FirstSF

SERMON REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How do you typically respond when someone points out a problem or blind spot in your life? What makes it difficult for you to listen humbly, and what would it look like to respond with humility and wise action?

2. How can we tell the difference between a legitimate problem that needs to be addressed and opposition that we need to persevere through? Is there something in our lives or our church that God is showing us needs to change or an area where we need to grow?

3. Stephen continued to speak the truth even when doing so brought opposition. What makes speaking the truth about Jesus difficult in our culture today? Where do you personally feel most unsure, hesitant, or intimidated about speaking the truth? How could you grow in confidence and faithfulness in that area?

4. Stephen displayed Christlike character even when he was being falsely accused. What situations tend to bring out the worst in you—whether you’re criticized, misunderstood, frustrated, or treated unfairly? How could greater confidence in Christ help you respond more like Christ in those situations?

SERMON REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. The gospel is good news for people who recognize their need. How can this give us hope as we do gospel ministry? What would it look like to come to Jesus with greater humility and dependence this week?

2. Pride in all its forms will lead us to oppose God and the gospel. What forms of pride do you see most within your own heart? What forms do you see most within our city?

3. The apostles were willing to obey God rather than men. Where are you most tempted to care more about what people think of you than about being faithful to Jesus? What would obeying God rather than people look like in that situation?

4. The apostles kept proclaiming the gospel even in the face of opposition because they had confidence in the gospel. How would greater confidence in the gospel change the way you think about the opposition, rejection, or discouragement you experience as a Christian? How can you draw confidence in the gospel and share the gospel this week?

SERMON REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. The gospel frees us to trust God. What is one area of your life where fear or a desire for control makes it difficult for you to trust God? What would it look like for you to actually trust him in that area?

2. The gospel also frees us to love others. Where do you find yourself choosing your own comfort, wants, or priorities over the needs of other people? What is one practical way you could loosen your grip on what you have in order to love someone else this week?

3. Hypocrisy enslaves us to impress others. Where are you most tempted to care about how other people see you? How might that desire for approval be keeping you from being honest with God and others?

4. One of the dangers of hypocrisy is that it can actually work. We can impress people while our hearts are far from God. Where might you be tempted to settle for the appearance of faithfulness rather than being honest with God? What would it look like to find your identity and satisfaction more fully in Christ?

SERMON REFLECITON QUESTIONS

1. Have you experienced opposition for being a Christian? What prompted that opposition? What was your response in the midst of it?

2. What are you most excited about to share with others? How can you cultivate a love and joy for Jesus that would lead you to that same excitement to share about him?

3. What are some areas of your life that you can point others to where Jesus has transformed you? How can you use that as a point of witness in your life?

4. Which extreme are you more prone to: being silent but doing good, or speaking boldly but lacking in mercy? How can we bring both bold speech and good deeds together in our witness?

5. In what ways might you need to focus on doing good to those around you for your witness? In what ways might you need to focus on speaking up boldly for Jesus in your witness?

6. How can you pray in such a way to sustain your faithfulness in witness? Which areas do you need to pray more for: God’s sovereignty or your boldness? Pray for one another as a group to be comforted by both of these truths

SERMON REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What are you most tempted to build your sense of belonging on besides the gospel? How does remembering what Jesus has done change the way you see yourself and other Christians?

2. The early church devoted themselves to God's Word, prayer, and the Lord's Supper as their love for God was growing. Which of those areas has been most neglected in your life recently, and what is one practical step you could take this week to grow in your love for the Lord?

3. The believers in this passage gave generously to help those in need. Is there a need in our church that God may be calling you to help meet—with your time, encouragement, generosity, or hospitality?

4. A healthy Christian community doesn't stay inward—it draws others toward Christ. Who is one person outside the church that God has placed in your life, and how could your love for them point them to Jesus this week?

SERMON REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What are you most tempted to build your sense of belonging on besides the gospel? How does remembering what Jesus has done change the way you see yourself and other Christians?

2. The early church devoted themselves to God's Word, prayer, and the Lord's Supper as their love for God was growing. Which of those areas has been most neglected in your life recently, and what is one practical step you could take this week to grow in your love for the Lord?

3. The believers in this passage gave generously to help those in need. Is there a need in our church that God may be calling you to help meet—with your time, encouragement, generosity, or hospitality?

4. A healthy Christian community doesn't stay inward—it draws others toward Christ. Who is one person outside the church that God has placed in your life, and how could your love for them point them to Jesus this week?

SERMON REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. The miraculous signs at Pentecost pointed people to the greater work God was doing through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Why is it important that our faith be rooted in the gospel rather than in extraordinary experiences? What helps you keep your focus on Christ?

2. Peter said that because of Jesus, every believer can know God intimately and proclaim Him faithfully through the Holy Spirit. Which of those two realities—knowing God more deeply or making Him known more boldly—do you most need to grow in right now? Why?

3. When the crowd was "cut to the heart," they responded by repenting and trusting in Christ. As you reflect on this passage, is there a specific area where the Holy Spirit is bringing conviction or calling you to greater obedience? What would repentance look like this week?

4. Acts 2 reminds us that the same Spirit who empowered the early church still lives in God's people today. Who has God placed in your life that needs to hear about Jesus? How can your group pray for and encourage you to take a step toward sharing the gospel with them this week?

SERMON REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1) What are some “fields” or inheritances that are tempting to chase after in our culture? How do the promises of God combat these temptations?

2) How does the promise of God’s inheritance change how we live and go about our lives?

3) What are some ways God has made it clear—for you personally, or believers generally—what his plans for us are? What does it look like to remain faithful to those plans?

4) What are your usual responses in seasons of waiting?

5) What are some things you are waiting for clarity from God over? How can you actively pray in your waiting, both for yourself and for the task ahead?

SERMON REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. The gospel announces that Jesus is both the crucified Savior and the risen King. How does believing that our King willingly suffered and died for us change the way we view God, ourselves, and what it means to follow Him?

2. Every believer has been empowered by the Holy Spirit for a purpose. Where do you currently feel inadequate, fearful, or unprepared to share your faith, and how does the promise of the Spirit’s power encourage you?

3. A witness simply tells what they have seen and experienced. If someone asked you this week what Jesus has done in your life, what would you say? What is one opportunity God may be giving you to share that story with someone else?

4. Jesus’ return means that we should live with both urgency and confidence. If you truly lived this week with Christ’s return in view, what priorities, habits, or conversations might change?

SERMON REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. Nehemiah 13 shows how quickly God's people drifted back into old patterns of sin. What is one area of your life where you are most tempted to drift spiritually, and what helps you stay faithful to Christ in that area?

2. At the root of sin is a failure to trust God. When you are tempted to disobey God, what fears, doubts, or desires are you usually trusting more than Him?

3. Nehemiah confronted sin and worked toward reform. How can we lovingly help one another pursue holiness without becoming judgmental or avoiding difficult conversations altogether? Where is God calling you to cleanse, confront, and correct?

4. Our ultimate hope is not in our ability to reform ourselves but in God's redeeming work through Christ. How does the gospel give you hope when you feel discouraged by recurring sins or slow spiritual growth?