Sermon Guide May 17:  Acts 4

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Go to Your People - In crisis, the apostles immediately went to their community of believers for support and prayer.
2. Prayer Should Be Our First Instinct - They didn't strategize first; they prayed first, acknowledging God's sovereignty.
3. Ground Yourself in Scripture - Knowing God's Word helps us understand what He has and hasn't promised, giving us proper expectations.
4. Ask for Boldness, Not Just Relief - Their prayer wasn't to remove the problem but to give them courage to remain obedient.
5. Boldness Comes from God's Presence - The Holy Spirit empowers us to do what God calls us to do.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Read Acts 4:23-31. Break down the apostles' prayer. What did they acknowledge about God before making their request? Why is this significant?
2. Who are "your people"—the community you turn to in times of crisis? If you don't have this, what steps can you take to find or build this community?
3. Is prayer your first instinct? Be honest—what is typically your first response when facing a problem or crisis? How can you make prayer more instinctual?
4. The apostles prayed for boldness to continue being obedient rather than for God to remove the threat. When have you prayed for relief instead of for strength to remain faithful? What would change if you shifted your prayers?
5. Knowing Scripture helps us understand what God has and hasn't promised. What are some things people commonly expect from God that He hasn't actually promised? What has He promised?
6. What does "living boldly" look like in your everyday life? Consider these areas:
1. At work or school
2. In your neighborhood
3. On social media
4. In your family relationships
5. In your church community
7. Three weapons Satan uses against the church are deception (abandoning truth), seduction (abandoning holiness), and persecution. Which of these do you see most prevalent in today's culture? In your own life?
8. Like the example about needing a fresh reminder of God's Holy Spirit during a stressful mission trip. When have you experienced God's presence in a tangible way during a difficult time?

Practical Applications:

1. Build Your Community: Reach out to someone in the group or church to develop a deeper friendship. Invite someone to coffee or lunch specifically to build relationship. Join a serving team or ministry to connect with others.
2. Scripture Grounding: Memorize one promise from Scripture that brings you comfort or courage. Study one passage that reminds you of God's sovereignty. Write down 3-5 biblical truths you can return to during difficult times.
3. Practice Bold Obedience: Invite a coworker or neighbor to lunch with the intention of building relationship. Share your testimony with someone this week. Take a step of obedience you've been putting off (serving, giving, reconciling a relationship).
4. Prayer Focus: Each day this week, start your prayers by acknowledging God's sovereignty (as creator, as revealed in Scripture, as active in history). Pray specifically for boldness in one area where you've been holding back. Ask God for a fresh reminder of His Holy Spirit's presence

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 Sermon Guide May 24:  Acts 9

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Saul's Confrontation (Acts 9:1-9) God's grace initiates our salvation, not our seeking.
2. Saul's Conversion (Acts 9:10-19) God used an ordinary believer (Ananias) in extraordinary obedience. True conversion leads to immediate life change.
3. Saul's Confession (Acts 9:20-22) The scandal: the least likely person was chosen and transformed

Discussion Questions: 

1. Why do you think Jesus asked Saul, "Why are you persecuting ME?" instead of "Why are you persecuting my followers?" What does this teach us about the relationship between Jesus and His church?
2. What was risky about God's instructions to Ananias? How did Ananias respond, and what can we learn from his example?
3. Where is God asking you to obey? Take a moment to reflect silently, then share if comfortable. What is God calling you to do that makes you uncomfortable or afraid?
4. Some of us have dramatic conversion experiences like Paul, while others are raised in godly homes. Share your own faith journey. How did you come to know Jesus?
5. "What scales need to fall from your eyes?" What areas of spiritual blindness might God be revealing in your life right now? Legalism (trusting in good works)? Prejudice against certain people? Materialism or other distractions? Self-righteousness?
6. The gospel, when it was on its way to you, it was on its way to someone else. Who has God placed in your life that needs to hear about Jesus? What's holding you back from sharing with them?
7. Who is your Saul? Who is someone you think is too far gone for God to save? How does Saul's story challenge that belief?
8. Saul's changed LIFE proved Jesus was the Messiah, not just his words. If someone observed your life this past week without hearing you speak, would they know you follow Jesus? Why or why not?
9. Saul was baptized immediately after regaining his sight—before even eating. If you've been baptized, what did that mean to you? If you haven't been baptized but have accepted Christ, what's holding you back?

Practical Applications:

1. Identify Your "Saul": Write down the name of one person you think is "too far gone" and commit to praying for their salvation daily this week.
2. Obedience Over Comfort: Identify one specific area where God is calling you to obey despite fear. Share it with one person in the group for accountability.
3. Examine Your Trust: List the "good things" you might be trusting in instead of Jesus (career, family, reputation, good works). Confess these and surrender them to Christ.
4. Public Confession: If your faith has been a "private secret," take one step this week to make it public (share your testimony with a friend, post something meaningful about your faith, have a spiritual conversation with a coworker).
5. Pray for Bold Obedience: Commit to praying for each other's specific areas of obedience throughout the week. Pair up with another in your group and check in mid-week about how you're doing with your commitment.

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Sermon Guide

May 31:  Acts 12

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. The kingdom of God doesn't need favorable political conditions. The church has survived and thrived under hostile governments throughout history.
2. God's sovereignty means He reigns even when He doesn't rescue. Sometimes God delivers; sometimes He walks His faithful through fire. Both reveal His sovereign presence.
3. God isn't limited by our lack of faith. Peter was rescued while half-asleep, and the church doubted even as their prayers were answered.
4. Honest doubt is better than pretend faith. Bring God what you actually have—He's not grading your faith performance.
5. The gates of hell will not prevail. This isn't just a promise for the future; it's a reality we can trust today.

Discussion Questions: 

1. When Everything Looks Dark (Acts 12:1-5) The church appears to be in trouble with James executed and Peter imprisoned. When have you felt like the church or your faith community was under threat? How did that feel?
2. The church's response was to pray fervently (verse 5). What does fervent prayer look like practically? What prevents us from praying this way?
3. James and Peter were equally faithful, yet James was executed while Peter was rescued. How do you wrestle with this reality? What comfort (if any) can we find in God's sovereignty when outcomes differ?
4. God Works While We're Unaware (Acts 12:6-11) Peter was completely unaware he was being rescued—he thought he was dreaming. When have you looked back and realized God was working in your life even though you couldn't see it at the time?
5. Your feelings aren't going to stop God from working. Why is this good news? How does this challenge the way we typically think about faith?
6. Peter wasn't quoting Scripture or mustering bold faith—he was half asleep. What does this teach us about our own spiritual performance and God's grace?
7. Faith Mixed with Doubt (Acts 12:12-17) The church prayed for Peter's release but didn't believe Rhoda when she said he was at the door. They even thought it was his ghost! How does this story challenge our assumptions about strong faith?
8. The father in Mark 9 cries, "I believe; help my unbelief!” How can we be more honest with God about our doubts while still maintaining faith?
9. Why do you think Luke included this embarrassing detail about the church's unbelief? What does it teach us about the Bible's honesty?
10. Part 4: God's Kingdom Prevails (Acts 12:18-24) Herod executed the guards, accepted worship as a god, and was struck down by God. What does this part of the story reveal about earthly power versus God's power?
11. Verse 24 concludes: "But the word of God spread and multiplied." Despite persecution, doubt, and tragedy, the church grew. What does this tell us about worrying over cultural or political threats to the church today?

Practical Applications:

1. Spend time in prayer being brutally honest with God about your doubts, fears, and struggles. Write them down if helpful. Practice saying, "I believe; help my unbelief."
2. Journal about a time when you couldn't see God working, but looking back now, you can see His hand clearly. Let this build your faith for current uncertainties.
3. Identify one situation that feels impossible and commit to praying for it daily this week—even if you struggle to believe anything will change.
4. Reach out to someone who has experienced loss or unanswered prayer. Don't offer easy answers—just be present and remind them God hasn't looked away.
5. Ask yourself what "iron gates" seem impossible to me that might be nothing to God? Am I more focused on political/cultural conditions than on God's sovereignty? Where do I need to stop performing faith and start being honest about my doubts?

 Sermon Guide

June 7:  Acts 19

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Ephesus wasn't full of atheists—it was full of people who believed in spiritual power but hadn't found anything worth trusting completely yet.
2. The right question isn't "Is there power?" but "Which power is strongest?"—and Acts 19 gives us the answer: Jesus.
3. Fear (reverent awe) is the appropriate response when we truly see Jesus for who He is—not a tool to use, but the Lord to obey.
4. Many believers have already "joined the party" but still have things tucked away from their old life—habits, comforts, backup plans in case Jesus isn't quite enough.
5. Jesus as Lord means: surrender, obedience, daily dying to self, letting Him reshape our identity, and burning what competes with Him for priority.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Why do you think Luke described Paul's miracles as "extraordinary"? What was God communicating to the Ephesians through these signs?
2. The seven sons of Sceva tried to use Jesus' name without actually knowing Jesus. What's the difference between using Jesus and surrendering to Jesus?
3. We tend to believe one or more of several incorrect views of Jesus: Emergency Contact God (only called in crisis), Vending Machine God (exists to give me what I want), Life Coach God (gives advice I can take or leave), Trophy God (displayed when advantageous),  Granddaddy God (affirms everything, confronts nothing). Which of these have you been most tempted to embrace? Why do you think that particular view is appealing?
4. The believers in Ephesus had already converted but still kept their magic books hidden away. What does it look like to be "in" the church but still holding onto things from your old life?
5. What are you holding on to? Take a moment of silence and ask God to reveal what you might still be holding onto. (You don't have to share if you're not comfortable, but consider what God might be bringing to mind.)
6. Whatever you're unwilling to surrender will eventually compete with Jesus for priority in your life. Have you seen this play out in your own experience or in someone else's?
7. What's the difference between calling out to God in crisis (which is good) and only having a crisis-based relationship with Jesus? How can we tell the difference in our own lives?
8. The Ephesians burned books worth 50,000 pieces of silver (roughly equivalent to 50,000 days' wages). What does this tell us about the cost of true discipleship? What might God be asking you to "burn" that has significant value to you?
9. Jesus being "Lord" means surrender isn't something we did once—it's something we do every day. What would daily surrender look like practically in your life this week?
10. Does your life show that the answer is yes before God even asks the question? What area of your life have you been negotiating with God about instead of simply saying yes?

Practical Applications:

1. Set aside 30 minutes this week to prayerfully ask God: "What am I still holding onto that competes with You?” Write down what comes to mind—be honest. Decide on one concrete step to "burn" that thing (delete the app, have the conversation, confess to someone, etc.)
2. Each morning this week, before checking your phone, pray: "Jesus, You are Lord. My answer is yes to whatever You ask today.” Journal each evening about where you said "yes" and where you struggled to surrender
3. Identify one specific area where you've been treating Jesus like a vending machine, life coach, or emergency contact. Confess this to someone in your small group or a close friend and ask them to check in with you Replace that pattern with a new practice (if you only pray in crisis, start a daily prayer habit; if you skip uncomfortable passages, commit to reading them first)
4. Go through your calendar, bank statement, and screen time report. Ask: "If someone only knew me by these three things, would they know Jesus is Lord of my life?” Make one adjustment that better reflects Jesus' lordship.