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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