Church of The Open Door

Act(s) Now

“A Day in the Life”

Acts 16:16-40

A place of prayer

Shouting

“These men are servants of the Most High, telling you the way to be saved”

A marketplace

Attack

“These men are Jews…advocating customs unlawful for us Romans…”

A prison

Adoration

“About midnight…praying and singing…and the other prisoners were listening”

A home

Hope

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” | “Believe in the Lord Jesus”

An exit

Refusal

“No! Let them come themselves and escort us out!”

A church

Encouragement

“They met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them”

“Who are you?”

“I am a son of the Living God, and Jesus is His name!”

- The Insanity of God, Nik Ripken

Core CHRIST-like Characteristics: Loving God, Loving People, Living Surrendered - it’s all here in this account!

 

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Begin Life Group with prayer - invite the Holy Spirit to speak and move among you.

Ice breaker: What is the craziest day you’ve had recently, or ever? Tell the story of your epic “day in the life”

For Paul and Silas, that day was supposed to be the place of prayer then back to the church gathering place at Lydia’s yet the unexpected occurred. How do you deal with what God knows is coming and we see as an interruption?

Have you ever been attacked based on your ethnicity and/or religion? How did you deal with it?  What did you learn?  How does Paul’s instruction to these very believers in Philippi, years later, give us some clues: Philippians 4:4-9

Adoration of our Lord in the dark night of suffering is not something that comes naturally. Neither does a firm stance in the face of opposition. How does one do this?! How was Jesus a model for Paul & Silas and us? (from our daily devos: Mark 14:26, 32-42, 60-62; Luke 22:49-51)

In the jail scene - who was the true captive - the Jewish duo or the jailer? How can we see people differently so that we view their own captivity with compassion and prayer and conversation?

In this story, the jailer “believed” - this is one of our 5 B’s! How did Paul and Silas live out the other B’s in other parts of the story - (Build, Bring, Belong, Believe, Become). Look for “fulfilling the mission” for more on the B’s = https://opendoor.tv/about/

End your time asking Jesus to open your eyes to how you live your days! Ask Him to bring the place of prayer more into your routine, to prepare you for the unexpected moments in the marketplace, to fill you with His Spirit to be a witness of prayer and song in the dark times of seeming bondage and to use you to bring freedom to others through Jesus alone and encourage them in their growth making you a discipler!  That’s a lot, but let’s follow Jesus well and ask so we might receive!

“Staying strong in the struggle”

Acts 16:22-34

Act(s) now series

 

NOTES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTERISTICS: all of them! Can you name them and explain how they all show up?

LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS:

What is a favorite memory of your Father?

What were your first thoughts from the sermon? How did God speak to you as we opened His Word?

 

The Bible is full of stories of Godly men and women facing beatings, torture and imprisonment and they maintain their faith. Why do believers today often still choose to doubt or walk away from God during struggles? What practical steps can we take to maintain our faith when we face injustice or suffering?

 

How can engaging in worship rather than worry help us stay faithful during our own challenging circumstances?

 

Paul and Silas chose to stay even when it seemed like God had provided a way of escape. How can we discern when to wait on God’s timing rather than taking immediate action in difficult situations?

Paul and Silas’ faith led to the jailer and his household being saved. What is a relationship or situation that you may be trying to escape that God is calling you to remain faithful and stay to influence others for the kingdom?

Act(s) Now

Hopeful in the Horrible

Acts 6:1 - 7:60

 

The Horrible emerges from a superficial story (Acts 6:39; 51-53)

The set-up (Acts 6:9-15)

The stoning (Acts 7:54-60)

Hope in the Horrible comes from the ability to see the story behind the story (Acts 6:15;7:55,60)

See the move of God (Acts 7:55)

See the pattern of resistance (Acts 7:51-53)

See yourself in the story (Acts 7:55,56)

Seeing comes from filling

Pursue things that eternally matter

Grace (Acts 6:8)

Wisdom (Acts 6:3)

Power (Acts 6:8)

Faith (Acts 6:5)

Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3,5; 7:55)

Filling begins with transformation

You must be born again (John 3:3)

By Grace (Ephesians 2:8,9)

Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9)

Filling continues with sanctification

Know Christ (Philippians 3:8)

Connect to what the Lord has given to know Him more (Ps 119; Matt 6:9-13; Heb 10:25)

If Christlikeness is your goal, you will not fail

Followers of Christ are filled to persist

The unfortunate declaration (2 Timothy 3:12)

We desire stones that make us known (Acts 6:3)

The reality is that some stones will be thrown

Built to last

Grace - a forgiving heart

Wisdom - connect the dots to see the Savior

Power - courage to speak

Faith - seeing with the spiritual eye

Holy Spirit - enlightened and guided to an ultimate place of safety

Persistence in Christ leads to promotion of Christ

The story is not about Stephen

The story is about Stephen’s Savior

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Icebreaker: What is the headline of your week?

What is one thing that stuck out to you from the sermon?

In what ways are you actively pursuing Christ?

How does the priority of pursuing Christ change our outlook on things that are “Christian”? Ie. church attendance, prayer, reading your Bible

Can you identify an area of your life where persecution has or is most likely to occur? How have you prepared for it?

What was meant by seeing the story behind the story? Why is that important in a believer’s life?

How does persistence in Christ lead to promotion of Christ?

What is one area that Stephen was filled with that you would desire more?

Act(s) Now

To Whom Much Is Given…

Acts 3:1-10

  

God places disciples where there is work to be done.

God’s mission takes place both at the ends of the earth and here and now.

God’s mission takes place both as we gather and as we scatter.

God gives disciples opportunities for the mission to advance. We respond faithfully when we…

notice the people that God has put in our path.

understand what we have in Christ.

trust that God is at work, and that God is able.

direct all the glory to God.

 

Take Home Truth: God gives us Jesus so that He can give us opportunities to share Him with others.

Act(s) Now

God’s “Plan A”

Acts 2:42-47

 

 

What are the ordinary rhythms that God wants to use in the Church to impact the world?

Faithful teaching: Church life is formed by a hunger for God’s Word and a love for Christ.

Deep fellowship: Church life includes hunger for shared life with one another.

 

 

Celebrating communion: Church life is fueled by hunger for God’s presence.

Missional prayer: Church life is dominated by a hunger to see God move.

 

 

Take Home Truth: The Church accomplishes God’s mission only when it learns to cooperate with God’s Spirit.

Acts Now

The Holy Spirit

Poured out then. Still moving now.

Acts 2:1-21

 

NOTES:

 

 

 

 

 

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

How did God speak to you today through His Word? What are your initial thoughts?

What has been your experience with the Holy Spirit (past and present)? Share a story of how He has manifested his presence in your life.

Read 2 Tim 1:7. Over and over Gods Word testifies that the Spirit produces boldness and power in believers. Is this your experience? How is the Spirit strengthening you to share Jesus with others?

Read Romans 8:6. As a group discuss the meaning of this verse. How is the Spirit bringing life and peace to you today? How does this truth help believers understand how to deal with fear and anxiety?

How are you using the gifts the Spirit has given you to serve our church and your community?

How can we cultivate an openness to the Holy Spirit’s leading and presence NOW like the disciples and early church did THEN?

Are you willing to say ‘yes’ to any gift God wants to give you to share Jesus love with others?

*end your time praying for those willing to say yes and for our church to be filled with Spirit-led servants.

CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTERISTIC: Spirit-led servant *but truly ALL of them.

Act(s) Now

Faithful in the Waiting

Acts 1:12-14

If we want to see a move of God, we must be willing to wait on God.

How can we wait faithfully? Waiting faithfully means waiting with…

…active obedience. While waiting, follow what God has already

…one another. While waiting, find support in the community of faith.

…expectant prayer. While waiting, keep your eyes off of yourself and look to God.

Why does God’s plan involve waiting? In waiting, we learn that…

God does not carelessly

God wants us to depend on Him.

God has a purpose for your waiting.

Take Home Truth: God wants us to wait faithfully because He wants us surrendered completely.

 

 

 

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Trustworthy Steward

Act(s) Now

 “Anticipation”

Acts 1:12-24

Embrace anticipation.

Embrace anticipation through obedience.

 

Obedience aligns us with the will and work of God.

Embrace anticipation in community.

We are followers following among followers.

Embrace anticipation through prayer.

 

We pray because God is going to move!

LifeGroup Questions:  Applying the Teaching to Our Life

What stood out from the message?

What’s something you have waited for in anticipation?

Why is obedience important?

What role does obedience play in a Christian saved by grace?

Why is community important?

How has Christian community blessed you? Tell stories!

Why is prayer important?

What does it look like to embrace anticipation through prayer?

What’s a lesson we can learn from the early church?

Act(s) Now

Origin story-The power of prayer

Acts 1:12-15

Notes:

 

 

 

 

CHRISTlike Characteristic: Connected to God Through the in Word and Prayer/Loving God

 

LifeGroup Questions:  Applying the Teaching to Our Lives

Here’s a question…do you really need to discuss John’s sermon or would your time be better used praying together? I’ve listed questions below if needed, but I highly suggest just boldly approaching the throne of grace instead. Love, John.

What origin story (fictional or real) fascinates you and why?

What did the Holy Spirit speak to you from the opening of God’s Word? What are your first thoughts?

Read Matt. 6:5-8 As a group, list the principles Jesus says are the way to pray correctly. Do these truths encourage you or discourage you? Why?

Who is someone in your life whose prayers have impacted you or someone you love in a profound way? Explain your answer.

Read Matt. 6:9-13. Jesus begins by saying “THIS is how you should pray…”. How might this help a person struggling with prayer? How should His prayer shape ours? List some key principles.

Acts 1:14 says the church in Acts “joined together constantly in prayer”. Could this be said of our church NOW? Why or why not? What needs to change in you (don’t focus on others) for our church to become a “house of prayer”?

Who is one person you are praying for, believing that God’s kingdom and rule will come over their life?

Act(s) Now

“Holy Vessels”

Acts of the Apostles

Mary                           mother who prays | unity              Acts 1:12-14 | John 19:25-27

Sapphira                    coconspirator | cut off                                Acts 5:1-11 | Joshua 7

Dorcas                       disciple | renewed                                      Acts 9:36-43 | Luke 8:1-3

Mary of Jerusalem   homeowner | encouragement                Acts 12:6-19| Col 4:10

Rhoda                        named servant | overjoyed faith

(Lydia) | a girl            nameless slave | freedom                        Acts 16:11-40

Damaris                     wisdom seeker | Wisdom follower          Acts 17:16-21; 32-34

1 Corinthians 1:22-24

Priscilla                      businesswoman | teacher | planter       Acts 18:1-4; 18-21; 24-28

Rom. 16:3 | 2 Tim. 4:19

Daughters of             Spirit-filled | gifted and giving                  Acts 21:8-9

Deacon Philip                                                                                   1 Corinthians 14:1-3

Core CHRIST-like Characteristics: Heart of Worship, Relates with Other-centered love, Spirit-filled servant

 

LifeGroup Questions: Applying the Teaching to Our Life

Begin Life Group with prayer - invite the Holy Spirit to speak and move among you.

Ice breaker: who was your favorite TV mom (character on a show you watched growing up) and why?

Which of the women in today’s list do you most relate to and why?

Pick one or two of the women as a group to study together. Read the entire passage which features them and discuss what qualities they display that can apply to you - these are not just stories for women, but men too!

Looking at the list of qualities/fruits on the right side of the notes, which areas do you excel in, which areas are you weak or uncertain?

Read the following CS Lewis Quote - how does this apply to what we see in these women of Acts?

“Now the whole offer which Christianity makes is this: that we can, if we let God have His way, come to share in the life of Christ. If we do, we shall then be sharing a life which was begotten, not made, which always existed and always will exist. Christ is the Son of God. If we share in this kind of life we also shall be sons of God. We shall love the Father as He does and the Holy Ghost will arise in us. He came to this world and became a man in order to spread to other men the kind of life He has — by what I call “good infection.” Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

End your time asking Jesus to reveal some more of these qualities that the Spirit of God alone can bring to the surface through His presence in you!