God is Sovereign in Acts and in our lives (03.22)

Check out blog.emmnauelbaptist.com for some specific things to be praying for our church.

What are some ways God’s sovereignty is seen in Acts 1—26?

Here are some specific times:
  Choosing of Matthias

  Bringing people together at Pentecost

  Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5)

  Several different prison stories and how God freed the disciples.
  Saul (Paul) at the stoning of Stephen
  Peter and Cornelius
  Conversion of Lydia (Acts 16)
  Plot to kill Paul foiled (Acts 23:16)

What are some ways God’s sovereignty is seen in Acts 27:1—38?

  Julius' attitude to his prisoner, Paul.
  The wind did not allow us to go farther (27:7)
  Paul's confidence in God  (compared verse 20 with verse 25)

Read Acts 27:39—44 together.  What are some ways God’s sovereignty is made know in these 6 verses?

Be sure to read this passage together.

The sovereignty of God is made known in the contrast statement of verse 43.
The guards were planning to kill the prisoner BUT...
"And so it was that all were brought safely to land"

The five lessons to remember

1. The road is often rough.

2. God often sends protectors

3. Belief in a sovereign God sustains

4. Keep proclaiming the Gospel

5. God’s plan trumps strategy

How have you seen these lessons in your life?

This is a great opportunity to share life together as a group

Take some of these lessons and turn them into questions.

  When has God sent a protector to you.

  How has a belief in a sovereign God sustained you.

  When have you seen God's plan trump strategy.

The essence of Christianity (Soul Care notes for week of 03.15)

Really use this time to help you and your group grow as it relate to tour theme:  Taking the Word to the World.

Here are the Soul Care notes with some really basic helps...

Here is a basic question to answer at the beginning and throughout your meeting time:  What is the essence of Christianity?

I put this quote from the sermon at the bottom of the Soul Care notes.   “The essence of Christianity is what God has done on your behalf through Jesus.”     As you discuss this question remember the word essence, which means "the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character."  

The essence is Christianity is not going to church, reading the Bible, faith in God.  Other groups say their followers need to one or all of these things.   

The essence of Christianity is what God has done for us through Jesus. 

What is the problem with “mere religion?”

"The problem with mere religion (even sincerely held religion) is two-fold...  (1)  Religion can produce self-reliance.  (2)  Self-reliance doesn't point you to grace... It points back to self" 

The problem with "mere religion" is it denies what the essence of Christianity is - What God has done.

Describe the reactions of Festus (v. 24) and Agrippa (v. 28).

Festus:  Loud name calling.Agrippa:  Questioning Paul's motive

What was Paul’s response to their reactions?

Verse 29:  "Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am - except these chains. 

Paul wasn't sure of the timing but he was sure of the source, God, of eternal life.  He also shared the hope he had in Christ.

What lessons can we learn from this passage of scripture?

Paul shares the Gospel with persuasion and invitation but not coercion. 

Our testimony should be less about me and more about God and what He is doing. 

Last week's notes...

Last week's questions may have been a challenge for you to lead through.  So I want to give you a couple of helps especially because this upcoming Sunday is going to have very general questions.

What do each of these points mean?

• Missions begins with the giving of yourself to God.
• Missions involves valuing what is eternal over what is temporary.
• Missions is bearing witness of Jesus Christ to the nations until his return.
• Missions is done by those who trust in the promises of Jesus

These four questions are geared towards the head and heart.

• HEAD because they review truths that are essential to missions.
• HEART because these questions could lead to discussions about what you value and what you trust.

What obedience that pertains to the Gospel message going to the nations is God calling you to this month as we emphasize missions (giving, praying and/or sharing)

• HAND because it asks what you are going to do now!
• Not sure how your discussion on this question went but it could have/should have been focused on ideas/plans to take the Gospel to the World.  

Soul Care Notes for 03/01

This past Sunday Bob Gillispie from Answers in Genesis presented .

Be sure to check out the church blog for more information about things going on during Missions Emphasis Month.

This week's questions are HEAD, HEART & HAND QUESTIONS.

HEAD:  What do you need to remember from Saturday/Sunday’s messages?

HEART:  What do you need to value more as result of hearing

Saturday/Sunday’s messages?

HANDS:  What do you need to do as result of hearing Saturday/Sunday’s messages?

You can use these for your questions and if you need some specific passages to get the conversation going  think about these questions from Sunday's presentations.

What is the difference between the Gospel sermons in Acts 2 and Acts 17?

The audience:  

• Acts 2 - Jews
• Acts 17 - Greeks

The message:  

•   Acts 2 - They know who God is and needed to told who Jesus is.
• Acts 17 - Foundation of who God is needed to be established.

The point for today: 

• Our culture today does not have the Biblical foundation it once had.  We need to know this.  

Be sure to use your prayer time to pray for local evangelism opportunities.