SERMON BASED RESOURCES

Dig into the sermon each week with your life group, spiritual growth partner, or even by yourself! We’ll provide ideas to jump start your group time (Opener Questions:  for building community), discussion questions to go deep (Discussion Questions:  for fostering Christ Centered community), and ways to apply what you learned throughout the week (Practical Applications:  for faithfully following Jesus through your week).

PRINT THESE RESOURCESBIBLE + PRAYER

Opener Questions

    • Have you ever been on a road trip where you saw something that deeply impacted you?

    • What are some of your memorable spring break memories? What would a great spring break look like to you?

    Discussion Questions:

      1. Is there anything you are rumbling with from your time in Scripture last week?

      2. The Story so Far… look at themes of persecution, dispersion, Holy Spirit and baptism.  How are all of these coming together to form and continue a cohesive story of the gospel going out to all the nations?

      3. For those of you who have already gone through Bible 101, use your time to do the OIA method together as a group for this passage, Acts 9:1-19.  This will probably take your entire time together, and that is OK!

      4. What do we know about Saul from Acts 7:54-8:3 and 9:1-3a?  How do you think God was at work in Saul’s life leading up to his conversion and surrender on the Damascus Road (see John 16:7-11)?  How can this impact our witness?

      5. Discuss the role Ananias plays in Saul’s life.  What changes for Anninias between verses 13 and 17? What does he not do and what does he do?  

      What is his impact on the subsequent growth of the church down through the centuries?  The Scriptures never mention Ananias again.  Why did God involve him at all?  What lesson is there here for us to embrace today?

       

      6. In the coming weeks we will hear more about Saul / Paul. Read Paul’s expanded version of his conversion in Acts 26:1-29, focusing on v. 12-18. How does Paul’s story connect with God’s plan, the grand story of dealing with the mess the world is in, both now and forever?

      7. Read 1 Peter 4-5 + 2 Peter 1-3 from Woodlands in the Word. Next week’s sermon text is Matthew 21:1-17.

      *Download the Resource Guide above for some helpful leader notes (included in the PDF).

       

      Practical Applications

      Dinnertime Discussion: Have you ever felt God asking you to extend grace to someone who you knew did not deserve it? What enabled you to do it anyway? Or did you not do it? Why not?

       

      Practicing Prayer: As we wait through this season of Lent and approach Easter, take inventory of how Jesus has transformed your life. Pay attention to some of the specific ways God has paid for your sin with the blood of Jesus and led you to rest in his finished work of the cross. As you spend in prayer, sit with this prompt quietly, listening more than you talk.  What a beautiful way to prepare your heart for the wonder of the resurrection!

       

      Developing Disciplines: Is there something that you know God is prompting you to do (like He did with Ananias) that comes with a lot of fear? Confess your fear, pray for courage…and respond with obedience.

       

      Gospel in Everyday Life: Pastor Dave emphasized the simplicity of the Gospel. Saul just needs to see Jesus. Ananias just needs to follow Jesus. Are you over complicating your Christian life? How can you go back to the simplicity of seeing Jesus and following Jesus?

       

      Service Opportunities: Spiritual growth partners are a great way to connect people who want to grow in their walk with Jesus. Consider opening yourself to be a Spiritual Growth Partner for someone this summer!  

      If the Spirit is laying someone on your heart, reach out directly.  If you’d like to be a part of a pool of SGPs, let Whitney or Lauren know!