How significant a role should world missions play in the local church? What sacrifices need to be made if missions is going to be a vital part of the local church’s ministry? What benefits do you think come to a church that is invested in the spread of the Gospel to all nations and peoples? […]

Mark Twain quipped, “Faith is believing what you know ain’t so!” The Skeptics Dictionary defines faith as: “a non-rational belief in some proposition.” How does this view of faith being an irrational belief in something you know isn’t true compare with Thomas’ experience here and with Paul’s comment that, “if Christ has not been raised, […]

What would you do if you were the most powerful man/woman on earth? How would that power impact your relationships? Your lifestyle? Your work? Your goals and plans? For most of us, our greatest moments of glory come when we have achieved or accomplished something tremendous and others recognize and celebrate our “greatness” – be […]

Antioch was the third most influential city of the ancient Roman world (behind Rome and Alexandria) and very culturally and ethnically diverse. What unique challenges confront the church in a multicultural urban setting? What unique opportunities come to the church in a populous urban environment? Is a big city a good place to live as […]

If you asked the average man or woman on the street, “If there is a heaven, what would qualify you to get in?” -how do you think they would respond? How does this story speak to the view that being a “good” person or a “religious” person is enough to merit salvation? As God expands […]

Dr. Luke tells us that the book of Acts is a continuation of all that Jesus began to do and teach in the Gospel of Luke (Acts 1:1). What similarities do you see between Jesus’ activities in the Gospel and his ongoing work through the Apostle Peter here? What does Luke emphasize at the end […]

Are there any people or groups of people that you have a hard time warmly welcoming into the fellowship of the church after they have trusted Christ? Is the church typically a place where people are not judged by their past but graciously accepted and encouraged based on their present relationship with Jesus? Ponder Romans […]

As you look at Saul prior to his conversion, it would seem that he would have been one of the least likely candidates to become a follower of Jesus Christ. What brought about his conversion? Do you think his conversion was the result of a process or simply this one encounter with the risen Christ? […]