Manage Your Expectations Acts 9:19-43 Rev Ryan Laughlin

                                                     Sermon Discussion Questions


  1) This passage is broken up into two sections. What does Luke tell us is going on with Saul in verses 19-31? What does Luke tell us is going on with Peter in verses 32-43?

  2) We see throughout this passage how God uses His people to care for others in distress. What are some specific ways that you see God using believers to encourage, etc.

3)  Sermon quote: “Christian hope operates with the principle that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, guarantees 100% , His victory over everything in life that threatens us.” How does this truth affect your daily life? 

4) How does the above quote impact the way you approach our current reality of life in the midst of a pandemic? Have there been specific moments you have been encouraged the last few weeks?

5) Sermon quote: “He (Christ) is a light to us in the dark when all other lights go out.” Has this been part of your personal relationship with Christ? What are practical ways you can encourage others and be a light in your life now?

Who Am I? Acts 9:1-19 Rev Ryan Laughlin

                                             Sermon Discussion Questions


1) After reading over Acts 9:1-19, what are the events taking place? There are several questions asked throughout this section. What are the questions being asked? Are they resolved?

2) Jesus tells Saul, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (9:5) Do you find comfort in that statement? Jesus so closely identifies with His people and is personally involved. 


3) Everything Paul knew about himself and the reality of the world changed on that road to Damascus. How did these realities change? What was he like prior to this? (See Acts 8:1)

4) Paul’s conversion is a story of grace. Paul also didn’t “edit” out his past nor did he let the past define him because he knew he belonged to Jesus. As a believer, how would you narrate your story of grace?

5) In God’s grand story do we see Jesus as the author, Redemption as the plot line and the Church as the actors? Can you discuss with the group? Do we recognize that we have a part to play in God’s plan of redemption? 

6) As a believer, your new reality is that you belong to Jesus. Does that impact the way that you see yourself?

“The Case of the Missing Body” John 20:1-10 Rev. Ryan Laughlin

                                             Sermon Discussion Questions


  1) After reading over the passage, what does John want the readers to know? Who was there? What was everyone doing or experiencing?

  2) Why do you think the gospel writers emphasized the importance of a physical body resurrection? How does that truth of a physical resurrection give us hope?

   3) The text says that Peter and and John ran to the tomb after hearing from Mary that it was empty. We must ask ourselves do we live like the tomb is empty today? 

  4) The tomb of Jesus is empty and He has conquered sin and death. Is that a reality in our daily lives? How does that truth inform how we respond to Jesus now and to each other? 

  5) Sermon quote: “Jesus doesn’t return from the dead to shame us but to save us.” Have there been times in your life when that has been difficult to believe? Have there been times in your life when you have seen Jesus reminding you of His love and salvation?

“The King Who Refused to Stay Home” Acts 8 Rev. Ryan Laughlin

                                Sermon Discussion Questions

1) After reading the text, what do we see taking place in verses 1-8? And the latter part of the chapter in verses 26-40. 

2) What scripture was the eunuch reading from as he was visiting with Philip? Why would this particulate passage been significant?

3) Luke took the time in this narrative to pause and tell the readers what in verse 2? Why do you think lamentation is important to acknowledge in times like this and with the situation of persecution in chapter 8. 

4) As believers we can affirm that God is sovereign and that He is still on the throne but also at the same time admit that the world is not as it should be. Do you find this “tension” difficult to name or pinpoint in your own life? 

5) In these “uncertain times” and “unchartered territories” God’s “unchanging truth” is our anchor.  What was the message the disciples were sharing and what is the message of hope we share now?  Have there been times in the recent months that you have found solace in other  hopes, distractions, etc that ultimately don’t offer the “peace that passes understanding.”? What has been helpful in these last few months personally? We can find comfort that Jesus has promised to never leave or forsake us. 

Sermon quote: We are staying at home (during this time) but God is not. God’s kingdom is not shut down.” Do you see evidence of God working in the midst of difficult times in this passage? Have you seen His work in other difficult times in your lives?

“Keeping the Right Distance” Acts 7 Rev. Ryan Laughlin

                             Sermon Discussion Questions


    1) After reading over Acts 7, can you give a brief summary? What are the major themes in Stephen’s speech? What was Stephen being accused of by the religious leaders?

    2) What do we hear in Stephen’s warning as he addresses the religious leaders?

   3) Essentially, the religious leaders in Acts 7 had rejected Jesus and therefore spiritually distancing themselves from God. Are there times in our lives when we have spiritually distanced ourselves from God by rejecting His Word, like the leaders in Acts 7?

  4) Stephen also warned the leaders about replacing the presence of God just as God’s people had done previously throughout redemptive history. We can heed that warning now in our present time. What are ways we have replaced the presence of God in our lives? What/who is the source of our hope in times of uncertainty?

5) Stephen was addressing the very council of leaders that had sentenced Jesus to death weeks or months prior. Yet, he was confident that Jesus was close to him in the midst of persecution. How do we see Jesus being “there” for Stephen in Acts 7:55-56? How do we see Jesus being victorious, sovereign and attentive in this passage?

6) Sermon quote: “As believers we have union with Christ. We don’t have to coerce Him to be close to us. In Christ, we already have a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” How does this truth change the way we live on a daily basis? How does it change the way we interact with each other?

“The Profile of a Servant” Acts 6 Rev Greg Meyer 2/22/20

                                                 Sermon Discussion Questions



1) There was a social need in Acts 6 that was taking place. What was the need and how did the disciples respond to that need?

2) What does a servant look like according to Acts 6? 

3) Quote from the bulletin: “We do a great disservice to the church whenever we refer to the pastorate as ‘the ministry’...All Christians without exception, being followers of Him who came ‘not to be served but to serve,’ are themselves called to ministry, indeed to give their lives in ministry. But the expression, ‘full-time Christian ministry is not to be restricted to church or missionary service, it can also be exercised in government, the media, the professions, business, industry and the home. We need to recover this vision of the wide diversity of ministries to which God calls His people.” John Stott (Reflect on this quote. Where in your life do you feel called to ministry and to serve?) 

4) What is Stephen’s posture like towards the end of chapter 6? Compare Stephen’s posture to the posture of Moses in Exodus 34:29-35? Stephen was facing personal persecution 

5) In times of persecution and suffering, areas of our hearts and lives may be exposed where we aren’t prepared to suffer with Jesus. Have you experienced this ever or recently? What was your response when those places are exposed?

6) In Jesus Christ we see what the life of a servant should look like. He fits the profile of being a servant leader (one who is called by God, equipped by the Lord and suffers for the Lord in service). Does the way we serve mirror the life of Jesus? What is the source of our service? Is out of the gift of God’s grace and mercy? Or our self-sufficient reasons?

“The Danger of Dis-Integration” Acts 5:1-11 Greg Meyer

 


                                                     
                                            Sermon Discussion Questions


1) Read over Acts 5:1-11. What do we see going on in this section?

2) Dishonest deceit was interrupting the church community. How do these verses contrast with what is going on at the end of chapter 4? (4:32-37)

3) We see Ananias and Sapphira living compartmentally. How does living this way effect them, their community and God?

4) Sermon quote: “Divided hearts, create divided lives. This is the opposite of what God wants for us. He has called us to holiness. What does living an integrated life look like?” Discuss with the group. 


5) When we believe lies about God or about ourselves, it has ripple effects on all of our relationships. (Relationship with God, with others and ourselves). Can we name some of those lies that we believe? Do we see God as a harsh ruler? Or a loving/forgiving Father? Are we living out of these fears? 

6)We stand in Jesus, gloriously complete. Through the gift/power of the Holy Spirt in our lives, we are able to live holistically, where every area of our lives are in conformity with the gospel. This includes our whole being: our emotions, our sexuality, our bodies, our minds and our spirits. How does this truth change the way we live daily? Does it change how we live daily? Does this truth encourage you?