SCRIPTURE: Acts 8

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS MESSAGE HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Why do you think people often find it easier to resist rather than to surrender? Reflect on a situation in your life where you've resisted change. What might have happened if you had chosen to surrender instead?

2. Look at Philip’s stories in Acts 8: what do you see in his behavior (towards others, towards the Holy Spirit) that is worth imitating? What elements of discipline do you see in Philip?

3. What are some barriers that prevent us from being inclusive like the early Christians were with the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch? 

4. Consider any barriers you may have in your own relationships. How can you work to break down those barriers and be more inclusive?

5. What does it mean to truly surrender to the Holy Spirit in our daily lives?

6. How can we develop the discipline of listening to God in our busy lives? What specific practices can you put in place this week to help you listen for God's guidance more effectively?

SCRIPTURE: Acts 6-7, Philippians 2:10-11, & 2 Peter 3:8-9

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What does it mean for us to be “holy houses for God’s burning Spirit” as mentioned in the sermon? How can we become more aware of this in our daily lives?

2. Why do you think Stephen's defense emphasized the mobility of God's presence instead of focusing on the physical Temple?

3. In what ways can you worship God outside of church or formal settings, acknowledging His presence in your life?

4. Reflecting on Stephen’s statement, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them,” what can we learn about forgiveness in difficult situations?

5. In what ways can we combat our “stiff-necked” tendencies to focus on defending institutions or traditions at the cost of nurturing our relationship with God?

6. How might the idea that “death is not the end,” but rather “sleep,” reshape our understanding of the hope we have in Christ? What about the hope we have for others, or for the ultimate goal of God’s bigger Story?

SCRIPTURE: Acts 2-3

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What does it mean to have 'all things in common' in the context of a church community?

2. Can you think of a time when you shared something valuable with someone else? How did that experience affect your relationship with that person?

3. In Acts 3, Peter and John healed a man and then called for repentance. Why is this two-step process significant?

4. How can you approach helping others while also encouraging them to think about their relationship with God?

5. How do we balance the need for community with the challenge of including those who might not share our beliefs or values?

6. Are there people in your life whom you find difficult to accept? What steps might you take to open your heart to them?

7. How can the Holy Spirit help us overcome our fears about sharing our possessions or time (or grace!) with others?

8. What responsibilities do you have as a member of the family of God?

SCRIPTURE: Acts 2

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What are the significance and implications of the Holy Spirit arriving at Pentecost, especially in relation to the previous events at the Tower of Babel?

2. How do you think the way we communicate today shapes our unity or division in communities and relationships?

3. How does Peter's transformation from denying Jesus to boldly preaching at Pentecost inspire you in your own personal growth?

4. Can you think of a time when you overcame a difficult situation or learned from a mistake? How did that change you?

5. How does the concept of a universal message reflect the importance of inclusivity in faith communities?

6. How can you foster inclusivity in your own environment? How?

SCRIPTURE: Acts 1:1-9 & 1 Corinthians 3:9

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS MESSAGE HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Why do you think the disciples were focused on a political kingdom instead of understanding Jesus's mission to address sin?

2. How do you think our society today sometimes falls into similar traps of seeking political or material solutions rather than addressing deeper spiritual needs?

3. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells the disciples they will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. What does being a witness to Jesus mean to you?

4. What role do you think the Holy Spirit plays in helping us understand God’s love and guidance?

5. Have you ever felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? How did that influence your decisions or relationships?

6. Kenny defined “caretaking” as “curiosity towards what is placed in your care and the kind pursuit of its flourishing.” What do you think of this definition? Have you ever been a “caretaker”? 

7. To be effective caretakers, we must listen, trust, and nurture our relationships with God and others. Which of these is easiest for you? Which is most difficult? How can you take steps towards growth this week?

SCRIPTURE: John 4:1-41

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to engage in a conversation with the Samaritan woman, despite the cultural tensions between Jews and Samaritans?

2. Have you ever felt hesitant to talk to someone because of differences in background or opinions? How can you overcome those feelings to build a connection?

3. How can having an “unhurried conversation” help you see a person more fully? Can you find an echo of your thoughts in the story in John 4?

4. Why is it so hard to avoid “us vs. them” traps in conversations… especially in charged political climates like our own? What might we gain from pushing through these traps and trying to stick it out in our conversations with others? What does Jesus gain? What about the woman from Sychar?

5. How might having longer and more sincere conversations with other people actually model the hope we have in/through our faith? Is it actually “doing any good” to talk with people? 

6. The last thing Kenny noted in this story was that Jesus stuck around for this woman (and her friends!). Why is this such an important step in building relationships? Who can you “stick around” for this week?

SCRIPTURE: Psalms 4 & 5, Mark 1, James 4:7-10, & Hebrews 10:19-24

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Why is trusting that we are cared for important for us to become caring people? Can you think of a time when you struggled to feel cared for? How did that affect your ability to care for others?

2. How can we use prayer as a tool to experience God's care according to the examples from David’s psalms?

3. Have you ever prayed honestly about your feelings? What might change in your prayer life if you were more vulnerable with God?

4. What can we learn about “dwelling in care” from the example of Jesus? What is the difference between “doing to feel” and “feeling to do,” as discussed in the sermon? 

5. Jesus makes time in silence, time in solitude, time in prayer a priority before he takes next steps. How might you follow after him in this?

6. James challenges us to pursue radical and profound humility… what do you think he means? How might this help us experience God’s care? 

7. Kenny said that “ Humility is the daily trust that simply being a person among people is enough.” Is it really true that seeing ourselves as “just” people is the key to being lifted up into God’s care? Why might this work?

8. The author of Hebrews says that we can (and should!) have confidence in God’s presence. Why is this okay? What would this look like in your spiritual life? 

9. All caring actions flow out from our security and experiences as “cared for” people. What changes can you make in your routines to spend more time dwelling in God’s care for us? Will you make them?

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 139, Isaiah 54:10, Zephaniah 3:17, and Romans 5:8 & 8:37-39

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS MESSAGE ON HIS SERMON BLOG HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What does “care” mean to you? What sense of the word (receiving, extending, feeling) do you think about first?

2. Do you struggle to feel or believe God cares for you? What has helped you overcome this struggle in the past? Where do you think these struggles come from?

3. In the sermon, Kenny suggests that we sometimes over-rely on Scripture when we’re looking for answers or for comfort because the more mysterious realities of our faith–our living relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwelling within us–can feel less clear or certain. Can you relate to this? How so?

4. Do you find comfort in your connection to the “big story” of the Bible? Is it really “okay” if God isn’t talking exclusively to us in Scripture? How might this possibility affect the ways you study and read? 

5. The first way to feel God’s loving care for us is to accept that we are small parts of a much, much bigger story. Have you ever felt a sense of belonging that came from being one part of a bigger group? Share that story!

6. The second way to feel God’s loving care for us is to talk to God! Ask God how He feels about you this week. This is scary… but it really can provide deep comfort!

7. The third way to feel God’s loving care for us is to participate in a caring faith community. Are there steps you could take towards deeper belonging here at Revolution?

SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 10:1b-2 & 1 Peter 5:6-10

YOU CAN ALSO READ KENNY’S MANUSCRIPT FOR THIS SERMON HERE!

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What does “care” mean to you? What sense of the word (receiving, extending, feeling) do you think about first?

2. In the Old Testament, care is compassionate, reflecting a fear that something might be lost. Have you felt this before? 

3. In the New Testament, care is more closely related to worry and anxiety. Have you felt this way before?

4. What can we learn from Peter’s insistence that you can “cast your cares upon” God, “because He cares for” you? What is the relationship between accepting worry and caring, as God models it?

5. We often “feel love” for others… but that doesn’t mean we are always willing to listen to their worries or anxieties! Who can you do a better job of listening to this week?

6. Although it is good to care for others by accepting their worries… you can’t hold onto them forever, either! Kenny suggested we think of ourselves as “conduits of God’s care”: what do you think this means? How can we do this?

7. In your life, what have you learned about receiving care?

8. What have you learned about extending care?

9. What have you learned about feeling care for others, for your community, or even for the world more broadly?