MAY 9-15 GROUP STUDY

Growing deep in Jesus, reaching wide in mission.

Welcome to this week's Group Study! This spring we're doing an 8-week block which began April 11 running through the week of May 30. The study series will spend three weeks in Luke & five weeks in Acts.

Start your time with a Check-in (about 15 minutes)

Opening question:

How is power defined in our society? Is it any different from how the Bible describes it?

inductive bible study (30-40 minutes)

Open your Bibles and begin with a prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to help you read God's word. Read the passage out loud once together and then silently once more on your own, noting your observations and questions. Then take a few minutes to share your observations and questions together.

Key Scripture: Acts 4:23-32 (also reference Acts 1:1-8)

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:


“‘Why do the nations rage

    and the peoples plot in vain?

26 

The kings of the earth rise up

    and the rulers band together

against the Lord

    and against his anointed one. [ref. Psalm 2:1,2]


27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Take some time to answer a key question you've raised as a group and think through how the issues you've explored apply to your lives.


Take a moment after your Bible study to watch this video:

Holy Spirit - The Bible Project

DISCUSSION (about 20 minutes):


1) What does it mean to live by the energy and influence of God's Spirit? (see Bible project video above) How does that impact your daily life?


2) The Christian hope is that the Spirit is going to "finish the job." What do you think that means? (see Bible project video above) How do you see this happening right now?


3) What is the connection between the presence of the Spirit and power from on high? How does this change the way we live? What is something that you can do this week to connect with God's power?

Close with a time of prayer.