Learning through Letdowns

Aaron Keyes, guest teacher. Last week, Jon taught us about the dramatic conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus. He reminded us that Jesus can change even the most dire circumstance, and save even the most desperate soul.

This week we look at what happens next in the life of Paul. It’s not at all what any of us might think, but how Paul walks through it all has much to offer us in how we might think.

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SEE IT // BE IT

(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)

Date: November 13, 2016 // Title: Learning through Letdowns

Scripture:Acts 9:20-31

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
As we observe the steps Paul takes after his conversion we watch him step off the road to Damascus and into the desert where he spends three years moving from delivered to empowered. Between Paul’s time in the desert and in Tarsus he spends 13 years growing silently outside of the spotlight. Then through the rest of his life, Paul was beaten, abandoned, imprisoned, and ship wrecked yet in all things he sang out the name of Jesus in Worship. Trusting that Jesus is the King means that we learn how to worship Him both in the parched lands of the desert and on the mountain peaks because our confidence is in the prevail of His kingdom.

THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
God’s timing is not our timing; His ways are not our ways. Whether we are standing on the mountaintop or treading through the valley, God wants us to bring Him what we’re really feeling because He is the only one that can do something about it. “Our King is still on His throne, Our citizenship is still in His kingdom, Our confidence is still in His reign, Our joy is still in His salvation, Our inheritance is still as His children, and Our hope is still in His coming.” (David Platt).

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): : What happens to Paul when he starts proclaiming the name of Jesus in the synagogues of Damascus? How did the disciples help Paul to escape the chief priests in Damascus? What is the significance of Paul’s time in the desert and in Tarsus? How does Paul act in moments of suffering and isolation?
Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Where do I see myself right now, am I in the spotlight or alone in Tarsus? What is my posture in hard times? Is my hope in man or in the King of Kings? Do I bring what I’m really feeling to Jesus in worship?
Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): How would a release in the pressure I feel and a gained perspective in Jesus as King change how I react at work, school, home…? How can I place my eyes on the Lord this week even as my feet are stuck in the net? (Psalm 25:15)

BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise 5 minutes
Take a moment and readjust your posture. Place your hands out in front of you and lift your eyes toward the heavens. The posture of giving is the same as the posture of receiving. In this posture take a moment to offer to God the things in which you need to trust him to be bigger. And in this posture take a moment to ask God to fill you with the Joy, Peace, and Hope that can only be found in the name of Jesus.
Change IN //  Group Activity 5 minutes
When PRESSURE is applied to something, it reveals what is on the inside. What has been locked inside of you that you need to release today for God to receive, redeem, and bless? Give everyone a minute to process their answer to this question and then move around the room to have everyone share their response. We release these things to God because we can trust that He is good enough and big enough to receive it and redeem it.
Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
The best expression of our trust in the name of Jesus to prevail is that of love. Write down the names of three people that you can demonstrate the love of Jesus to this week. Take a moment to pray for each of these people and ask God for situations this week where you can demonstrate your confidence in His kingdom through unshakable love.

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.