Prayer/Praise vs. Prison

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas do “the right thing” by casting a demon out of a slave girl who is being exploited by her masters. But the consequences are sobering. Rather than celebration and breakthrough, the backlash against the two leaders results in a severe beating and shackles at the bottom of the darkest cell of the Philippi jail.

Have you ever done the right thing and felt like the reward was not quite what you were expecting? Have you ever wondered why the grace of God may seem absent when you need it (and perhaps believe you deserve it) most? How did you respond?

Paul and Silas responded with prayer and praise. And the consequences of that decision were, in fact, earth-shaking. This week, we will press into the practice of Paul and Silas as we engage in both prayer and praise.

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

DATE: February 12, 2017 // Title: Prayer/Praise vs. Prison //

Scripture: Acts 16:16-40

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
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas do “the right thing” by casting a demon out of a slave girl who is being exploited by her masters. But the consequences are sobering. Rather than celebration, the backlash against the two leaders results in a severe beating and shackles at the bottom of the darkest cell of the Philippi jail.

Have you ever done the right thing and felt like the reward was not quite what you were expecting? Have you ever let the circumstances of life annoy you? Have you ever wondered why the grace of God seems absent when you need it (and perhaps believe you deserve it) most? Have you ever felt imprisoned by reality? How did you respond? Paul and Silas responded with prayer and praise, and the result was literally earth-shaking.

Jesus relieves our thirst for a reprieve from burdens and buffeting with an ocean of grace. He resolves our hunger to be set free from the baggage and bondage that imprisons our lives with a banquet of merciful blessing. He responds to our shout of “what must I do?” with the truth of his eternal power, and He invites us to believe on the name of Jesus and be truly and completely set free.

THE MAIN THOUGHT  Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion The best response to burdens, baggage, buffeting and bondage is prayer and praise!

You are free; through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture  (What is the story saying?): : What were the challenges Paul and Silas faced in Philippi? What was their focus in the middle of annoying and difficult circumstances? What were the consequences of their actions? What was their response to them?
Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Which character in the story do you most relate to? Why? Where do you see God in the story? How does the way he intervenes in each character’s circumstances strengthen your faith in his promise to fully set you free?
Window  (How does the story change how I see those around me?):  Think about the people you interact with every day. Where do you see burdens, baggage, buffeting and bondage in their lives? How can the example of Paul and Silas guide you as share the truth of Jesus with them?

BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise 10 minutes
(Silently pray through each phrase, asking God to reveal where He is in each area.) 1. Ask God to help you recognize the burdens that annoy, trouble or grieve you. 2. Ask God to help you recognize the baggage that seizes, grips and drags at your life. 3. Ask God to show you the buffeting forces that are inflicting physical, mental or spiritual blows on you. 4. Ask God to show you any inner prisons or restraints that hold you in bondage.
Change IN // Group Activity 10 minutes
(Respond to what God has revealed to you in prayer and praise together.) Take a few moments in prayer to acknowledge what God has shown you and entrust that to his grace. Make a willful choice to praise God over and above the burdens, baggage, buffeting and bondage. (Go to the Ten Thousand Fathers web site at https://worship.school for some great worship videos to use in worship!).
Change OUT //Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
As you think about the people you will interact with this week, identify the ones facing burdens, baggage, buffeting and bondage with the cry, “What must I do to get out of this mess?” Ask God to give you the courage and the opportunity to invite them into the complete freedom that comes from believing in Jesus!

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.