Church of The Open Door

Act(s) Now

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

Acts 8:26-40

 

Use the open spaces below to write down a few things what stood out to you personally about the Eunuch and Philip!

The Ethiopian Eunuch

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Philip, the Evangelist

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July Impact Challenge:

Join a group.

Pray for guidance.

Go into the community.

Listen to the Holy Spirit.

Obey the Holy Spirit.

Relax.

Be Respectful.

Reflect on your experience.

Want to share about your experience?  Text STORY to 440.323.4644 or email it to [email protected] ! We’d love to hear from you!

 

 

Core CHRIST-like Characteristics: Connected to God Through the Word & Prayer. Relate with Other-Centered Love. Intentional Evangelism. Spirit-led Servant.

 

Act(s) Now

“The World Turned Upside Down”

Acts 17:1-9

 

A section of Scripture Pericope

 

Jesus is King

 

Reasoned    

 

Explained

 

Proved

 

Proclaimed

 

What is your Custom?

 

Jesus can continue to turn the world upside down through Me

 

Act(s) Now

Closed Minds Close Doors

Acts 17:1-15

 

God calls us

 

our obedience is reflective of our faith

 

As followers of Jesus our desire should be to grow our faith

 

How you treat Gods orders is how you see God

 

It is the responsibility of the Christian to take the gospel to the people

 

What are your orders?

 

What has God asked you to do?

 

Paul reasoned with them he explained and proved

 

Those who listen understand

 

The evidence is all around us

 

The mind moves the heart

 

Has your faith been closed and protected or open and receiving

 

Act(s) Now

“Turning the World Upside Down”

Acts 17:1-15

 

 

Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Act(s) Now

“You Become What You Behold”

Acts 18:1-17

 

High place

Athens = wisdom

Corinth = sex

Taking down the high place is an uphill battle

Low place

A couple’s trial

Paul’s trial

When we are without resources, God will send support at just the right time

No place

New direction

New vision

When we reach a dead end, God’s Word will overshadow our weWhen we are obedient to God’s Word, He will defend us and extend His mission in ways we could not imagine

 

Core CHRIST-like Characteristics: Heart of Worship, Intentional evangelism, Spirit-led servant.akness with His strength

Judgment place

United attack

Divided result

 

 

 

 

 

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Begin Life Group with prayer - invite the Holy Spirit to speak and move among you. Perhaps begin with requests for prayer so that’s not overlooked at the end. It’s important to take the time to fellowship and pray intentionally for one another.

Ice breaker: What is the highest place you have every physically been to? Tell your story - were you afraid?  Would you go again or like to go higher?

Discuss the high places in our lives. What was the high place for your family of origin?  How did that affect you then and now?  How has Jesus transformed your high place?

Paul was all alone and the Lord had already in mind for Priscilla & Aquila to meet him in Corinth and Silas and Timothy were close on their heels. Describe a time in your life when the Lord provided support at just the right time.  Stop and collectively praise God for those moments shared by everyone.

Are any of you frustrated like Paul was with the Jews - with a family member, co-worker or neighbor who you’ve been trying to share Jesus with? Share names if appropriate so that you all can pray for these people specifically at the end and lift up your LG member to be encouraged and strengthened.

It’s all about His mission and His way of using you in your sphere of influence. How can we keep Jesus in His rightful high place and keep from getting distracted from the mission of going, sharing and making disciples? Who has God brought into your life that can help you with this?

Close in prayer giving all we discussed to the Lord together! Amen!

Act(s) Now

The Matters of Evangelism

Acts 17:16-32

(Click here to view special in-sermon video.)

How can we share Christ in a post-Christian culture?

We share Christ when we meet people where they’re at: Contextualizing the message without compromising the message.

Paul slowed down to see people because people

Paul began by building bridges because connection

Paul addressed misconceptions about who God is because truth

Paul challenged them to turn to God because the message

Paul’s method: See people. Build bridges. Know God. Point to Christ.

Take Home Truth: We help people Believe by pointing to the goodness of who God is and what He’s done.

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Living Surrendered, Intentional Evangelism.

Act(s) Now

“Pay Attention to Your Attention”

Acts 16:1-15

Paying attention led Paul to an unlikely disciple

Unlikely background

Unlikely conflict

Unlikely results

Paying attention led Paul in an unexpected direction

Unexpected waiting

Unexpected vision

Unexpected conclusion

Paying attention led Paul to an unbelievable conversion

Unbelievable approach

Unbelievable response

Unbelievable invitation

Our addiction to distraction brings about the likely, expected and believable, but following Jesus with full attention on Him brings us to God’s unlikely, unexpected and unbelievable!

Core CHRIST-like Characteristics: Connected to God through the Word & prayer, intentional evangelism, Spirit-led servant, trustworthy steward of God’s resources.

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Begin Life Group with prayer - invite the Holy Spirit to speak and move among you. Ask the Father to give you all the ability to sit at the feet of Jesus and give Him your full attention.

Ice breaker: Those of you old enough to know, share with the younger what it was like to live without seatbelts, airbags, cell phones and computers. What have we gained and what have we lost?

In this text we see the genesis of Paul & Timothy’s relationship. In Paul’s 2 letters to Timothy, we see the heart of his discipleship towards the end of their journey together. Scan both letters to see Paul’s approach to discipling Timothy - what do you learn?

Share a story from your life, or your family's lives regarding waiting. What was your reaction to a closed door from God? Did it resolve or are you still waiting? What have you learned about yourself and the Lord?

God opened Lydia’s heart to respond to the Good News. What fruit came after her “yes” to Jesus? Acts 16:15; 40.

These three stories illustrate the importance of us keeping our full attention on Jesus and what He is doing and then obediently joining Him in that activity. What needs to change in order for our Lord to have your undivided attention throughout the day?

This week you will receive daily prompts to stoke the fires of attention to the work of God around you. As you obey the Spirit’s leading, share your stories with one another, encourage each other and pray for one another!

Act(s) Now

“When cowards become courageous”

Acts 4:13

A courageous life begins with:

 

 

The courage to believe.

The courage to proclaim.

The courage to be filled.

The courage to act now.

Godly courage is born in the joy that Jesus is alive

God loves to use the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary.

 

 

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

What is one of your favorite comeback stories? What moves you about it?

What did you hear from God as we opened the Word? How did He speak to you?

What specific actions/attitudes did Peter and John display that made the leaders classify them as courageous? How can we also display these in our own walk with Jesus?

How does this dramatic shift in Peter and John encourage you about your own potential for growth and change?

Over and over God uses ordinary men and women to accomplish his purposes. How does that encourage you to step out into faith? What specific area do you feel God is calling you to be bold in?

How can people recognize that you have “been with Jesus”? What changes do you need to make to better reflect His presence in you?

Read 2 Cor. 12:9. Can you share a personal example of how Gods power was made perfect in weakness in your life?

CHRISTlike Characteristic: Spirit-led Servant/Living Surrendered

Moved to Awe

Act(s) Now

 Acts 5:1-11

The move of God challenges our paradigms.

Our sin stands in opposition to God’s move. Ananias and Sapphira…

…tried to build their own kingdom through deceit and hypocrisy.

…followed Satan’s influence, but Ananias’ leadership.

…decided to provoke

 

Paradigm Shift #1: Remember the gravity of sin.

God’s move confronts sin among His people.

God hates sin because God loves

Paradigm Shift #2: From “God is tame” to “God is holy.”

Paradigm Shift #3: From “Why them?” to “Why not me?”

Take Home Truth: God’s move should cause us to live our lives in awe of God’s grace.

Act(s) Now

There is No Such Thing as a Coincidences

Acts 16:16-40

 

NOTES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life Group Questions:

What stood out from the message?

Do you have a story of a time you were in the right place at the right time?

Sometimes life just happens. Ever feel like that? Unpack!

What does it look like to praise God through trials?

How did Paul and Silas handle the trial they faced?

How did God use their circumstance?

Every circumstance is an opportunity for God to change someone’s life. How should that impact our perspective?

How does God's sovereignty play a role in our circumstances?