Story

An old joke begins with the question: “What’s the difference between ignorance and apathy?”
The answer is: “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”

As the book of Acts progresses, a pattern emerges that highlights a major difference between the Apostle Paul and many of his Jewish brothers and sisters. As Paul goes from city to city, the Jews in the synagogue increasingly reject the good news about Jesus. Even though both Paul and the Jews grew up sharing the same story about God and life and faith, something happened in Paul’s life that opened a new door into godly adventure and wholeheartedness.

This week, we will begin a new miniseries through the final chapters of Acts as Paul’s story, gifting, passions, calling, and goals converge. I believe that by the end of this journey, we will face the opportunity—like Paul—to embrace the adventure and wholeheartedness God intends for us all.

So what’s the difference between Paul and so many of the Jews?
We need to know, and we need to care.

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

DATE: February 26, 2017 // Title: Story //

Scripture: Acts 18:1–6; 21:37–22:22

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 began a new miniseries through the final chapters of Acts as Paul’s story, gifting, passions, calling, and goals converge. By the end of this journey, we will face the opportunity—like Paul—to embrace the adventure and wholeheartedness God intends for us all as we reinterpret our lives in the light of Jesus.

As the book of Acts progresses, a pattern emerges that highlights a major difference between the Apostle Paul and many of his Jewish brothers and sisters. As Paul goes from city to city on his last missionary journey, the Jews in the synagogues increasingly reject the good news about Jesus. Even though both Paul and the Jews grew up sharing the same story about God and life and faith, something happened in Paul’s life that opened a new door into wholeheartedness, clarity, and godly adventure.

The difference between Paul and the Jews was the fact that Paul had processed and interpreted his life story in the light of his personal encounter with Jesus. The stability and clarity of his identity and calling gave him the courage to boldly articulate his story as interpreted and sustained by Jesus. Seeing our stories in light of Jesus instead of simply experiencing them, releases us from cycles of brokenness and sets us free from the bondage of our past. Jesus redeems and reinterprets our stories and empowers us to fulfill our destiny in him

THE MAIN THOUGHT  keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion

Crystal clear clarity of purpose comes from our willingness to reinterpret our stories in the light of Jesus.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture  (What is the story saying): How was Paul’s story received by his people, the Jews? What caused Paul to reinterpret his story? What were the hinge moments in Paul’s story? How did the key chapters in his life story define his identity and calling?
Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Have you ever stepped back and reinterpreted your story in the light of Jesus? What are the high points in your story? What are the low points? How can Jesus reinterpret what you have hidden in your invisible bag?
Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): How can reinterpreting your story in the light of Jesus bring redemption to your darkest moments? What parts of your story have resourced you for fulfilling your call? Who will you share your story with this week?

BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise  5 minutes
Name some examples of the way God reinterpreted the stories of specific people in the Bible. Spend some time praising God for the way he redefined hinge moments (both high points and low points) in those characters’ lives.
Change IN // Group Activity  5 minutes
Go around the room and briefly share one of your own high points or low points, one way that you can reinterpret that moment in the light of Jesus, and one thought about how it has defined or is redefining your life purpose.
Change OUT //Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
Set aside a specific hour this week to develop your Life Discovery Grid. Go to gfc.tv/snellville/youniquetools to view a video by Dave Rhodes explaining the Life Discovery Grid exercise and to download all of the handouts.

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