Dave also spoke of seeing God’s handiwork through creation.

10. How can we as parents help our children love the things of God, as much as we do? (Gen 1:31)

11. How can you describe to your children, the difference between the world system at war with God and enjoying the world of People/Culture/Nature? (1 John 2:15,16)

12. How can we enjoy our people, culture and nature? What are the things that you think God values most? What does He want us to value most? (Rom 12:18)

13. What actions can we take to prevent the world from taking FIRST place in our hearts? (Matt 6:33)

14. What are the actions that we are to embrace to keep God on the throne of our lives? (Luke 9:23; Rev 2:4)

II. Don’t get worried that you might like people who are not Christians.

Pastor Dave spoke of things we might like, that are not necessarily Christian, like listening to secular music, or watching sports. Remember God created everything. Don’t make your kids choose between the church and the world in a crazy way.

15. How do you develop guidelines for your children’s music, TV watching and entertainment? How do you handle struggles with children over music and TV choices? What can we do to help our children to come up with good convictions regarding music and entertainment for themselves? (Psalm 1; Prov 3: 5,6)

16. How do you encourage children in the love of God and appreciation for spiritual things? (Ecc 11:9,10)

Our role as Christians is to trust in the Lord and to do good. God is bigger than our church or our world. God loves sinners and wants to save them. There is enjoyment when the church is growing and on mission, loving people. If we lose heart for the lost, our enjoyment and the health of the church erodes. God has given us all things for us to enjoy, but do not ignore the sins of gluttony, drunkenness, greed, sexual immorality, or being controlled by something other than God’s Holy Spirit.

17. What would you say is the biggest hindrance to our enjoying our relationship with God?

18. Do you think that the church is on mission and growing and loving people? (Acts 9:31) How can we enjoy growing and loving people more?

Westminster Catechism from 1648 AD, asks the question, “What is the chief end of man? Answer: A man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever."

by Candace Hampton

Tension: Your Beliefs Matter and People Matter More

YOUR BELIEFS MATTER AND PEOPLE MATTER MORE 

Icebreaker: Describe a time when you had to have the “Last Word – Final Say” 

Introduction: 

Each individual carries a belief system within themselves and it works to provide answers, meaning, and a basis upon how we live our lives and interact with others. Conflict often arises when we interact with others who do not have the same or a similar belief system. This causes a tension in regard to how we treat others. If we mistreat others, there is likely a problem within our belief system.  

• If your beliefs cause you to mistreat people, then something is wrong with your beliefs.  

1. What are some indications that an individual has been or is being mistreated mentally, spiritually, or emotionally by another person?  
2. What usually happens to the relationship over time between the individual who mistreats and the person who has been mistreated?  
3. What do you believe causes a “Christian” individual to mistreat or hurt another individual (i.e. family, friend, associate, etc.)?
4. Is it necessary for the relationship between a “Christian” individual and the one who has been mistreated be restored? Please explain why or why not? 

            Matt 5:23-24 - 23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your              brother; then come and offer your gift. 

        5. Who is the responsible party to seek “forgiveness” within the relationship? Please explain your reason(s) as to whom should seek the forgiveness.  

            Mark 11:25 - 25 "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." 

• The nature of negative or sinful beliefs is the ability to be controlled by them, resulting in sin against others.

     Genesis 4:6-9 Then the Lord said, ...If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” … “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 

Notes: In Pastor Dave’s message, he discusses how your negative core beliefs cause you to sin against others.  (A) General Definition - Core beliefs are the general principles and assumptions that guide an individual through life which can be both positive and negative. 

Negative Examples from Pastor Dave’s message:  (i) Judas and “money” – Matthew 26:14, John 13.29; (ii.) Saul, who became the Apostle Paul, and “ambition” – Acts 8:3, Acts 9:1ff, (iii.) Biblical reference – see Colossians 3:7-9 …anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language,… (C) Other examples: (iv) small man complex, - “I am not good enough”, (v) perfectionist, - “I must always be right”, etc. 

         6. What do you believe would be the benefits of identifying your negative core beliefs? 

         7. If you were to identify one or more of your negative core beliefs, describe which one of following methods would provide you with the most reliable results? (spiritual journaling, observing your words, emotional interactions, conversations with others, repeating life events, etc.) 

         8. (Personal) Is there a negative core belief that you need to take to God and begin to work on? 

         9. If you discover one of your “core beliefs” as not being pleasing, what are the steps you would take to make a change in that belief? What might be some obstacles you will encounter during the journey of change? 

• Sin can result in two murders: Relational and Physical.  

       10.   How does a relational murder look like a physical murder? 

       11.  Have you experienced a relational murder and how did you respond? 

          Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in            heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47           And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." 

       12.  What are some simple gestures that you could show to others indicating that you recognize their worth? (i.e. a wave, sharing of a snack, etc.) 

• Value people without compromising your beliefs or your identity. 

Note: Positive or Biblical core beliefs help us to restore relationships with God and others. Positive core beliefs may include God is true in Christ Jesus, God created us in His image, life is sacred, God loves us and we are to love Him and others. Love of others includes forgiving them. 

       13.   How can we identify and adopt positive/Biblical life beliefs?  

       14.   How can we replace the negative core beliefs with positive core beliefs? (Galatians 5:22, Romans 12:2) 

       15.   What can you do to help break down the fears of others in your neighborhood who may believe differently? 

       16.   What can your “Circle Group” do for others who believe differently which may generate some interest in your group and its message?

by Candace Hampton

TENSION: You can become a Christian in a MOMENT & It will take FOREVER to figure it out

TENSION: You can become a Christian in a MOMENT

& It will take FOREVER to figure it out

Icebreaker: Is there an activity, hobby, skill that you have dedicated considerable time and effort to become excellent at doing?

Introduction:

Ephesians 2:8–10 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The tension is that on one hand, in a moment, we are saved as a free gift from God through faith and not by works we do. But on the other hand, God has good works for us to do for His glory.

The Christian journey is lived in the tension between Salvation and Sanctification. Salvation occurs in the moment when a person commits himself in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel message. Sanctification is the life-long living out of on-going faith in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit that leads to increasing Christlikeness to the glory of God.

     I. Becoming a Christian can happen in a moment; when you believe and receive the Gospel message.

Use these passages to address the following questions: Romans 10:8–13, 1 Peter 1:21, Colossians 1:19–23, Galatians 4:4–7, Hebrews 9:15

1. What is the Gospel message?

2. What is required in accepting the Gospel?

3. What is the result of accepting the Gospel message?

4. How has the Gospel message changed your life?

    II. It’s a lifelong tension between the flesh and the spirit. (spiritual battle)

5. What does it mean to live in the flesh? What does it mean to live in the Spirit? (Proverbs 20:9, Romans 7:15–25, Galatians 5:13–18)

6. Describe the tension between the flesh and the spirit. (Luke 16:13, 1 John 1:8–10, James 3:2)

7. How should we address this tension in our lives? (Luke 9:23, John 15:3–5, Romans 8:1–5, Philippians 3:12–14, Colossians 3:1–11)

     III. Consumers reject commitment, but followers demonstrate it and demand it. (Commitment/Perseverance)

Use these passages to address the following questions: Matthew 22:37, Hebrews 12:1–3, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4, James 1:3–4, Colossians 1:9–11, 1 John 2:19, Hebrew 10:24-25

8. Why are perseverance and commitment important markers of a follower of Christ?

9. How should we share the need to persevere and commit to walk with Christ when sharing the Gospel?

10. What actions or attitudes demonstrate perseverance and commitment in the life of the believer?  What is the result in the life of the believer?

11. What can we do to avoid losing commitment in following Christ? Have there been times when you recommitted yourself to following Christ? What prompted you to make that commitment?

     IV. The disciples’ experience went from “our” kingdom to “Your” Kingdom. (Perspective)

12. What is the Kingdom of God? (Luke 17:20–21, Mark 4:26–32, Acts 17:5–7, Colossians 1:12–14, Revelation 17:14)

13. What does it mean to have a Kingdom focus? (Matthew 6:33, Romans 14:17–18, 2 Thessalonians 1:3–5, 2 Peter 1:5–11)

14. How can we take our focus off building our kingdom and commit to seeking and building the Kingdom of God?

     V. Your story will be defined by how you display sacrificial faith to gain what you cannot see. (good works/action)

15. Biblically the word faith is both belief in Jesus Christ that leads to salvation and on-going trust in the promises of God through Jesus Christ. How are both understandings of faith important for the Christian? (Hebrews 10:22-23, 32–11:2, Romans 4:19–21)

16. What do you think sacrificial faith means? Why is it important for Christians to display this kind of faith? (Matthew 5:14–16, 2 Corinthians 9:13, James 2:20–22, 1 Peter 2:12)

17. How can we demonstrate sacrificial faith to the people and world around us to bring glory to God?

by Candace Hampton

TENSION: The Bible is All True and Everything True About Life is Not in the Bible

TENSION: The Bible is All True and Everything True About Life is Not in the Bible 

Icebreaker: What causes you to stand in awe of God? Being in the mountains? Walking along the seashore? Working in the garden? 

 Introduction: 

The reality that the Bible is all true and everything true about life is not in the Bible, is a tension to be managed.  It is the tension of balancing our understanding and application of God’s “special revelation” and His “general revelation” in our Christian walk. 

 Revelation is the doctrine (set of beliefs) of God making Himself and relevant truths known to mankind. Revelation is of two kinds: general and special. General revelation is available to all men and is communicated through nature, conscience and history. Special revelation is revelation given to particular people, at particular times and comes chiefly through the Bible and Jesus Christ. --Zondervan Topical Bible 1969 

• Special Revelation (Bible and Jesus Christ) 

1. How does God’s Word defend itself as special revelation? (II Timothy 3:16. II Peter 1:19-21) 

       2. What is the purpose of special revelation? (Romans 10:17, II Timothy 3:17) 

       3. Why is God’s special revelation like a sword for spiritual corrections (Hebrews 4:12) and battles (Ephesians 6:17)? 

       4. Why is Jesus Christ the ultimate “special revelation” from God? (John 1:1-4, 18:37) 

       5. What are our responsibilities toward God’s special revelation?  

• General Revelation (Everything True About Life)

       6. How does God’s creation point to His reality as God the divine Creator and Provider? (Acts 14:15-17) 

       7. How would you describe God’s general revelation to a little child? (Psalm 19:1-4, Romans 1:20) 

       8. What does general revelation reveal about God during times of pandemics, natural disasters and/or calamities?  (Isaiah 45:6-8)   

       9. What place does evolution theory have in God’s general revelation?   

       Read Romans 1:18-23 

       10. Why can’t the secular world and some believers accept God as the author of science (general revelation)? (Psalm 14:1) 

       11. How has world philosophy changed from Sir Isaac Newton’s understanding of God and science to today? (Isaac Newton discovered gravity in 1665) 

He (Sir Isaac Newton) has been called "the greatest scientific genius the world has known." Yet he spent less time on science than on theology.   --CHARLES E. HUMMEL - CHRISTIANITY TODAY  

       12. How has God’s general revelation shaped your world view and values?  

• Managing the Tension 

       13. Are special and general revelation on equal terms in identifying God’s will? Explain. 

       14. Why is it that people choose science or the Bible and not both?  To what extent has this caused the decline of the Christian church?  

       15. Anti-biblical is an idea against biblical truth and non-biblical is “True about life, but not in the Bible” - Pastor Dave Flaig. How are we as Christians to discern the difference? 

       16. How can we (individuals, families and churches) better prepare our youth and adults to live in harmony with faith and science/philosophy/art/medicine?   

You don’t have to choose between The Bible and good Science. Both bring truths to the human experience. 

by Candace Hampton

Tension - God Has an Ideal and God Uses Broken People

Tension
God Has an Ideal and God Uses Broken People 

Icebreaker: 

Describe something odd or funny or affirming that has happened to your faith or your family’s faith during our stay-at-home time. 

Introduction:  

           God has set forth ideals in his word, and His mercy is amplified in our weakness. This lesson is about the tension between God’s ideal and His using broken people to advance His purposes. He does indeed have ideals, but He also has great mercies for broken people. We can find hope when we bring Him our hopelessness.   

Pastor Dave opens the sermon with three personal examples from people he has known who attended Sun Grove. In the first illustration we learn that God does indeed love messy people. In the next, we learn about the mercy of God when we do not measure up to his ideal standards. And in the last we learn about a woman who was taught in another church that divorced people were broken, and it was not until she found Sun Grove that she came to realize that God loves and has a plan for broken people. 

• God has an ideal and God uses broken people is not a problem to solve, it is a tension to manage.

1. In your spiritual walk was there a time that you or others had unrealistic ideals or expectations? What made these “unrealistic"? 

                  2. How do you respond when you fall short of those ideals? (Roman 3:10-18)

• God’s ideal shows us our need for Him.  Read Judges 14:1-7 

The story of Samson is a story about us—we try to do things our way. God had an ideal for Samson, but Samson demanded things his own way. He was willing to ignore the wishes of his parents as well as ignore the ideals of God. “She is the right one for me” (v. 3). No matter that she is a foreigner. No matter that I am upsetting my parents. I am the one with needs to be satisfied. I am the only one that matters. Anyone looking objectively at Samson would say he was headed down the wrong road. 

                 3. Samson was a judge, yet in so many ways he showed that he was a sinner in need. How does selfishness lie at the root of almost all sin? 

                 4. In what ways are we like Sampson? 

                 Read Judges 14:8-17 

Samson’s wrong choice for a wife allows her to be forced by her own people to find the answer to his riddle. He seeks to burn their fields in revenge and kills 30 of their countrymen. His excuse?  (Judges 15:11) “I merely did to them what they did to me.”  Samson was broken. In his anger he lost his wife, he lost the riddle, and he sought revenge that led to many deaths. His life was falling apart, directly because of his poor choices. 

                 5. How are we like Samson doing things our way while expecting the blessings of God?  Can you think of an example in your own life?  

                 6. What is broken about the way the Philistines treated Samson? What was broken about Samson’s response? 

                 7. How as Christians should we react to being treated poorly by unbelievers? 

• Broken people try to fill their own emptiness, instead of trusting God’s ideal.  Read Judges 16:1-28 

Samson goes on making poor choices. He finds another godless woman and is sold out again, resulting in his captivity and blindness. In his final hour, Samson humbly seeks God’s compassion. Finally, he has run out of his own choices, and is forced to seek God. 

                 8. How did Samson during his experience with Delilah not trust God? What keeps us from relying on God instead of following our own passions?  

                 9. What caused him to turn to God at the end? What caused you to turn to God?  

• God uses broken people to demonstrate who HE is. Read Romans 5:6-8 

God is not demonstrating your brokenness to the world. He is demonstrating His grace—who He is. We are hopelessly lost but renewed in hope with Christ. 

                From Pastor Dave’s Sermon: Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old, Jacob was a liar, Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid, Samson was a womanizer, Rahab was a prostitute. 

                10. Can you think of someone you know or know of, who was hopelessly caught in his choices but found grace and hope in Christ? Explain briefly. 

                11. How has God used your brokenness to bring wholeness to others or glory to God? (2 Corinthians 1: 3-4) 

                12. How do we start to follow God’s ideal for our life? (see Hebrews 12:1-2 and Romans 12:1-2) 

God has great plans for broken people like you and me who fall short of his ideals. 

by Candace Hampton

Holding Truth In Tension-You Can Know God, And God is a Mystery

HOLDING TRUTH IN TENSION 

YOU CAN KNOW GOD, AND GOD IS A MYSTERY 

Icebreaker:  What is the one thing about the opposite sex that just baffles you, and you wish you understood? 

Introduction: In the sermon introduction, Pastor Dave introduced three common problems that people have struggled with, regarding God and Church.  First, God is all powerful but bad things are allowed to happen in the world. The second, is that some churches may not allow asking questions or expressing doubts.  The third, is an issue of talking about doing good works, but never doing anything for others.  Pastor Dave then talked about holding truths in tension.  This sermon series is about conflicts we experience in truth. Two seemingly contradictory things can both be true and the result is that energy, influence, and truth can be gained, because of that conflict.  God uses tension to help us understand Him in a much bigger way. 

1. Please explain how two completing/contradictory truths can both be true at the same time? 
2. How can we manage seemingly contradictory and competing truths? What are the advantages to keeping these truths in tension vs. favoring one over the other? How can contradictory truths be a source of energy and influence? 
3. Have you ever struggled with the issue of God’s sovereignty and the presence of evil in the world?  What are some events that have caused you to question God’s sovereignty and how did you resolve the tension or not? 
4. Tell your circle about a time that you have been discouraged from asking spiritual questions or expressing doubts or struggles with God.  What false beliefs do you suppose cause people to think this way? Are there questions you still struggle with today? 
5. Though God has created us for good works (Ephesians 2:10), why is it we sometimes fail to begin or complete what God has for us to do?  Are there things that you feel God is prompting you to do, that you have not yet acted on? 
6. Pastor Dave mentioned parents who will not discuss sexuality or science with their children.  How should parents approach these issues? 

•  You can know God, and God is a Mystery. Read John 9:1-7. 

Jesus and the disciples walk by a man who was born blind (John 9:3-7).  The disciples ask Jesus who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?  The belief was that all problems are a result of sin (9:2, 34).  We do not have enough knowledge to attribute problems to specific sin.  Jesus tells the disciples that it happened that the works of God may be displayed in him. 

      7. How do we share the false views of the Pharisees and how does it relate to us today? 

      8. What does our partial understanding of God reveal about God’s way?  (Deuteronomy 29:29, Isaiah 55:8)  

      9. Why does He not fully reveal Himself to us? Why do you think that God wants us to struggle with understanding who He is? How should we respond to the tension? 

• With God expect the unexpected.  Read John 9:8-34 

There was some disagreement about whether or not the man who was not blind, was the same person who had been blind.  The man confirmed that he was the man who had been blind and now he was seeing (John 9:8-12).  The religious leaders called the man a second time and told him to tell the truth.  They (the religious leaders) knew that Jesus was a sinner.  They asked, “How did he open your eyes?”  The man born blind said, “I told you, and you did not listen, why do you want to hear it again?”  The religious leaders said that they knew that God spoke to Moses, but that they did not know where Jesus came from.  The man born blind pointed out that a miracle had been done and they accused Jesus of being a sinner.   

      10. Why did the religious leaders automatically assume that Jesus was a sinner?  What was the issue that they incorrectly understood?  How do we share this same incorrect understanding of God, today? 

      11. What did the religious leaders misunderstand about themselves and their relationship to God? How can we have a similar view of ourselves and God?   

• The song is in the tension. Read John 9:35-41 

Jesus visits the man after he is thrown out from the presence of the religious leaders.  Jesus tells the man who He is, and the man worships Jesus.  Jesus explains that He has come that the blind may see and the seeing may become blind.  Pharisees ask, “Are we blind too?”  Jesus says, “You claim to see, so your guilt remains.”  God uses the blindness of this man to reveal Himself to both the man and the Pharisees, but the Pharisees largely refuse to see. 

      12. What do you think Jesus meant when He said, “…so that the blind may see and those who see will become blind”?  Can you think of ways that we are blind and when we think that we see? 

From Pastor Dave’s Sermon: The Pharisees couldn’t reconcile that love doesn’t mute the law… it amplifies it! You can know God, but God is a mystery. Some of you have put God in a theological box. If God were to work or move outside that box you created; your pride will be the greatest deterrent to giving God glory and recognizing who he is. 

      13. Pastor Dave made the statement that “Love doesn’t mute the law, it amplifies it.”  What does this mean to you?  

      14. What limitations are you putting on God, so that you refuse to see what He is doing in your life? 

Conclusion: We can know God, but there are aspects of God that we will not know, in this life. (Deut. 29:29). We make up / surmise / reason, the parts of God which we do not fully understand.  We can error greatly, as to what God is like, and how He does things.  One of the ways that we can know God is to struggle with questions.  The religious leaders had reached incorrect conclusions that they refused to question.  Consequently, they missed the Messiah, and His purpose in their/our lives.  God reveals Himself in the scriptures.  We can miss who God is when we do not search for Him in His word.  (John 5:39, Mark 12:24, Matthew 22:29, Acts 17:11, 2 Tim 2:15) 

by Candace Hampton