Throwback Series, Pt V

This guide is a tool to help you facilitate discussion with your rGroup. Use it to lead your group in discovering, owning, and applying God’s Word. This is a flexible tool, not a rigid task list. Follow the Holy Spirit’s lead as you lead your group. You don’t need to ask every question.

Understanding God’s Word: Know and Understand the Truth

READ Acts 14:19-28

•   What has happened that would make the people of this city want to stone Paul to death? (We know from the preceding Scripture, that it is people who hate them because they have been preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ) 
  
  • Follow-up Question: Why are people so threatened by the gospel, then and now?
• Why was it important for Paul to re-visit the believers of these cities, at great risk to himself? 
  • (Examples: to install elders/pastors in the churches he founded; to make sure that they are all growing as Christians in their faith; to remind them that as Christians, their journey will be filled with all kinds of tribulations; etc.)
• What is one thing this passage has taught you or reminded you about God?

Living and Applying God’s Word: Give a Vision of Life With God

• What are some examples of steps forward that Christians are all called to make? 
  • (Examples: baptism; serving other and the church; sharing the gospel with other; plugging into Christian community, etc.)
• Why is it so important for Christians to always be growing and moving forward?
  • (Examples: According to James, it demonstrates our faith is genuine; God uses our growth to bring other people to saving faith in Jesus; God is glorified and demonstrates his worthiness of praise as we grow; etc.)
• What is the primary means for Christians to know how they are doing on their spiritual journey? How can they tell where they are stagnant and where they are growing?
  • (The primary and most important way for us to determine how we are doing is by letting God reveal that to us through his Word. This is one of the reasons that consistent and intentional time in the Bible is so important for Christians. We wholly or truly rely on ourselves, others, or the world to know where we stand. Only the Holy Spirit speaking to us through Scripture is reliable enough and convicting enough to help us know our need for change.)

Assessing the Heart: Identify and Address Sin

• In what ways have you seen your spiritual progress come to a standstill?
  • What excuses have you used to excuse yourself or make yourself feel better about not growing spiritually?  
  • What are some of the consequences we can face because we've failed to grow spiritually? (Example: How is our effectiveness as Christians affected? Our family affected? Our relationships? Our work? Our health? etc.)
• READ Acts 14:27 = Listen carefully to what they say about God's role in all of their work and progress. How would you describe his role? 
  • In what ways have you been trying to take your next steps and move forward without relying on the power and presence of Jesus Christ? 
  • When are the consequences of trying to grow on your own apart from God? (Example: We become sinfully prideful; we do things out of legalism/moralism; we come to believe we don’t need God, etc.)

      

Turn to God: Confess and Renew Belief in God

• READ John 15:5 = What does Jesus remind us in his conversation with is disciples? 
  • Why do we still need Jesus to live out our lives as Christians? 
• What would it look like for us to invite God to not just be a supporting character in your spiritual progress, but to take the lead role? 
• Spend some time as a group in prayer, confessing to God the ways that we can either be stagnant in our spiritual growth or try to do it all apart from him. Ask that he would renew your desire to grow and give us a dependence on Him as we move forward as Christians.