Week 20 - The New Testament

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Fun Small Group Warm Up Question:

What is a life accomplishment that you proud of?

New Testament

Acts 7 ~ Acts 8 ~ Acts 9 ~ Acts 10 ~ Acts 11

1.     If someone asked you to share the Gospel story could you do it?  How would you feel if you were asked to explain the whole Bible in 5 minutes?  How might you better prepare for evangelism opportunities ahead?  Why do you think Stephen focused on Abraham, Joseph, and Moses? (Acts 7:1-50) How might you more effectively communicate Jesus in your setting?

2.     What do you think about Stephen’s bold transition in Acts 7:51-53?  Are we called to a similar boldness?  Why or why not?  What might such boldness sound like today?  What truths would “enrage” the society around us today? What suffering might we endure?

3.     What inspires you from Stephen’s final moments before he is killed? (Acts 7:54-60)

4.     What do you think Christians were thinking and feeling when Saul was “ravaging the church” (Acts 8:3)?  What sort of prayers would they have been praying?  What sort of decisions would they have to make?  How might we need to prepare spiritual for future “ravaging” of Christian churches?  How might we more faithfully pray for modern day churches that are in situations of ongoing “ravaging”?

5.     How many places have you lived before?  What are the challenges and advantages that come with moving?  When the early church was scattered, what did they do? (Acts 8:4-7) What was the result? (Acts 8:8) What is the most important thing we have to offer our communities?

6.     Acts 8:13 describes Simon as having “believed” and been “baptized” but had not yet received the Holy Spirit (Simon’s actions in Acts 8:18-19 and Peter’s rebuke in Acts 8:20-21 seems to evidence that Simon’s faith was not genuine).  What was Simon the magician’s serious sin?  How do people mistakenly try to “earn” or “buy” their salvation today?

7.     In Acts 8:9-25 we encounter a unique situation when early believers did not receive the Holy Spirit until an apostle was present.  This brings about some important questions (with helpful answers linked below) like:

·      “When/how do we receive the Holy Spirit?” www.gotquestions.org/receive-Holy-Spirit.html

·      “Why had the believers in Samaria not received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8)?” www.gotquestions.org/Acts-8-receive-Holy-Spirit.html

·      “What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?” www.gotquestions.org/Spirit-baptism.html

·      “What is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?” www.gotquestions.org/indwelling-of-the-Holy-Spirit.html

8.     What sorts of reasons do people struggle with getting baptized?  In the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) he eagerly desires to be baptized, saying “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (v.38)  How should his example guide us?

9.     What stands out to you from the story of Paul’s conversion and reception into the church? (Acts 9) What does it mean to “walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:31)?

10.  How is Tabitha/Dorcas described (Acts 9:36)?  How do you want your life to be remembered and described?

11.  When Peter shares the Gospel with the Gentiles in Acts 10, he shares the Gospel clearly and concisely (v.36-40).  How would you share the Gospel briefly?  If you only could share one Bible verse, what would you share first?  Is Acts 10:42 our responsibility as well?  How is Acts 10:43 a good summary?

12.  The Apostle Peter is criticized by a group within the church in Acts 11:2-3.  What sorts of issues causes fights and quarrels within churches today?  What is the root cause of fights and quarrels? (see James 4:1-4)

13.  How does Peter respond to their accusations in Acts 11?  What is the result?  Why is Ephesians 4:15 a good reminder before we respond to accusations against us?

14.  How would you describe what it means to be called a “Christian?”  Where were believers first called “Christians”? (Acts 11:26)

15. When a worldwide famine is predicted (Acts 11:27-30), how did the early church respond? What does “every one according to his ability” mean? How should this inspire our own efforts for relief to our brothers and sisters in Christ in the midst of natural or manmade disasters?