Dangerous Word Night, April 29th-May 5th

Acts 6:1-15

Memorize Acts 6:3

-Remind your group that REVO as an organization served over 6,500 hours in 2011!  That's an incredible number considering our size and we only launched in February of that year!  Celebrate that!  Make a big deal about it with the people in your group that served hard last year.

vs. 1-2
-Serving tables was a term used to talk about every aspect of the church that wasn't the direct preaching and teaching of the word.
-there is literally a place for everyone to serve in a local church setting.  If you're not serving, the reason isn't because there isn't anything for you to do.

vs. 5-6
-All of the names are Greek.  The Greeks were an unreached people in the area.  The church found a need, came up with a game plan, and mobilized.  At REVO, our service opportunities are done through our rGroups.  Has your group (or you as an individual) found a need, come up with a game plan to meet it, and mobilized?  If not, spend some time tonight thinking of a way you can serve hard in the next month, and then do it!

-Here's a tough question to ask yourself.  Is what you are doing on a daily basis having any impact on anyone except yourself?  As a believer, you know the mandate that God has called us to, but so many times we give excuses like, "I don't have time to do it, I'm too tired, I just can't this week, blah blah blah."  What are you actually doing that has an eternal impact?  How are you spending your time that is putting other people above yourself?  Do you realize that the local church is a place to serve and volunteer that will accomplish all of those things?  Why would you NOT want to Serve Hard as much as you could?

vs. 7
Why do we make it such a big deal to serve?  Because when you do, you are allowing other people to hear the Gospel message and make a decision for Christ.  When you put it in those words and think about it that way, service becomes more than charity work or simply checking off your good deed for the day.  There is a lot on the line!  Your service is changing lives and people are meeting Jesus as a result of it!

There are 2 ways that Satan will try to thwart the advancement of the Gospel: oppression and persecution.  It happened with Stephen in these verses and also with Jesus.  First, they oppressed the truth with lies, then they persecuted both of them to their deaths.  Remember those 2 tactics as you go forward.  The one we have to deal with the most internally is the oppression.  We are encouraged not to talk about Jesus or our faith.  You can get mocked for volunteering on a Saturday to serve with the church or wake up early on Sunday to serve.  Are you going to let that stop you?


Key Points to Remember/Discuss:
1. A Dangerous Church fights hard to make sure nothing distracts it from the main thing.
2. There are ample opportunities for people to get plugged in so that their time and energy can be spent towards seeing lives changed and making REVO a dangerous church.
3. Everything we do is meant to help accomplish the mission of seeing lives changed by Jesus and create disciples of him.
4. The church has a two-fold process of gathering and scattering.  All of these stories that we have been reading about in Acts are actually accounts of the church scattered.  These are accounts of the church going outside of the walls of the temple and actually being the church.
5. You've got to move past the weekend if you want to follow Jesus.  If we're going to be dangerous, it cannot be just about coming to church on Sunday.