Northgate Community Church

Acts 27 & 28: Series Wrap

Individual: Reflect, journal, pray

Think back on your life and process your "fourteen days at sea story." How did God provide? Did you see it at the time? What good came from his protection?

Discussion: Call, facetime, zoom

Share ways you see the Inward, Outward, Upward & Forward relationships illustrated through Acts. (This was the previous sermon series if that language isn't familiar to you.)

Action: Comment Below

Share in the comments below how this study of Acts impacted you. Perhaps a specific story that resonated and how? Where the life of the early church seems hyper-relevant today? How it spoke to your current circumstances?

Acts 23-26: Paul's House Arrest: How is it different than yours?

Individual: Reflect, journal, pray

What can we learn about our time of sheltering in place by reading Paul's testimony through these chapters? What attitude adjustments do you need to make? Which of your attitudes, so far, do you need to celebrate?

Discussion: Call, facetime, zoom

Discuss with someone how you've been challenged and especially how you've grown through your time on "house arrest." I know we're normally framing things more positively, but its too good of a metaphor not to call it what it is!

Action

How do you develop the peace and steadfastness, of Paul when things are completely turned upside down? Where does your joy, contentment, peace come from, esp. in times like these?

God's Call & Our Reasonable Excuses

Individual: Reflect, journal, pray

Have you ever felt like you discerned God's will well and then shared the idea at your own ridicule from others? Were they speaking from their hearts, heads or spirits? How did you receive it?

Discussion: Call, facetime, zoom

Share a time you think you may have settled for something good when God might have had something great for you or others through you. Did you settle because it was too hard, because of fear, because it was unreasonable etc.?

Action

Make an intentional plan for discerning God's will in and for your life. If you already have a plan, even if it is simple, revisit it prayerfully and make necessary adjustments (additions and subtractions)

Gallio & Priscilla, Aquila & Apollos

Individual: Reflect, journal, pray

How do you respond to what you think is heretical? Do you investigate further your own views? Write that person off? Go to third parties about someone else's heresy? Confront them humbly to learn together?

Discussion: Call, facetime, zoom

God encourages us without being asked, it's the business he's in. Share in the feed below some ways that you think God has or is encouraging you that you may have overlooked. Slow down and witness his movement.

Action: Encourage

Without being asked, write a note of encouragement to someone, who may or MAY NOT need it! Not just cause they're "down" or "anxious," but because you love them. Use a pen, and card/paper, no digital nonsense here.

Acts 17:16-34

Individual: Reflect, Journal, Pray

Which of the 5 things Paul tells the Areopagus about God do you most need to be reminded of? (v. 24; 25; 26-27;28-29; 30-31). Revisit the text or video if needed.

Discussion: Call, Facetime, Zoom

Which ideology do you think is more prevalent in yourself and others; Epicureanism, or Stoicism?

Action: Pray to Meet

Sign up for "Bless Every Home" (See Jesse's recent Posts at Northgate's Facebook page).  As you pray for your neighbors, ask God to guide your prayers and divine appointments, relative to their anticipated culture.  This simply lays the groundwork for culturally sensitive interactions.  

Acts 16:1-4

Individual: Reflect, journal, pray

Create a list of essentials and non-essentials for your life. Sure within your faith, but what are areas where you're simply not willing to budge on your beliefs? Do these inhibit the spread of the good news of Christ?

Discussion: Call, facetime, zoom

In a season FULL of imposed self-denial, let's focus a bit. What would you be willing to freely give up in the face of a weaker brother or sister to ensure you don't hinder their access and understanding of Jesus?

Action: Fast

Yes, it seems like we're all fasting everything now, but fasting is more than "non-engagement." Consider fasting something for 12-24 hours this week, and using that time to focus on hearing and speaking to Jesus. (News, Social Media, TV, Coffee, etc.)

Jerusalem Council and Evolution of your participation within the Church.

Individual: Reflect, journal, pray

What part of your life do you think most clearly represents your faith in Christ? Spending, parenting, marriage, leading, working, serving etc.?

Discussion: Call, facetime, zoom

What do you think of one's evolution within the Church?  Is it believe, behave, belong; or is it belong, believe, behave, become?

Action: Prayer

Pray that Jesus might reveal to you ways you're projecting obstacles or hurdles to others who might know Jesus. In what ways are you placing "yokes" on others?

 

Acts 10 & 11

Individual: Reflect, journal, pray

Who might be the people you find "impure" as we read about in Acts 10:2-29--the ones with whom you don't want to associate? How does seeing the Gospel spread, beyond where it "should" & Pete's response here change your outlook.

Discussion: Call, facetime, zoom

Within your faith walk or secular life, have you ever done something expecting criticism for it, but confident that you knew that you knew it was the right thing and that you were supposed to do it? (11:1-18) How did you feel during and after, whether or not the criticism came?

Action: Go for a walk

Walk around your neighborhood, or if you have to get groceries and look at all the people that don't look, like you, don't think, eat like you? This was Peter with Cornelius. Spend some time praying for those people (10:44 & 11:18) to find the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8 & 9

A lot is happening in this new church. Good news spreads from Jerusalem to Samaria (gasp!) and beyond. Oh yeah, and a little guy named Saul shows up. Here are some questions to process the materials.  

Individual: Reflect, journal, pray

Have you ever believed something entirely, and passionately only to realize later you were dead wrong? About a person, "They're great and honest!" only to later be betrayed? or "They're the worst!" to see they humbly served you? If so, what changed your mind? How did your new view change your behavior, life?

Discussion: Call, facetime, zoom

How do you see Jesus at work to redeem this "scattered" world in which we live? Create a list and revisit it when you're anxious, or fearful.

Action: "Stand Up" for someone else

Post below YOUR last week's movement of the Holy Spirit. Where have you seen him moving, his fingerprints, felt his presence. Not someone else's story, yours.

 

 

Acts 6 & 7

Today Pastor Miles covers Acts 6 & 7.  The story of Stephen being called to be a deacon, and the wildly passionate defense he has before the Sanhedrin of his works in Christ's name.  Christianity's first martyr welcomed into the throne room by the man he so defends.  

Please check out our Facebook page for some questions to process this message alone and with friends.