- What do you think of their response?
- When you see winds of change coming in our culture, do you think politics should be used as a tool to combat cultural shifts? Why or why not?
- What is the appropriate Christian response?
- How can Christians most effectively enact change? And what kind of change are we looking for?
“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.”
Acts 17:1-9 ESV
Verse 2-3: What exactly is so powerful about prayer? God already knows everything that’s happened and what’s going to happen.
Why would Paul make a point of telling the Thessalonians that he mentions them in their prayers?
Have you ever seen a change in your life when someone prayed for you?
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
1 John 5:14-15 ESV
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Mark 11:24 NIV
Verse 4-5: Have you ever been passed up to be chosen to be a part of a team or event? What was it and why do you think you weren’t chosen?
What is the significance of being chosen by God?
Do you think He’s still choosing you every day for something?
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV
Verse 6-7: Who are some people you’ve tried to imitate and what were you imitating?
Our current American culture places a high value on originality and tends to shame imitators (cultural appropriation is bad, musicians are getting sued for sampling other musical works, everyone’s skeptical of cheap Chinese knockoffs). Do you think our infatuation with originality is healthy or not? Why do you think we care?
What is God’s view on originality and imitation?
“What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9 ESV
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
Ephesians 5:1 ESV
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”
Hebrews 13:7 ESV
Verse 8: What is the reputation of the person to your right?
What does he think his reputation is?
Is your reputation something worth spreading?
What is one thing you wish you had a reputation for?
What is one thing you wish your church had a reputation for? How can you influence that reputation?
Verse 9-10: Share your story of how you came to be a believer.
Give an example to the group of how you would share the gospel to someone who has never heard it before or at least hadn’t considered it before.
Are you comfortable doing this? Take turns practicing with each other and pray for an opportunity to share.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:19-20 ESV