Church of The Open Door Sermons

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!

Act(s) Now

Parachute

Acts 1:1-11; 8:1-4

 

The rescue mission: Jesus STARTED it → The Church CONTINUES it.

The Spirit gives power for a purpose; to be a WITNESS.

The Church is God’s plan to reach the world.

It’s God’s Plan A, there’s no Plan B.

God uses trials and persecution to launch the church out to the ends of the earth.

Jesus WILL use His church to finish the work He started.

What’s your parachute? What security is holding you back?

People Meeting Jesus

“Do You Love Me?”

Luke 7:36-50

Love unexpressed is love unknown.

Is your love for Jesus great or small; expressive or passive?

Great love came from a…

Great forgiveness of…

Great sin which prompted…

Great emotion and a…

Great gift in thanks for a…

Great salvation by faith in a…

Great God!

How will you show your love to Jesus?

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Heart of Worship/Other-centered love/Loving God/Loving People

People Meeting Jesus

“Simon Meets Jesus”

Luke 7:36, 39-47

Your perspective is determined by what you see.

 

What Simon saw: The perspective of pride.

Simon focuses on ritual purity rather than loving people.

Simon sees the woman for her reputation, and treats her like a danger to be avoided.

Simon judges Jesus for allowing a sinful woman to wash His feet.

Application: Pride produces a self-focused perspective that limits your ability to love.

What Jesus saw: The perspective of grace.

Jesus saw the condition of Simon’s heart.

Jesus saw two debtors: Both owed a debt they couldn’t pay, and both were in need of God’s unmerited forgiveness.

Jesus saw an opportunity to love: Jesus absorbs the offense and confronts the sin.

Take Home Truth: Only when we see our need for grace will we be free to love like Jesus.

People Meeting Jesus

“Simon Says”

Luke 7:36, 39-47

Simon and Jesus’ pickleball game:

Simon invited          |           Jesus accepted

(false pretense)                   (willing participant)

Simon thought        |           Jesus answered

(condemnation)                  (revelation)

Simon says              |           Jesus presented

(Say it)                                   (a parable)

Simon heard            |           Jesus invited

(debt ledger)                        (debt forgiver)

What is Jesus saying?

“You are seen”

“You are heard”

“You are known”

“You are forgiven”

 

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’s your favorite game that includes the use of a paddle or racquet? Why do you love it or hate it?

Looking at the stories of people meeting Jesus in this series (including the current text), which person have you most identified with and why?

Look at John 3 and do some comparison and contrast between Nicodemus and Simon - the only 2 Pharisees who are recorded and named having an intimate encounter with Jesus. Share what you discover.

Descart once said “I think, therefore I am” meaning “I am thinking, therefore I exist.” How do we allow our thinking, wisdom and prejudices to get in the way of seeing Jesus for who He truly is - just like Simon?

What leads us to thinking that our debt is smaller compared to others? How do we do the same thing to other people around us?

How can we get to a place of proper thinking about our own sin and allow Jesus to speak to our thoughts and even change our thoughts to agree with His insight?

End your time asking Jesus to see your thoughts, expose misconceptions and bring clarity so that we can live rightly before Him - humble, surrendered and full of grace and compassion: just like Him!

Core CHRIST-like Characteristics: Relates with Other-centered love, Living Surrendered

People Meeting Jesus

“How would Jesus describe you?”

Luke 7:31-35

How did Jesus describe the people of His generation?

Childish

Complaining

Self-centered

Hypercritical

How did people criticize John and Jesus?

By disparaging and rejecting them

By despising and slandering them

How is wisdom recognized?

“By their fruit you will recognize them.”

Wisdom comes from being a disciple of Jesus.

How would Jesus describe you?

How do we know how Jesus describes us?

Ask Him to search your heart.

Ask Him to show you your heart.

Ask Him to cleanse your heart.

People Meeting Jesus

“Stumbling Over Jesus”

Luke 7:18-30

Reasons we stumble over Jesus:

Confusion

Wrong expectations

Disappointment

Doubt

Hurt

How to keep from stumbling:

Acknowledge what you’re experiencing.

don’t deny it

don’t stuff it

Direct your questions to people who can help you.

don’t make assumptions

examine your expectations

Keep pursuing Jesus

don’t avoid him

don’t reject him

How Jesus responds to us:

He doesn’t shame or condemn us

He lovingly addresses our concerns

He remains faithful

When everything is being shaken around you, keep pursuing Jesus. When everything else fails, He won’t.