Sermon Application

1. Spend some time recollecting personally the great things God has done to bring you from darkness into His marvelous light. Have a few individuals share conversion stories with specific details of the mighty things God has done to bring you into His salvation.

2. How "God-centered" are you in considering your own salvation? What difference does it make when you consider your own salvation in a "God-centered way" and when you consider your salvation from a "man-centered way?" How (specifically) have you struggled to regard your salvation in a God-centered way? (Remember v48 together - "As many as were appointed to eternal life believed...")

3. There is no God like our God. He is sovereign over every event in human history. He raises one leader and puts another leader down. He was sovereign over the cross, using even the most evil act in human history to accomplish our salvation. Are there any things presently happening in your life that cause you to question or disbelieve God's sovereignty? Describe.

4. God has appointed many people to salvation. Nothing in the world can thwart God's plan from being accomplished. How "ought" we to respond to this reality? How "are" we presently responding to this reality? Does this reveal any specific ways that we ought to repent?

5. There is NO TROUBLE in life that can thwart God's purposes. This should engender boldness and confidence. As you evaluate your own life, are you growing in boldness and confidence in the Lord or is your boldness and confidence waning? Describe. As your members describe these things, let the sharing lead you to pray for one another giving thanks for the ways that confidence/boldness is growing and praying for one another to walk in repentance where our confidence and boldness has come under attack.