Jerusalem Church I: Give God the Glory

Some of you may have grown up in church.

Some of you may have found a church to attend while on vacation.

Some of you may have gone to church overseas and worshipped in another language.

Many of you plan to come to Grace Snellville on Sunday (or at least watch online, depending on the snow!)

But snowstorms notwithstanding, it is likely you have attended more than one church in your lifetime. Take a moment to reflect on those experiences. What was beautiful? What might have been new or even uncomfortable? What was familiar? Every local church has a core and a culture, and we can learn from them all–especially those from the first century!

In the second half of the book of Acts, we find bunches of incredible miracles, heroic sacrifices, and godly adventures. But as we read this section of Scripture together this spring, behind the amazing events we will catch a glimpse of God working through four prototype local church communities: Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, and Rome. What can we learn from these churches? This week, we will explore one of the first and most important lessons from Jerusalem in Acts 12.

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

Date: January 8, 2017 // Title: Jerusalem Church I: Give God the Glory //

Scripture: Acts 12:1-25

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
This week we started back on our journey through the book of Acts. In this second leg of the journey, we will follow the church through several different epicenters of life and faith—Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus and Rome. In Jerusalem we will see the church hold fast to faith and doctrine. In Antioch, we will see the church grab hold of mission. In Ephesus we will see the church live as family. And in Rome, we will see the church move toward its future. This week, Jon challenged us to hold onto faith even in the midst of every circumstance of life like the church at Jerusalem did—both in the devastation and the deliverance. The way we hold onto faith is by recognizing Jesus is Lord in every area of life. So, this week Jon invited us to face life with prayer and laughter—orienting our lives around the call that Jesus is Lord, because when we do, we find that no situation or circumstance can ultimately rule or reign over our lives.

THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
No circumstance or situation can ultimately rule or reign over those who realize that Jesus is Lord.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): What are the four epicenters of church that we are going to be looking at this semester? (Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus and Rome) What did Jon say we could expect to learn from each culture? (doctrine, mission, family, future) What circumstances do we see the Jerusalem church encounter in Acts 12? How do the experiences of James and Peter shape the church’s life and culture? (fear and faith, destiny and doubt) What does it mean to say “Jesus is Lord” in this kind of world?
Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Where have you experienced doubt in your relationship with God? What circumstances or situations have contributed to that doubt? When have you had trouble sleeping in your life? Have you ever been through a season in which you couldn’t laugh? How might believing that Jesus is Lord help us learn to laugh, sleep and believe even in the midst of difficult circumstances and situations in our lives?
Window  (How does the story change how I see those around me?): What would it look like this week for you to declare that “Jesus is Lord” in every area of your life? In which areas of your life are you living as if “Jesus is Lord”? What parts of your life do you have trouble living as if “Jesus is Lord”? What changes might need to be made in your life to surrender more of your life to the Lordship of Jesus? How might it change the places you live, work and play if you began to live as if “Jesus is Lord” in that place?

BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Prayer Walk Your Week 10 minutes
Take a moment to work through the challenge Jon gave us this week by prayer walking through your past week together. Have your group close their eyes and prayerfully walk through each part of this past week. Think through each morning, afternoon and evening of each day in silence—Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday….Sunday. Think through those places by asking this question: “Were you living in that moment as if ‘Jesus is Lord?’” As you walk through your week, make note of places you were and were not living as if “Jesus is Lord”. Share your observations as a group.
Change IN //   Welcome in Your Community 10 minutes
Take a moment this week to welcome in the potential opportunity for new people to join your group this next season. Make contact by phone or email with those who may have signed up for, or who may want to come into your group in the coming weeks. As a group, talk through who you might want to make room for in your group this next season and share how you want to communicate your desire for them to join you
Change OUT // Work it out Together  5 minutes 
Have each person in your group share one area of his/her life that if he/she learned to live as if “Jesus is Lord” his/her life might impact those who are living without faith. Earnestly pray for courage and faith in each area that you list together.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.