~~BREATHING 

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OVERVIEW:  Chances are, if you are using these notes in your LifeGroup, someone has been chosen to read the overview out loud while the others follow along in their minds.  I would imagine that, until you read the following sentence, no one in the group has consciously considered how many breaths the reader has taken up to this point…  probably two or three.  If you are in a group of 10, there has been over 100 breaths taken since you all began to read this paragraph.  As you share the air and oxygen in the room you are meeting in, consider what Pastor Kimberlee drew our attention to in the weekend message.  She related our natural breathing, (a function that is critical to our physiological survival), with our spiritual life, how we breathe in the life of God as the means by which we remain alive to the Spirit of Life.

As you begin this study, pray for the Lord to reveal His heart to you as he encourages you to clear your spiritual lungs to receive the life giving oxygen of His Spirit.

DISCUSSION POINT:

ONE:  Breathing in the Spirit brings us life. 
Read John 3:5-8, Genesis 2:7 and Revelation 11:11 and then discuss the following:
      “Pneuma” is the word translated “Spirit” in the New Testament. 

• Knowing that there are no accidents with God, and in light of the scriptures read above, talk about the significance of the literal meaning of this word… it means “Wind” or “Breath”.
• Relate your conversion experience with the Genesis and Revelation account of God breathing life into you and raising you from death to life.  Share your experience with the group.

TWO:  Breathing consistently in the Spirit sustains our life. 
Read Luke 21:34-36 and Ephesians 6:16-18.

• Notice the emphasis Jesus and Paul place on the word “always”.  What are these scriptures saying to us?
• If we stop breathing in the natural, some of the effects are dizziness, turning blue, passing out and, if we are deprived of oxygen long enough, we die.  Relate the same scenario to “breathing” in the Spirit of God.

THREE:  Breathing in the Spirit of Life freely equips us to offer life to others.
Read Isaiah 55:1-3. 

With that scripture in mind, consider Jesus words in Matthew 10:8 when he told the disciples he was sending out to minister: “freely you have received, freely give.” One of the last things that hasn’t been taxed in life is the air we breathe.  Just as we inhale air into our lungs freely, the Father has given us His Spirit freely through Christ.  Relate these reflections to the following thoughts:

• If we find someone who is passed out on the floor, what is one of the first things we do to check their condition?  If they are not breathing, we offer them oxygen from our lungs to theirs through CPR right?  How does this correlate with how we can minister life to others when we find people spiritually unconscious?
• Before we offer our spiritual breath to another to help them, what must we do to be sure what we are offering to them is not toxic?
• What can we do to clear our spiritual lungs so that we are healthy and able to help others?

TAKING ACTION:  In your devotional time this week, prayerfully consider whether you are pursing the breath of God in your life as much as the breath of this natural world. Consider how you can build reminders into your day to inhale the life of God into your soul  throughout the day.

MINISTRY TIME

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 ~~THE STORY CONTINUES… ACT 29 

 OVERVIEW:  We have reached the final message of our summer study in the book of Acts. What an inspiring and challenging time it has been for our church family.  Our teaching pastors have done a great job of bringing us the Word, and an equal appreciation goes out to our LifeGroup leaders who have led their groups through these discussions.  As we enter into our final group discussion on the book of Acts, let’s take a closer look at the five core competencies Pastor Terry talked about last weekend.  He challenged each of us to look at these five areas in our own lives and then develop a personal plan to begin growing in the areas that we are weakest in.

Read Acts 2:42-47 out loud.  As we read this account of the environment in which the early church created for themselves, let’s try and abstain from reading it as history, and rather deluge ourselves in the spirit and heart of this faith community.  Allow yourself to be challenged as we once again explore the passion, worship and surrender that we see in the lives of these forerunners of our faith.

CORE COMPENTENCY #1… Passionate Worship.   Read 2 Samuel 6:12-23

• Read vs 14 again.  Contrast David’s expression with the Great Commandment that tells us to “love the Lord with all our “might.”  How can we apply these thoughts to our own passion in worship?
• David’s wife Michal ridiculed David for worshipping passionately.  Read verse 21 & 22 again and talk about who our only audience should be when we worship.
• Read John 4:23-24.  How does Jesus statement on worshipping in “spirit and truth” apply to our discussion?

CORE COMPENTENCY #2… Committed Fellowship.

• Regular attenders at City of Grace are consistently encouraged to get connected to the church through classes, groups and teams.  In light of the passage we read earlier in, Acts 2:42-47, why do you think our leaders so passionately encourage us to engage the church community this way?  (one clue: read vs 47)

CORE COMPENTENCY #3… Intentional Discipleship.  Read Ephesians 4:11-16

• In this passage, the Apostle Paul emphasizes the purpose of why we come together.  What is the “purpose” that Paul is heavily emphasizing here? 
• The NIV uses the phrase “so that” repeatedly in this passage.  “So that what?”

CORE COMPENTENCY #4… Compassionate Ministry.  Read  Matthew 20:25-28 and 1 Peter 9-11  These passages, (and many others) reveal that to be a disciple of Christ, we must learn to serve others as he taught us by his example. 

• LifeGroups are about “sharing life, growing faith AND serving others”  In light of the scriptures we just read, talk about how your group can be external focused. 
• What are some ways you can “serve others” together as a group.  For assistance with ideas, email Deborah Husein, the director of LifeGroups Serving Opportunities @ soacog@cityofgrace.com

CORE COMPENTENCY #5… Relational Evangelism  Read 1 Peter 3:15

• Share ideas for how you might be more proactive and alert for opportunities to share your faith.  NOTE: Statistics show that most people would go to church if invited.

TAKING ACTION:  Prayerfully take the following challenge that Pastor Terry gave us last weekend when he said:
 “I want to challenge you to honestly and prayerfully assess where you are and then do 4 things. 1) Find Bible verses that relate to the area you need to grow in. 2) Read them weekly. 3) Ask God to increase your desire to grow in that area. 4) Take a step of faith and do it.”

MINISTRY TIME

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 ~~INTO THE RESISTANCE

OVERVIEW: As we have been studying the early church through the book of Acts, one thing is clear to see is that these forerunners of our faith were not strangers to adversity and resistance.  Their faith was tested consistently, until eventually there would be such persecution in Jerusalem that believers would be scattered in every direction.  The spiritual reality we are living in is this: that ever since man rejected God in the Garden of Eden, human beings have been living in a war zone.  In our groups this week, lets take time to identify with this struggle we all face, and talk about how we can follow Jesus through the difficulties and into the promised land of abundant life that he promised each of us.

DISSCUSSION POINTS:

The Struggle: The Villain of humanity is the devil and his forces of wickedness.  

• Read 2 Corinthians 2:11 Why is it important to know the kind of enemy we face.
• Read Ephesians 6:12 and discuss who the real enemy of our soul is.
• Read Ephesians 2:1-3  talk about the “ways of this world” that the Apostle Paul addresses here, and the “ruler of the kingdom of the air.” What is it Paul is telling us about our enemy through these passages? Why is it important to recognize who our enemy is?

The Victory: The Hero, who offers us freedom from bondage and evil, is Jesus Christ our Messiah, the Savior of the world.
While we must recognize that we are in a battle, and understand that our enemy is devious and cunning, it is imperative to know that God is greater, supremely greater, than the devil and all of his dark powers.  Discuss how the following verses are an encouragement for believers and how they bring us hope:

• Read Ephesians 2:4-10 (the 2nd part of what you read above in vs 1-3.  Discuss what Christ has done for us, and how we are victorious through Him.
• Read 1 John 4:1-4 .  Now read verse 4 again and talk about it.
• Read Ephesians 6;10-18 and talk about the importance of not running from the fight, or giving in, but standing strong and taking ground.  How does this passage translate practically in our everyday life?
• James 4:7-8 says:  Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
  James is giving us a battle tactic to use against the enemy.  Have you ever used this tactic when facing opposition from the enemy?  Talk about that.

The Kingdom
The Bible describes an eternal kingdom that we can experience in the here and now.  Jesus said to pray to the Father requesting that “Your kingdom come your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

• Read John 18:33-37  What is this kingdom Jesus is referring to?
• Read Hebrews 11:13-16  This passage is talking about the “world view” the great patriarchs of the faith possessed.  Talk about their perspective and how it helped them to stay focused on what really matters in life.
• Read Matthew 13:44-46  Jesus is describing the kingdom of God as something that is so precious, so valuable, that when we recognize it’s worth, we will place it as the highest importance in our lives.  What might that look like in our 21st century lives? 

TAKING ACTION:  In your devotional time this week, consider the areas of your life where you are struggling.  In honest prayer before God, evaluate whether or not you have allowed Jesus into your struggle and if you are applying  Biblical truth in your resistance to the struggle.

MINISTRY TIME

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 ~~JAIL BREAK

OVERVIEW:  A common misunderstanding that people have about following Jesus is this: “If I  decide to become a Christian then that somehow means that God will be on my side and my circumstances will change for the better and life will become easier.”  The truthful part of that perspective is that God is on our side (he always has been, as he demonstrated by dying for our sins on the cross).  Circumstances, however, may not always change to our liking in the timing we would choose.  Hence, the word “trust.”  While making godly decisions will pay dividends in our lives by alleviating self-inflicted pain, we will still inevitably face difficulties, challenges and be mistreated by others.  In fact, Jesus promised us we would face trials.  AND… He also promised those who call upon his name, that “he would never leave us nor forsake us.” 

Reading in Acts 16, we find the Apostle Paul and Silas serving God with all of their heart.  They have given up everything to serve God, and still their world was turned upside down when they were severely beaten and thrown into prison for their faith.  They could have been mad at God because of the circumstances they found themselves in, but instead of being mad at God, they praised him.  There is so much we can learn from the response of these patriarchs in this situation.  Let’s make that the topic of our LifeGroup discussion this week as we dive deeper into Pastor Terry’s four points from the weekend message.

Read Acts 16:22-34  and discuss the following:

Observation #1: The Power of Partnership.  From the beginning, God designed it such that we would do life together, in relationship with others. 
Read Hebrews 10:22-25. 

• How does this verse reinforce the idea of being connected in the local church?
• How does what the verse teaches us lead us to engage more than merely attending a church service?
• In light of this verse in Hebrews, why do you think the leaders at City of Grace are constantly encouraging people to get involved in “classes, groups or teams”? 

Observation#2: The Power of Focus.  In spite of their overwhelming troubles, Acts 16:25 tells us that… “25Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing”.
Read Philippians 4:13.  Read verse 13 three more times.  Now read Philippians chapter 4 beginning from verse 11 through verse 13.
• The one who was praising God from the prison cell in Acts 16 is the same one who wrote this book to the Philippians.  What do you see in the Apostle Paul’s words in Phil. 4:11-13 that reveals how he can be so “focused” regardless of his circumstances?
• Talk in your groups about how you have experienced the need to keep your focus on Jesus in the midst of difficult circumstances.  What do you do to keep Jesus at the forefront of your mind during the challenges you face in life?  

Observation #3 The Power of Worship.   (Worship includes singing, but in it’s broader sense, worship is putting God first…)  Paul and Silas were in dire straits, and instead of complaining, they turned to praying and singing as their way to “focus” on Jesus in the midst of their circumstances. 
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. 
• What does this passage tell us about having an attitude of “worship?” 
• How does the truth in this passage give us power to trust the Lord, and give us power to resist the temptation to doubt God because of our circumstances?

Observation #4: The Power of your Words.   In the Acts 16 account of Paul’s imprisonment, we see the miraculous work of the Spirit as God’s power was released to transform these horrible circumstances into an entire family getting saved (and who knows how many others the jailer and his family led to Christ?). 
• Paul’s words to this jailor were words of life.  He could have let his cruel captor kill himself, but instead, he spoke “words” that saved his natural life and then spoke “words” that saved his spiritual life.
• What does this tell us about how important it is for us to rise above our circumstances and 1.) be in partnership with believers who will 2.) help us stay focused on Christ so that 3.) we will live lives of prayer and worship so that we will be 4.) ready in season and out of season to speak words of life to those God places in our path.

TAKING ACTION:  In your devotional time this week, prayerfully consider who you are in relationship with that is serves as a faith partner with you in your journey.  If you don’t have someone, consider how you can pursue that.  Call a pastor from the church if you need help.  

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 ~The Gospel of Reconciliation

OVERVIEW:  As Pastor Terry shared with us last week, Acts chapter 10 is of great significance to all Christians, and especially those of us who do not share in the Jewish bloodline.  Acts 10—11 reinforces the theme of the Bible where we see that God’s heart is toward all of humanity, regardless of race, nationality or gender.  And as Jesus came to reconcile us to God, he also came so that we could be reconciled to one another.

“At the very heart of redemption is the message of reconciliation. Jesus came to reconcile those things that had been divided by the Fall of man in the Garden of Eden.”          —Pastor Terry

In our groups this week, let’s discuss the “four things Jesus came to reconcile” that were touched on in last weekend’s service.

ONE: Reconciliation between God and Man.

Read Romans 5:10   What does this passage say about how we were reconciled?  What does it say about how we are saved?
Read Matthew 27:50-51  The curtain in the temple was a barrier between the Holy Place and common sinners.  It was symbolic of the separation between God and sinful man.  Talk about the significance of the temple being torn in two at the moment Jesus died.  Talk about the significance of it being torn from top to bottom instead of from bottom to top.

TWO:  Reconciliation between men and women.
Before the Fall of man, Adam and Eve were co laborers in the garden, attending to God’s business.  The curse brought about separation and rank between male and female. Read Galatians 3:26-29 and talk about how in Christ, the divisiveness between male and female has the potential to be eradicated.

THREE: Reconciliation between sacred and secular. 

Jesus shows us the power of a  seamless life. He did NOT separate His faith from the rest of His life.  He saw  ALL of life as spiritual.  And all people worthy of love.

Read Colossians 3:17 & 22-24.  Notice that the Apostle Paul is not making distinction between what is holy and not holy.  How is his view of the Christian life more holistic? 
Read Revelation 1:4-6.  How does the Apostle John describe us in verse 5, all of us…?  How do these passages enforce the concept that “all life is spiritual?” 

FOUR:  Reconciliation between Jew, Gentile and among all ethnicities.

Read Ephesians 2:13-16  What does this passage say to us about God’s view of humanity. 
Read Revelation 7:9-10  What does this view we have of heaven tell us about God’s heart toward reconciliation among all races?
Read Matthew 28:18-20  What does the Great Commission tell us about God’s heart and love toward all ethnicities?  What can we learn from this and how can we apply it practically in our lives to today?
What do the passages above tell us about the blend of color that should be evident in our church today?

TAKING ACTION:  In your devotional time, read 2 Corinthians 5:17-20.  Then pray about how you can take Pastor Terry up on this challenge he presented to us last week.

“I want to challenge you to make the decision to stop focusing on your own NEEDS, PREFERENCES, and even your IDEA of what church should be. Start focusing on loving others, serving others, reaching others. It’s amazing how this works when you place the needs of others ahead of your own. God will meet your needs in the process of you loving, helping and serving them.”

MINISTRY TIME

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~Living a Transformed Life 

Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship
 
OVERVIEW:  Last week, as we studied Acts chapter 9, we looked at how the Apostle Paul’s life was transformed from being a villain to becoming a hero.  Saul the Pharisee was a horrific villain against the purposes of God before he became the unprecedented champion of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the non-Jewish world.  The Apostle Paul unknowingly became the author of most of the writings that would eventually become the New Testament of the Bible.   Saul / Paul is like the rest of us in that he was a sinner who was changed by the grace and purpose of God.  As he wrote in his epistle to the Romans “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”  As we consider the transformed life of the Apostle Paul, let’s consider the power of God to transform our lives as well.

DISCUSSION POINTS:
Read Acts 9:1-6 & Matthew 12:30.  Think of your own life before you began to follow Jesus.  You may not have been putting Christians in jail, but we all were opposing the cause of Christ before our conversion.  In your groups, as you are comfortable doing so, share how your life was no better than Saul / Paul in that you were in opposition to work of Christ in the earth.

Read Romans 3:22-24   In his letter the Romans.  There are some key points Paul makes in these 3 verses:

• Where does he reveal that our righteousness comes from?  Is it through “doing good works?”
• Who does he reveal is eligible to receive God’s righteousness?  What must we do to receive it?
• Outside of God’s grace through Jesus Christ, are there various levels of “good and bad people”?
• We are “justified” by what?  We are “justified freely” by believing in Christ.  Justification is “just as if we never sinned.”   Why do you think this is so important for a healthy relationship with the Father?

Read Romans 12:1-2

• How does Paul describe worship in this passage?  Is it an act or an ongoing activity?
• Notice the contrast he draws between being conformed and being transformed.  Talk about the difference between the immediate change that takes place when we are “justified” by believing, compared  to the PROCESS of “transformation” that takes place as we walk out and grow in our faith.

Read Hebrews 4:14-16 

• In light of this verse, why is it important for us to be confident in our “justification”?
• In what way do you see this verse speaking to the process of transformation (sanctification)? 

TAKE AWAY:  In your devotional time this week, read Romans 12:1-2 again and prayerfully consider how you can apply what Paul is urging every believer to pursue.

MINSTRY TIME

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 ~~Simon the Sorcerer Acts 8

OVERVIEW:  In this post-modern era in which we live, we find ourselves in a culture  fascinated with a resurgence in the supernatural and paranormal.  Unfortunately, most who are inquisitive are not searching the scriptures for insight and truth, but are rather seeking answers from psychics, astrology and other New Age or occultist methods.  We find this fascination in the paranormal also present in Samaria during the time of the early church.  In the message last week we looked at a sorcerer named Simon.  In your groups, let’s look at this passage again in Acts 8 and discuss what it may mean to us today.

DISCUSSION POINTS:

ONE:  Read Acts 8:9-11.    The people in Acts 8 attributed divine power to the man Simon, and they followed him. 

• Talk about the deception with which the people were led astray.
• Can you think of ways in which people are led astray today by “teachers” claiming to have metaphysical insights and powers? 

TWO:  Read Acts 8:12-13.  Notice that Simon “believed and was baptized.” 

• What does this say about the grace of God? 
• Why was Simon following Phillip?  Was it his hunger for Christ or something else? 
• What does this say to us about what we should be seeking as we follow Christ? 

THREE:  Read Acts 8:14-19. 

• What do you think Simon’s primary reason was for desiring to possess the ability that Peter and John had?

FOUR: Read Acts 8:20-24.  Simon was eager to participate in the ministry he saw Peter and John doing. 
• What reason did Peter give to Simon that disqualified him for ministry?

• What course of action did Peter give Simon to follow for correction?
• What did Peter observe as Simon’s root problem?
• From this scenario in Acts 8, what lessons can we learn regarding our own qualifications for ministry?

 FIVE: Read Matthew 24:23-25.  How is this warning of Jesus relevant to our discussion today?

SIX: Read 1 John 4:1-3.  John is instructing believers to test every spirit.  How does he tell us to test them?

SEVEN:  Read Acts 17-10-11.  How did the Bereans test the spirits?

TAKING ACTION:  In your time of prayer this week, examine your own life (the things you read, watch and discuss, and the people you encounter), and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you areas you might be vulnerable to dark spiritual influences.  Pray for God to give you extra wisdom and discernment, and to guard you as you walk through this world full of spiritual deception.

MINISTRY TIME

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~~JUST ONE SHOT TO GET IT RIGHT 

OVERVIEW:  Last week, for the first time in the series “Heroes and Villains,” we looked at a “non” hero.  In fact, we looked at a pair of them in Ananias and his wife Sapphira.  Peter said of them that they had “let Satan fill their hearts” as they lied to the Apostles, and to the Holy Spirit, about the offering the were bringing.  This is a shocking story, and one in which we are left with as many unanswered questions as ones we have answers for.  There are, however, some powerful lessons that we can take away from the story.

Please read the story again in Acts 5:1-11, and then discuss some of the lessons together that Pastor Terry brought up in his message over the weekend.

LESSON ONE:  Live for the applause of One
One explanation for why Ananias and Sapphira might have done what they did is the trap that we have all fallen into in our lives at one time or another… to seek the recognition and applause of men.

• What are some of the pitfalls of seeking the approval of people? 
• Does the approval of people endure, or are humans prone to turn on each other as soon someone disappoints?
• Read Matthew 6:5-6 and 16-18.  Talk about how God desires us to live out our spirituality.

LESSON TWO:  How you handle money is a heart issue

• Read Matthew 6:19-21.  Talk about the contrast between our earthly treasures and our heavenly ones.  Talk about how and why this test is a gauge to the condition of our heart.
• Read Matthew 19:23-26.  What is the challenge our possessions and money create for us?  What is the antidote to the challenge?

LESSON THREE:  Don’t equate your spirituality with your generosity.

• Read 1 Corinthians 13:3-7.  Does generosity by itself amount to anything eternal? 
• What is it that sanctifies a generous gift?

LESSON FOUR:  Give in secret and God will reward you in public.

• Read Matthew 6:1-3 Talk about scenarios where you have been blessed by someone anonymously.  When you don’t have a person to thank, who does that leave as the only possible recipient of our gratitude? 

LESSON FIVE:  Contentment is developed through generous living and giving

• Read Acts 20: 32-35  As you read this verse, talk about difference between the value system of the kingdom of God verses the kingdom of the world.

TAKE AWAY  In your times of prayer this week, take time to evaluate the generousness of your heart, and you attitude about generosity. Not only with money, but with your life. Bring it before the Lord and ask Him to reveal His heart to you.

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~~BOLDNESS

OVERVIEW:  Remember the beatitude where Jesus said in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”?  It’s easy to get the wrong impression of “meek.”  For us to get a perspective on how boldness accompanies meekness,  think of the children of Israel, how they were humbled in the wilderness on the way to inherit the promised land?  Remember how this meek people finally “inherited” the land.  They inherited the promise by boldly stepping forward and taking possession of the land that God had given to them.  It was their meekness that positioned them to receive an inheritance.  It was their boldness that led them to finally step out and take what was being offered to the meek. 

As we look at the early church in the book of Acts, discuss the following points in your groups about what boldness looks like in our walk of faith.

DISSCUSSION POINTS:

ONE:  Boldness enables you to WALK IN what He has already WORKED OUT:
Read Acts 17:24-28. 

Read verse 26 again.  How does knowing that God has already worked out the times and places we will live give us courage to live lives of boldness, pursuing Him into our future?

Read (Eph 2:10) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
What does boldness have to do with us walking in the good things that God has prepared for us before hand?

TWO:  Boldness enables you to FACE what you can not FIX:
Read Acts 5:40-42 

This account in Chapter 5 was the third time the disciples had been arrested.  Notice in verse 41 why they were rejoicing.  Talk about what this statement says about the foundation of their boldness, as they refused to allow the their circumstances to stop them from shining their light for Christ.

THREE: Boldness enables you to OPERATE in the midst of OPPOSITION:

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus”  —Acts 4:13 

Talk about how the boldness of Peter and John caused people to recognize they had been with Jesus.  How can our boldness cause people recognize that we have been with Jesus?

Read Numbers 13:25-31
 Contrast Caleb and Joshua’s response with the response of the other spies.  Talk about how it often seems that God takes us to a place where our boldness of faith is tested before he grants us what he is leading us into.

TAKING ACTION:  In prayer this week, evaluate what you believe God has been speaking to you about what he desires to do in your life… then ask yourself, am I boldly pursuing it?  Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the courageous steps you need to take in order to take possession of your promised land.
MINISTRY TIME

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~~ TRUE BELIEVERS

  Listen my children and you shall hear’ Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive,
Who remembers that famous day and year…
…You know the rest. In the books you have read, How the British Regulars fired and fled,—
How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall,
Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again
Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load…
Excerpts from “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere”  —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1860

OVERVIEW:  This week we celebrate the American Revolution that resulted in our nations Independence from Great Britain in the summer of 1776.  Many ordinary people found the hero within themselves to stand against the oppressiveness of the Brits.  For example, Paul Revere, who 15 months earlier had made his famous midnight ride to warn the revolutionaries of a strategic impending attack. In the war for independence, common people rose heroically and courageously to resist an overpowering enemy. 

In his message last weekend, Pastor Terry spoke of the greatest revolution in human history.  Jesus started it by laying down his life for others as he ushered in the era promised and prophesied in the Old Testament.  From there, He entrusted the future of His Church to the ordinary people he had chosen to follow him during his ministry.  He had prepared them “for such a time as this.”  These were not extraordinary men, they were common people, like you and me.  Ordinary people, empowered by the Holy Spirit and with an extraordinary faith to “take up their cross and follow” Jesus and to be his disciples.  As was stated in the message this weekend, Jesus was establishing his Kingdom on earth by appointing a “replacement government.”  It was the government of the Kingdom of God, (the Kingdom of Love) and it was led by his chosen disciples and apostles.

“Following Jesus was their emancipation. The Beatitudes were their constitution. Their obedience was their declaration of dependence.” –Pastor Terry

For our discussion this week, let’s look at the life of Stephen in Acts 6-7 and ask ourselves how we can find the hero within and become “revolutionaries” for Christ like the ordinary people of the early church. 

DISCUSSION POINTS:
ONE:  Read Acts 6:1-6.  Notice 1.) how Stephen was equipped: “with faith and the Holy Spirit”  and 2.) his attitude… he was willing to “wait on tables (verse 2).  What does this tell us about the attributes of a revolutionary in God’s Kingdom?

TWO:  Read Acts 6:8-10.  Notice that Stephen was full of grace, power and wisdom, and he spoke with boldness.  Is it possible for each of us to be equipped with the same?  If so, how do we get it?  (think of Pastor Terry’s message about being with Jesus.  He said, “Being with Jesus means allowing Jesus to be with you. If you make room for Him He will go with you wherever life takes you”).  Stephen is not known to have met Jesus personally, but he was known to have been “full of the Holy Spirit.”  How does Stephen’s example encourage disciples today?  How does his life challenge us in our faith?

THREE:  Read Acts 7:54-60.  How does Stephen’s response to his terrifying circumstances demonstrate his intense faith in God?  How does his response remind us of Jesus’ in his time of suffering?  What does it speak to us about counting the cost and being willing to pay the price?

TAKE AWAY:  In your devotional time this week, prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can become a revolutionary for His cause in the earth.  Then, read Chapters 5-7 in the book of Matthew to seek your answers.

MINISTRY TIME