JANUARY 16
TAKE SOME COMMUNITY
God offers us access to a new way of living as a part of a new family. God’s family is loving, kind, grace-giving, and multi-ethnic. We can have healthy friendships and a healthier version of the family we’ve always dreamed about as we learn to do our part to live out who God created us to be. As we celebrate the holiday weekend which honors the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we can discover that his dream for our world was a glimpse of what God promises we can have with His help.
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Who has deeply impacted your life in a way that it was forever changed?
2. What stood out to you from the message?
3. Read Acts 2:42-47. This is a picture of the disciples of Jesus right after receiving the Holy Spirit and beginning to live life as the Church. What do you see this community doing and being? How are you living intentionally in the communities you are in?
4. Read Acts 9:1-19.
- Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say):
• Who is talking? What is the circumstance?
• Any repeated phrases?
• What surprised you?
• What stood out to you?
b.) Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean)
• What questions do you have?
• Summarize the passage in 1-3 sentences – what are the main points?
• What do you learn about the nature and character of God as you read this?
• What do you learn about yourself or the world around you?
c.) Now make some applications (what’s my response)
• How do you respond to what you are reading?
• How could this apply to your life today?
• What is the central truth that you could put into practice from this?
• Who could you share this with for the sake of encouragement?
5. Throughout all of history God has sought to bring together different people in unity and love. We experience the love of God more fully when we are living in community with people who are different from us.
a. Who is the other for you? What lie(s) have you believed that would tell you a certain type of person or people have no room in your life?
b. What step can you take to live in community with whoever the “other” is in your life?
6. The pandemic has created new habits in all of us (some good, many not good).
1. Where have you stepped back from doing the work required to Grow and change?
2. Where are areas in your life that you would like to see growth and change?
3. What is that growth/change going to require?
KEY SCRIPTURE
Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 9:1-19 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
DIGGING DEEPER
1. Do you have a Spiritual Community? If not, take a step to connect with community here at Gateway.
2. Join a Restore class with others who are going after many areas of growth and healing (Boundaries, Divorce Care, Grief Share, Re-engage your Marriage, & Soul Mates).
3. Maybe growing in your faith is what you want to go after this year. Do that in a Community or Life Groups. Or maybe you have unanswered questions about our faith, Join Alpha and ask all your questions.
Life Groups and Community Groups Sign up
4. Maybe you really want to understand the Bible (how does the Old Testament and New Testament fit together and what is God really up to in this world). There is a 9-week class starting March 27th during the 9:15 service on Sunday mornings that will help you understand and relate to the Bible and the God who is always pursuing us.