Mission of God: Acts 2 Discussion Guide
Sermon Date: Aug. 27, 2023
ANNOUNCEMENTS
O,NE Worship (Middle & High School Students) - Sunday August 27th, 5-8pm @ Christ Community Church
City Group Fair - Sunday Aug. 27th, Sept. 3, & Sept. 10, 11:30-noon @ Westview lobby
Land Pledge - Through Sept. 24, land pledges can be dropped off in the Giving Box or online at clb.church under “Give” tab
Women’s Winter Coat Drive - Through Sept. 24, we are donating any-sized women’s winter jackets for New Community women’s ministry! Donations can be dropped off Sunday mornings in the Westview lobby
Evangelism Tool - The Holy Spirit is using CLB’s google reviews to bring people in. Please consider leaving a review, as an evangelistic tool
WHY CITY GROUPS?
The point of a City Group is to help us apply God’s Word to our everyday lives through the power of the Holy Spirit, and to multiply faithful intimates of Jesus who make more disciples of Jesus. So we gather regularly to give ourselves to three basic Christian practices: sharing stories, reading the Bible, and praying.
PRAY
Ask if anyone would like to open up in prayer and ask God to bless your time together
STORY
Break the ice with a testimony..
Who has prepared their 5-7 minute story?
Who can give testimony of God’s goodness right now? (i.e. answered prayer, provision, transformation, etc.)
VISION FOR THIS DISCUSSION
We are taking a Sunday morning to talk about how the mission of God. And how the mission of God in making disciples comes through the people of God forming community! Take a look at Acts 2:36-47 to see how the early Church devoted themselves to this mission and community and how God blessed them. As you read, we’re asking the question, “how can we continue to devote ourselves to the same things?”
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PASSAGE
Use the OIA (Observation, Interpretation, Application) tool to read, study, and use Scripture to grow in knowing and following God.
Read Acts 2:36-47
OBSERVATION
Take time to read the passage and make observations.
Any repeated words, phrases?
Any comparison/contrast between characters, topics, passages/stories?
Specific characters—named or unnamed?
Any connecting words/phrases to bridge verses, stories, or ideas?
(“therefore..”, “however..”, “In the same way..”)
INTERPRETATION
-What?
What do the believers devote themselves to after they repent and believe?
What does this look like today within the church? Does it still feel like we’re still at this level of devotion to one another?
What do you think it was like being in this new community of believers in the early Church? Do you think this is still the culture of the Church today? Are we still devoted to God’s plan of making disciples through Christian community?
-Why?
Why do you think these specific things were important for the believers to devote themselves to?
Why is it important for us as believers to devote ourselves to these things still today? Why is community necessary for good discipleship?
Why do you think it can be difficult for us to devote ourselves to these things?
-So what? (So what does God want me to do about it?)
So what current rhythms are we setting in place to devote ourselves to be a disciple who lives in community? How are we devoting ourselves to make more disciples within community?
In vs. 47, it says God continually added more people to the fellowship of believers as new community was forming.
So what is God calling you to do next in order to help foster community so more people can be added in? May God be calling us to open the doors of our homes in order to invite more people in? What is our response?
So what are we doing to invite others to be a part of our community? What seems to be the biggest obstacle in inviting?
-Are you inviting neighbors, coworkers, or people you meet to Sunday gatherings or to City Group?
-Who is God putting on your heart to invite this week?
APPLICATION
-Inward Application (for myself)
Head—What seem to be the biggest obstacles in our lives when it comes to devoting ourselves to a community of other Christians? How can we avoid, limit, or help each other through those obstacles?
Heart—What have you seen God do through community in your life? Why is community important to you personally?
Hands—What is the next right step God is calling you into in order to foster more community in your life?
-Have you ever considered starting a Huddle? a City Group? Why/why not?
-Outward Application (for others around me)
Head—What biblical counsel would you give to someone who is struggling with devoting themselves to community?
Heart—What questions would you ask someone who struggles with devoting themselves to community?
Hands—Who in your life is God calling you to care for who needs to experience godly community?
PRAYER
Feel free to ask the group for any pressing prayer requests that would be good to pray over together.
Use the TACOS acronym to let the text you studied pray for you:
Thanksgiving - “Father, thank you…”
Adoration - “Father, You are…”
Confession - “Father, I confess…”
Others - “Father, I pray for…”
Self - “Father, please help me…”
*If size or group dynamics seem to hinder prayer, consider dividing into groups of men/women or groups of 3-4 to reduce barriers to praying out loud.