The Persecuted Church (Acts 4)

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SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
The book of Acts underscores that the church of Christ was birthed out of persecution and that the growth of the gospel goes hand-in-hand with persecution. The Kingdom of God moves forward by the words, the works, and the wounds of Christ. This informs us that being a Christian is a dangerous endeavor, one that, at times, involves suffering and persecution. The story in Acts 4 reminds us, however, that persecution also unleashes the Holy Spirit and presents us an opportunity to demonstrate the maturity of our faith , and strengthens us to persevere in the midst of our circumstances.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. Have you ever had to choose between doing what is “right” in the eyes of society versus what you know God is leading you to do? How did you experience that tension? What was your response? Share and discuss
2. What are some things worth standing up for in your community? What are some of the “big” issues in our current society that we as Christians should not bow down to?
3. Paul Tillich, a German-American theologian suggests that our mind is “a factory of idols”; do you agree with this? What may be some of the things that comp for the throne of our lives? If it is not the God of the Bible, then who or what is it?

INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. In 5 minutes or less. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Briefly explain.

2. Read Daniel 3:16-28:
“16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’ 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisors, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." 25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”
• To prepare for group time, please read Daniel 3 in its entirety and summarize it for your group.
• What do you believe led King Nebuchadnezzar to erect the image of gold? What impact would bowing down to this image have had on Shadrach, Meschach, and Abendego?
• What was the threat the King made to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? As Christians today we are not confronted with the same threat as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, or are we? Have you ever been confronted with a similar threat? How did you respond? Explain.
• How did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego respond to the threat of King Nebuchadnezzar? (vv. 16 – 19) What do you suppose gave them the resolve to be so bold in their response? Were they fully confident that they would be delivered? How does their response inform us as Christians when we are uncertain about the future? Have you ever stood up for the Gospel knowing that your life/reputation might be at stake? Share your experience.
• What consequence did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego face for their response? (vv. 19 – 24) What role in the story, if any, does the divine figure that was seen in the fire with them play? Discuss how this may apply to someone in the midst of their fiery trials and/or tribulations? (See 1 Peter 4: 12)
• What does King Nebuchadnezzar say after Shadrach Meshach and Abendego come out of the fire? (vv. 28- 30) Has anyone in the group ever experienced or witnessed a modern day miracle? What feelings or responses from yourself or others did it create? Share your experiences. How did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego’s response to persecution point people to God? How can our responses to stress or persecution help others see God?

3. At the end of the story, the faithfulness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego in the midst of persecution brought honor to them, but most importantly brought glory to God. How does this inform us as Christians when facing persecution?
• For ministry take some intentional time to invite the Holy Spirit into the moment.
• Identify any challenges members of your group may be facing. Pray for one another, being mindful that the Spirit of God may save us in the fire but not always from the fire.
• Pray that God’s Spirit shine through your group that others may see your good works, and glorify the Father in Heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

The Healing Church (Acts 3)

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SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
The field of healing and health are important both economically and personally in contemporary society. Healing, through both divine and human means, has been important in the life of the Church throughout history as a sign of God’s mercy and power. Divine healing is a sort of partnership, powered and determined by God but flowing through availability of His followers in most cases. Divine healing does not rest on our great character or moving prayers. The primary thing we need to add to any divine healing is to explain it as God’s work and to convey that God is reaching out in love to the healed person.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. Describe a project you started by yourself but quickly found that you needed more help to complete.
2. The last time you needed help on a project or with a relationship, whom did you seek? Why did you choose that person?
3. Have you ever been let down by someone you were partnering with in business, a community project, a school project, etc.? Have you ever done the same thing to someone else?


INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. In 5 minutes or less. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Briefly explain.

2. Read John 14:10-20:

“10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
15 "If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

• At the outset of this passage (vv. 10-11), Jesus is explaining how the authority works behind the signs and wonders He performed in His earthly ministry. Did Jesus claim to be the sole mind and authority behind His miracles? Whom did Jesus claim that He partnered with as the source for His miracles?
• If Jesus (who is fully God) modeled and taught that He could do no miracles apart from the will of the Father, what does that mean for our ability to “do miracles”? Can we perform miracles outside of a relationship with God? Can we heal someone “on our own” just because we are Christians?
• Why is it so important to Jesus that He underscore His relationship with the Father in regard to miracles (v. 11)? What does Jesus say His miracles are evidence of? Have you ever thought about the fact that signs and wonders reveal the character of God, that they are literally “His works”? Discuss briefly.
• Note that in verse 12, even as Jesus speaks of a time when He has left His earthly body, His relationship with the Father is still our source of power. What is the ultimate aim of God’s powering and providing miraculous signs and wonders (v. 13)? How do you respond to the clear work of God in your life? Do you recognize it? Does your response bring glory to God, and what do you think that means?
• Why do you think Jesus mentions keeping commandments in a passage primarily about relationships and miracles? Why do you think Jesus equates them with our love for Him? Do you ever feel like obeying God is just a cruel duty? How does seeing obedience as a vibrant, living act of love toward God impact the way you see obedience? How would your attitude toward obeying God change if you grasped that when we obey, we are acting in partnership with God’s power and plan in the world? Discuss.
• What does the word “in” imply throughout the passage (especially note verse 20)? How do the phrases “Because I live, you also will live” (v. 19), and “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (v. 18) help you understand what an “in” relationship with God looks like? What other portions of this passage help you understand the “in” relationship Jesus describes? Have you ever experienced periods of life like Jesus describes in verse 20, where you realize “that I [Jesus] am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you”?

3. Small group leaders: take time to ask if anyone received healing at last weekend’s Come Holy Spirit Conference. If someone in your group did, please have them share. Open it up further and ask for any personal stories of healing in your group. Sharing these stories encourages us to look for what God might be doing and opportunities to be available to partner with His desired work.

In his sermon, Rich said that human availability was a necessary component of healing. In the story or stories people may have shared about healing, who was the person that was available to administer God’s healing? Ask youself?

• Am I available to God? Why or why not? Is our group available to God for healing?
• In what ways could you make yourselves more available to what God is doing in your community?

Please take some time to pray about your answers. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you as a group.

The Spirit-Filled Church (Acts 2:42-47)

Click here to download the Study Guide in PDF
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Due to the numerous requests that we've received from our small group leaders, we will now be offering the sermon-based study guides every week, with the exception of holiday weeks when most small groups will not be meeting. So regardless of whether the Real Community small groups are in session or not, we will continue to offer these studies.

SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
Modern society increasingly wants little to do with the Church. They see churches that either seem relatively the same as most people or are different to the point of being weird. The church is meant to be different, but in very specific, Spirit-directed ways. The Spirit-filled church differs from 21st century pluralistic, individualistic American norms by being devoted to fixed truth, committed to love and fellowship, practicing worship and prayer, depending on God, and by preaching and demonstrating good news.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. What is one of your most embarrassing moments? Have you ever drawn a lot of unwanted attention to yourself in a crowd?
2. As you look back on your life as a Christian, can you remember saying something to a non-Christian regarding God that now makes you cringe?
3. Have you ever encountered a church that was consciously trying to be “different” from other churches? In what ways? Was it helpful or hurtful to the cause of Christ?
4. What draws or has drawn you to particular Christians throughout your life? Were they different than most people, a lot like most people, or a blend of both? In what ways? Discuss.


INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. In 5 minutes or less. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Briefly explain.

2. Read 1 Peter 2:9-12:

“9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

(Consider the four things listed in the first portion of verse 9 as you ask the first three questions below. Why is each significant?)
- What was unique about the priest’s relationship with God in the Old Testament, and what does it mean that we are now all priests?
- Why is it important to balance the fact that we are chosen with the fact that we belong to God? What attitude could result if we only believed in being chosen OR belonging to God, and not both?
- What comes to your mind when you read that Christians are a “holy” nation? Do you think of people who are automatically marked by being morally good, or merely set apart to strive for good works? If believers in Christ are a nation, where does our true citizenship lie? What does it mean, as we are also members of an earthly nation? Share ideas.
- According to the end of verse 9, what is one of the primary purposes of God doing these four things?
- What is the common mark of the citizens of the nation of God (v. 10)? Why is it important to recognize this distinction as either/or – either you have received God’s mercy, or you have not? Is it possible to straddle the fence?
- According to verse 11, why do we avoid sinful desires? What do we hurt if we indulge sinful desires? Based on this verse, what is the most important part of humanity to a citizen of God’s holy, chosen people: the physical things of the moment, or the often unseen things that are everlasting?
- According to verse 12, do pagans understand what is “good” and the will of God to be the same thing? If not, may we face adversity for obeying God? What is the difference between doing things that offend people (but point to the true nature of God) and just being flat-out offensive as you live out Christian principles? If the end of our good deeds is pointing “pagans” to Jesus, how must we perform our good deeds in the world?

3. In his sermon, Rich listed sets of opposing categories where a Spirit-filled church and our current society are at odds. Read the list below out loud, and go before the Lord as a group, asking Him to reveal whether your small group looks more like a Spirit-filled group, or the larger society, in regards to each area. Have the group share what they felt God saying about the nature of your group at present. Where can you improve? This is not an exercise to beat yourself up, but to insist that your group be filled by and surrendered to the Holy Spirit. Take the remainder of the Acts series to pray through and devise appropriate steps to see God make the group what He wants it to be. Plan to answer the same question again at the end of the Acts series in a few months to chart your progress.

I. Over again the pluralism of contemporary society, the Holy Spirit creates a church which is devoted to the apostles’ teaching
II. Over against the individualism of contemporary society, the Holy Spirit creates a church which practiced fellowship
III. Over against the activism of contemporary society, the Holy Spirit creates a church which spent much time in worship and prayer
IV. Over against the techniques of contemporary society, the Holy Spirit creates a church which depended on God
V. Over against the bad news of contemporary society, the Holy Spirit creates a church which preached and demonstrated good news

The Empowered Church (Acts 2:1-41)

Click here to download the Study Guide in PDF
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Due to the numerous requests that we've received from our small group leaders, we will now be offering the sermon-based study guides every week, with the exception of holiday weeks when most small groups will not be meeting. So regardless of whether the Real Community small groups are in session or not, we will continue to offer these studies.

SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
From the very beginning of Christianity the church has been faced with struggles and opposition. Yet, in the book of Acts, we discover that there was a power in the church, a dynamic that could not be resisted. This power was the Holy Spirit, and as people discover the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to star in their own lives and to star in their churches, the church becomes irresistible.

GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.

1. Have you ever felt led to do something, but yet felt unprepared as you do it? Maybe a new task at your work, volunteering, giving up a habit, or ministering to someone in need?
2. Have you ever been led by God to do something and at the same time felt empowered by Him as you do it? How was this experience different from the previous case? Briefly share your experience.
3. How do you respond when God asks you to do something? What if it’s something you’ve never done before? Have your responses to God changed over time? Why or why not?

INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
1. In 5 minutes or less. Briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Briefly explain.

2. Read 1 Kings 18:22-39:

“20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.
22 Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal's prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God."
Then all the people said, "What you say is good."
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire." 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.
Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which had been torn down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood."
34 "Do it again," he said, and they did it again.
"Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!”

• Explain the context of this passage. (1 Kings 18: 1-18) What were the people of Israel going through? (vv. 2, 4) How is this context similar to what the church is facing today?
• What was the question the prophet Elijah was confronting the people with? (v. 21) Do we always conduct ourselves in a manner that shows that we believe in the “real” god? What are some areas of our lives in which we struggle with this? (for example: our finances) How can we trust God in those areas? Briefly share your experience.
• Ahab’s prophets were praying to Baal for a miracle. How was their prayer different from that of Elijah’s? (vv. 28-29, 36-37) Just as they believed that their prayers would be answered because of their performance, in our own lives, have we ever thought that we need to do something in order to earn an answer from God? What are some of the things we try? At the same time, if God is not looking for our “performance”, what is He looking for?
• Elijah was clearly outnumbered (v. 22), however, he is the initiator of the challenge with Baal’s prophets. What does this say to you about his confidence in God? Looking at Elijah’s example, what should our attitude towards struggles and oppositions in our own lives be? Have you ever been faced with a problem so big that you saw no possible way out, yet in the end God came through for you? Briefly share your experience.
• What was the people’s response to God’s fire? (v. 39) Do you believe they had any other option but to fall on their knees and acknowledge God? How has God been irresistible in your life? What is your attitude towards those people around you that seem to resist or even deny God? Briefly share your experience.
• God answers Elijah’s prayer for fire and shows the people that He is God. As a nation, why is this significant for the people of Israel in their current context? Why is it important for us in our current context?

3. In this weekend’s message, Rich states that apart from the Holy Spirit, we Christians have nothing and are nothing and do nothing.

• As an individual, are you committed to seeking more of the Holy Spirit in your life? As a small group? How can we live our lives in the presence of the Holy Spirit?
• As Christians we want to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, however, for what purpose do we want to be empowered? What are some of the goals and dreams of this small group that we would like the Holy Spirit to empower us for?
• Take time to wait on the Holy Spirit and pray for one another, especially for the Holy Spirit to come and fill us.

Invite your group to the “Come Holy Spirit Conference”
Friday, July 9th at 7:30 pm
Saturday, July 10th at 9:00 am
Multipurpose Room at Vineyard Columbus
Free of charge