Sermon Discussion/Study ?'s - Feb. 12 Sermon

Ice Breaker: What is your favorite story of a person’s conversion to faith in Jesus Christ?
 
Study:
Acts 16 relays the story of the Gospel message a) leaping from Asia to Europe, b) motivating a group of friends to embrace Jesus’ mission to spread the Gospel, c) radically penetrating blind hearts to reveal the grace of God in Christ.
 
READ Acts 16:1-5.

• What is the benefit of doing ministry alongside others?
• What are the weaknesses of attempting to live for Jesus alone?
• Pause and Pray: Thank God for friends and relatives that “do spiritual life side-by-side with you.” If needed ask God to provide you with more relationships such as this.  

 
READ 16:6-12.

• Using our lives to share the Gospel involves being led by the Holy Spirit. How do we see this reality three times in these verses?
• Are prayers for God to lead you to opportunities to share about Jesus part of your regular prayer life? Why or Why not?
• Pause and Pray: Ask God to give you a heart for those enslaved in spiritual darkness whose lives plead, “Come help us.” Repent for lacking such a heart if needed.

 
READ 16:13-15

• What was the human role in bringing Lydia to salvation?
• What was God’s role (in these verses) in bringing Lydia to salvation?
• How can this description of God’s role increase our eagerness and consistency in sharing the Gospel?
• Pause and Pray: Verbalize your gladness for God’s sovereign role in overcoming our sin nature to bring us to Himself.

 
READ 16:16-24

• Gospel advancement has risks and enemies, and will cost Christ’s faithful servants. List five reasons why Jesus far surpasses any cost to ourselves.
• Pause and Pray: Pray for courage in surpassing the costs, and name out loud the hurdles or costs that most frequently cause you to stumble.

 
READ 16:25-34

• How in the world could Paul and Silas be praying and singing after being harshly beaten (v.23) and locked uncomfortably in prison (v.24)? What must be previously rooted in our hearts to respond this way in trials?
• By what was the jailer so powerfully influenced that he became aware of the greatness of God?
• How can you influence others similarly?
• Pause and Pray: Remind yourself of the reasons you have to be glad enough to sing during any trial.

 
Conclusion
All of God’s people are sent with the live transforming power of the Gospel in the same way that Jesus was sent to us to embody and accomplish the work of the Gospel. (John 20:21)

• How did Jesus finish the work of salvation?
• How is the mission of salvation not yet finished?
• Based on Acts 16's testimonies, what might God do if you seek to go as God has called us?