Make sure to pray together before you start, and invite the Holy Spirit to lead your time together. It’s possible that there are more questions to be answered here then you will have time for tonight. Select the ones that you think will be the most productive for your group.
The Book of Acts – Week 5
Pastor Julian Milotti
Scripture Context:
Read Acts 4:5-31
Today’s Question: What do we do with hard times & tough choices?
Q1: The Lingering Consequence
Pastor Julian began by reminding us that Caiaphas & Annas were directly responsible for the plotting against Jesus (Matthew 26:3-4.) They thought they got away with it. They thought nobody knew, but God knew.
“Even when nobody sees, God sees.”
We can fool people sometimes, but we can never fool God. Our choices & our actions follow us.
Questions: Choose 1 or 2
- How does this truth change our perspective?
- How does it change our plans & desires?
- What is the difference between punishment & discipline?
Q2: Bad things happen
Peter & John experience unfair & unjust things here in chapter 4, they’re under a thumb of these guys, get thrown in prison…and they didn’t deserve to have this happen.
Sometimes the enemy discourages & distracts us with bad stuff when we are making that intentional effort to follow Jesus. He’s feeding us a lie that says “It’s not worth it.”
The point of following Jesus is faithfulness & we receive peace & joy in our eternal mission.
Jesus promises us that we will suffer when we follow Him.
Read John 15:18-27
Read John 16:25-33
What do you hear Jesus telling you about your day-to-day walk with Him?
Q3: God chooses to love us
None of us are perfect, right? Pastor Julian reminded us that we are saved by grace through faith alone. It is the work of God, through the cross, that we are saved.
How have you seen others struggle, or have struggled yourself, through a works-based attitude or religion?
How does this false sense of control reveal itself as slavery?
Q4: Stop disqualifying yourself
Sometimes the enemy tries, or we do it ourself, in reminding ourselves what we’ve done that should keep us from serving God, either in public or at church.
We say things like, “You don’t know what I did before.” or “How can I serve God when I was so imperfect yesterday.”
What does God say to us instead?
1 Corinthians 1:27
Q5: Who should we listen to? God or man?
Read Acts 4:15-22
How do you see this attitude in our culture, this demand that we be silent?
Now read 4:23-31
How has God given you power & authority to be bold for the Gospel?
Read Matthew 28:18-20
How do your “marching orders” from Jesus empower you to move beyond your fears & doubts & into a deeper purpose?
Now take this encouragement & pray for boldness.
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Closing prayer time:
How can you and your group help our friends & neighbors to see a little bit of heaven here in earth this week?
How can you pray for the impact of your group? What can you all do together to impact our community?
