Acts 12
Verse to Memorize: Acts 12:24
-The Church was praying fervently, earnestly, and intensely about Peter's situation in verse 5. The group got to the point where prayer and reliance on God was the only thing they had left. When was the last time that you "prayed earnestly?" What were you praying about? How did you arrive at that desperate point where prayer became so important? What was the result?
-Share an example of how during one of your most vulnerable and helpless moments, God showed up and did something in your life. Does anyone in your group feel like they are in that situation now? Encouraged them, pray for them, walk with them!
-God intervened in Peter's life and in the life of the church many times when the situation was critical and the people were helpless. Why does God do that? Why does he wait that long? Situations like this ensure that he'll get the glory, that we realize our own need for God, and we'll have a great story to tell others about the goodness of God when He's finished.
-Jesus made a promise to Peter in John 21:19 that he would live a long time and enjoy life. No doubt that promise was ringing in Peter's head as he slept peacefully the night before his execution. What are some promises that God has made you that you need to remind yourself of? What are some things in Scripture that God has told his people will happen as a result of their faith in Him? Let's remind ourselves of those things and live our lives believing that God is faithful and those promises will be kept!
-Do you ever pray sometimes, not really expecting anything to happen? BE HONEST! Do you ever get surprised by the fact that God has actually answered a prayer that you have prayed to Him? Why is that? How can you change your prayer life to start anticipating and expecting God to answer you? Are answers to prayers for you more like expecting the results to happen or being surprised by a side-effect if the request is granted?
-The Church prayed for people that were in bondage. Take some time to pray for people that you know who are in bondage. Human trafficking victims, drug addicts, sexual sins, friends that don't know Jesus that you are praying for, etc. Write these people's names out and be diligent to pray for them weekly as a group. The power of the prayers from the church is incredible!
-How is the Word of God growing and prospering in your life?
Group leaders, you can look on the homepage of the REVO Backstage blog and get daily updates from the REVO crew in Cuba this week. Please take some time to pray for this group as they travel and preach the Gospel in communist Cuba.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Dangerous Word Night, June 17th-23rd
Acts 11
What is a "Christian"? Why do people call themselves that?
-Because my parents are
-because I believe in the same moral premises
-my behavior models it
-because I go to a Christian church
-I line up with the theology
Stats say that almost 9/10 Americans consider themselves "Christians."
-If your life was the only Bible that your friends ever read, how many pages would the book be? How closely would it line up with what Scripture says?
Let's look an a list of biblical descriptions of "Christians."
vs. 18-
Repentance of Sins
(1 John 1:9)
-How is repentance a positive? Do you view it as a privilege or something you are forced to do? What is the alternative to repentance?
-Why is repentance a significant characteristic of Christians?
vs. 19-
Facing the reality of problems and persecution
-How can hard times in your life be an incredible testament to your relationship with Jesus?
-Have you ever wasted a conflict or problem in your life? Didn't capitalize, didn't take the opportunity to grow deeper or increase your faith in Jesus?
-What are some problems that you have faced, and how can you help others that may be going through those same problems now? Don't miss an opportunity to help others lean on Jesus during their conflicts.
vs. 20-
Intentional Spiritual Growth
(John 13:35)
-As you continue to follow Jesus, what are you doing to focus on your personal spiritual growth?
-The church broke from their normal routine to reach a different people in a different place under different circumstances. What norms do you need to break in order to get out of your routine in order to reach people for Jesus?
vs. 21-
Personal Relationship with God
-Followers of Jesus have a personal relationship with Jesus. Sounds easy right?
-What's the difference between making a decision to follow Jesus and pursuing a real relationship with him? Which one does your life look like?
vs. 22-24
Remain Faithful
-Barnabas was sent to encourage the church in their faith, to keep trusting and relying on God, and to continue to use their abilities to glorify God. What areas of your life do you need a pep-talk in? What areas do you need encouraged to remain faithful? Help encourage your group members weekly to remain faithful.
vs. 25-26
THE MAIN POINT: How you live indicates what you believe about Jesus.
-What does your life tell others about Jesus? Your finances, your family, your lifestyle, your decisions.
-What does your "evangelistic urgency" tell others about Jesus? If you aren't telling people about Jesus, then it's hard to convince them that he's really as important as you say he is.
-The unchurched looked at the church at Antioch and called them "Christians." If you asked your friends to list 5 words that describe you, would "Christian" be one of them?
A Dangerous Church isn't known for it's numbers or location or pastor. A Dangerous Church is known for having people that look and act like Jesus. Is your rGroup Dangerous?
What is a "Christian"? Why do people call themselves that?
-Because my parents are
-because I believe in the same moral premises
-my behavior models it
-because I go to a Christian church
-I line up with the theology
Stats say that almost 9/10 Americans consider themselves "Christians."
-If your life was the only Bible that your friends ever read, how many pages would the book be? How closely would it line up with what Scripture says?
Let's look an a list of biblical descriptions of "Christians."
vs. 18-
Repentance of Sins
(1 John 1:9)
-How is repentance a positive? Do you view it as a privilege or something you are forced to do? What is the alternative to repentance?
-Why is repentance a significant characteristic of Christians?
vs. 19-
Facing the reality of problems and persecution
-How can hard times in your life be an incredible testament to your relationship with Jesus?
-Have you ever wasted a conflict or problem in your life? Didn't capitalize, didn't take the opportunity to grow deeper or increase your faith in Jesus?
-What are some problems that you have faced, and how can you help others that may be going through those same problems now? Don't miss an opportunity to help others lean on Jesus during their conflicts.
vs. 20-
Intentional Spiritual Growth
(John 13:35)
-As you continue to follow Jesus, what are you doing to focus on your personal spiritual growth?
-The church broke from their normal routine to reach a different people in a different place under different circumstances. What norms do you need to break in order to get out of your routine in order to reach people for Jesus?
vs. 21-
Personal Relationship with God
-Followers of Jesus have a personal relationship with Jesus. Sounds easy right?
-What's the difference between making a decision to follow Jesus and pursuing a real relationship with him? Which one does your life look like?
vs. 22-24
Remain Faithful
-Barnabas was sent to encourage the church in their faith, to keep trusting and relying on God, and to continue to use their abilities to glorify God. What areas of your life do you need a pep-talk in? What areas do you need encouraged to remain faithful? Help encourage your group members weekly to remain faithful.
vs. 25-26
THE MAIN POINT: How you live indicates what you believe about Jesus.
-What does your life tell others about Jesus? Your finances, your family, your lifestyle, your decisions.
-What does your "evangelistic urgency" tell others about Jesus? If you aren't telling people about Jesus, then it's hard to convince them that he's really as important as you say he is.
-The unchurched looked at the church at Antioch and called them "Christians." If you asked your friends to list 5 words that describe you, would "Christian" be one of them?
A Dangerous Church isn't known for it's numbers or location or pastor. A Dangerous Church is known for having people that look and act like Jesus. Is your rGroup Dangerous?
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Dangerous Word Night, June 10th-16th
Acts 10
Intimacy with God
Main Point: The ability to hear God's direction and voice in your life has a direct correlation with your level of intimacy with Him. (Rephrased): 1. To clearly hear the voice of God in your life, you have to have intimacy with Him. 2. The closer you are to God, the easier it is to hear Him speak.
What is intimacy? Close, personal, detailed, knowledgable, loving, deep. Are those words that you would use to describe your relationship with God?
Everyone has questions and wants to find purpose and direction for their life. So how do you find that? Intimacy with God.
#1- You can't fake intimacy with God.
What were the attributes of Cornelius that helped him become intimate with God? (vs. 2)
Ways that prove you can't fake intimacy are your ability to hear God's voice, and how God views your life (giving, relationship, attitude, actions). You can fool men, but you can't fool God in these areas.
Recognizing God's voice is step 1. What is step two, which is just as important and very difficult sometimes? (obedience).
Which better describes you: lack of intimacy, lack of obedience, or lack of trust?
-Intimacy would be not being able to hear or discern God's voice.
-Obedience would be knowing exactly what God has called you to do, but simply not doing it.
-Trust would be knowing disobedience driven by the idea that you don't trust God to take care of you, provide for you, work out the details.
#2- Intimacy is more than just following the rules.
What did the dream mean?
1. We can eat bacon.
2. The segregation of God's people from the rest of the world through circumcision, dietary rules, and societal separation is over.
3. The message of the Gospel and a relationship with Jesus is now open to everyone!
4. We can eat bacon! YAHTZEE!
#3- Intimacy is a continual process.
When you becomes friends with someone, you don't stop working at friendships. BFF rarely means Forever without working hard on it.
#4- Intimacy involves trust.
Is your intimacy level with God deep enough to push you to do things that are uncomfortable, unconventional, and unexplainable?
Think about the weight of this: God has put you at your work, in your neighborhood, with your set of friends to make sure that people know about Jesus. Are you missing a huge opportunity? Is your neighbor Cornelius and you Peter? Please don't be content to sit on the Gospel message. Intimacy with God will force us to realize the importance of telling others about Jesus.
#5- Intimacy doesn't happen overnight, so start pursuing intimacy with God NOW.
Don't wait until something bad happens to pursue God. Don't wait until you are in a jam to begin having the desire of intimacy with God. I know we all run to God when bad things happen, but how many of us run to God when everything is going well? Good health, good job, good money, good relationships. How diligent are you in pursuing God?
This is a game changer for our church. If our intimacy level with God grows deeper and we are obedient to His voice, we'll be an unstoppable force, a Dangerous Church!
Intimacy with God
Main Point: The ability to hear God's direction and voice in your life has a direct correlation with your level of intimacy with Him. (Rephrased): 1. To clearly hear the voice of God in your life, you have to have intimacy with Him. 2. The closer you are to God, the easier it is to hear Him speak.
What is intimacy? Close, personal, detailed, knowledgable, loving, deep. Are those words that you would use to describe your relationship with God?
Everyone has questions and wants to find purpose and direction for their life. So how do you find that? Intimacy with God.
#1- You can't fake intimacy with God.
What were the attributes of Cornelius that helped him become intimate with God? (vs. 2)
Ways that prove you can't fake intimacy are your ability to hear God's voice, and how God views your life (giving, relationship, attitude, actions). You can fool men, but you can't fool God in these areas.
Recognizing God's voice is step 1. What is step two, which is just as important and very difficult sometimes? (obedience).
Which better describes you: lack of intimacy, lack of obedience, or lack of trust?
-Intimacy would be not being able to hear or discern God's voice.
-Obedience would be knowing exactly what God has called you to do, but simply not doing it.
-Trust would be knowing disobedience driven by the idea that you don't trust God to take care of you, provide for you, work out the details.
#2- Intimacy is more than just following the rules.
What did the dream mean?
1. We can eat bacon.
2. The segregation of God's people from the rest of the world through circumcision, dietary rules, and societal separation is over.
3. The message of the Gospel and a relationship with Jesus is now open to everyone!
4. We can eat bacon! YAHTZEE!
#3- Intimacy is a continual process.
When you becomes friends with someone, you don't stop working at friendships. BFF rarely means Forever without working hard on it.
#4- Intimacy involves trust.
Is your intimacy level with God deep enough to push you to do things that are uncomfortable, unconventional, and unexplainable?
Think about the weight of this: God has put you at your work, in your neighborhood, with your set of friends to make sure that people know about Jesus. Are you missing a huge opportunity? Is your neighbor Cornelius and you Peter? Please don't be content to sit on the Gospel message. Intimacy with God will force us to realize the importance of telling others about Jesus.
#5- Intimacy doesn't happen overnight, so start pursuing intimacy with God NOW.
Don't wait until something bad happens to pursue God. Don't wait until you are in a jam to begin having the desire of intimacy with God. I know we all run to God when bad things happen, but how many of us run to God when everything is going well? Good health, good job, good money, good relationships. How diligent are you in pursuing God?
This is a game changer for our church. If our intimacy level with God grows deeper and we are obedient to His voice, we'll be an unstoppable force, a Dangerous Church!
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