Small Group Guide
MISSIONAL REALITIES
The Church at Brook Hills Matt Mason April 24, 2016 Acts 8:1-25
MAIN TRUTH
Message Outline
To download the outline for this week’s sermon, visit brookhills.org/media.
Message Summary
In Acts 1:8, Jesus commanded His disciples to be His witnesses “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” After the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7, Christians began being persecuted in Jerusalem, which caused the believers to scatter “throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria” (Acts 8:1). While Saul and the Jewish religious leaders had intended to stomp out Christianity via persecution, they unintentionally helped propagate the gospel because the Christians continued to share Jesus as they fled and moved to new cities. As we participate in God’s mission by sharing the gospel with the lost, the reality is that we will face resistance. Such opposition might be full-fledged persecution and death, or it might be mistreatment at a job or our family turning their back on us or people making fun of us. Whatever form it takes, we can expect resistance.
At the same time, joining God in His work brings great joy and renewal, which was seen in the early church by how the persecuted Christians were filled with joy despite their circumstances. Because our greatest problem has been solved by the gospel and because our hope is not tied to transient things, we can experience joy even in suffering, and we can invite others to know this joy and hope, which is available only in Christ. Also, as the gospel spreads, it demonstrates a need for doctrinal clarity and courageous discernment. In Acts 8, this shows itself in the situation with Simon the Magician, and as with Simon, we will not always know right away if a person’s profession of faith is genuine. Maybe they misunderstand, maybe they have not counted the cost of following Jesus, or maybe it just is taking time for them to understand how trusting in Jesus for salvation changes everything about them. As we join God in His work, we must share the gospel clearly and boldly and trust Him to work in people’s hearts, helping them to understand truth and to yield their lives to Him.
WHY IT MATTERS
Digging Deeper
Acts 8:9-25 presents the story of Simon the Magician, and in this passage, it is difficult to interpret whether or not Simon truly trusted in Jesus as His Savior and Lord. At Brook Hills, we hear many baptism testimonies where the person outwardly professed to trust in Jesus but later realized that they were not actually saved. As a small group, discuss reasons for this. Maybe there is someone in the group with that story who would be willing to share why they originally thought they were saved and what happened to make them realize that they were not actually a Christian.
Read Matthew 19:16-22; John 8:30-38, 58-59; Luke 14:25-33. In these passages, when individuals or a crowd expressed belief in Jesus, how did Jesus respond? What types of things did He say? In each of these three particular passages, Jesus gives an “if” statement:
· “Jesus said to him, ‘If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’” –Matthew 19:21
· “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,’” –John 8:31
· “’If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.’” –Luke 14:26-27
Why would Jesus offer such tough, conditional sayings to those who “believed” in Him? How is an acknowledgement of Jesus as a real historical figure or even as the Promised One who died and rose again different than faith that saves? In James 2:19, James references how “even the demons believe”, so obviously, there is a difference in believing Jesus’ words or identity and trusting in Him as Lord and Savior. As a group, discuss the difference between intellectual assent and a relational commitment to Jesus. How would you help someone else understand the difference between the two?
NOW WHAT DO WE DO?
Group Discussion & Application
Use the following questions to examine what the sermon and its text mean, to apply the Word to your life, and to guide how you pray.
1. What is the mission of God?
2. Acts 8:1-3 provides an example of how the mission of God is met with resistance. Why is there such resistance to Him, to the gospel, and to the Christians who share the gospel?
3. Why does God permit persecution instead of stopping it? How does He use the persecution of Christians for His glory? What is true about God’s justice with regards to those who persecute His people (Rev. 6:9-11)?
4. Have you ever experienced persecution or resistance because of the gospel? If so, what did that look like? How did you respond?
5. For American Christians, in what ways are our beliefs in opposition to our culture?
6. Why would a Christian be surprised by opposition, especially when Jesus promises that nonbelievers would hate and persecute His followers just as they had hated and persecuted Him (see Jn. 15:18-25)?
7. How should we respond when nonbelievers misunderstand us or mistreat us because of our beliefs? What was Christ’s example (see 1 Pet. 2:21-25)? What does it look like to follow His example?
8. In what ways is joy a reality in your life? What does a Christian have to be joyful about? What is it about God and the gospel that brings joy?
9. Read Acts 8:4-8. How does the mission of God bring joy and renewal wherever it goes? How is this the case when persecution is occurring (Acts 13:48-52; 2 Cor. 7:4; 1 Thess. 1:6)?
10. How does persecution actually propagate the gospel instead of stopping it from spreading?
11. Because the good news of salvation brings joy, hope, and peace, we as Christ-followers act as “couriers” of God’s joy. What is the role of a courier? What type of courier are you? How are you a “courier of God’s joy”?
12. Read Acts 8:9-25. In this passage, what evidence points to Simon being truly converted and what evidence points to his belief being fake?
13. In your families and friendships, how can you help people understand the gospel and the cost of following Christ and, thus, avoid a false conversion?
14. In your life, what has been the cost of following Jesus? What has had to be confessed, sacrificed, or changed in order for you to be obedient to God?
15. How we can avoid giving people false assurance of salvation when they admit their sin and ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. How can we avoid giving people false assurance without cultivating fear about their eternal security?
Resources for Small Group Leaders
Weekly Prayer Focus (from Our Worship Guide)
· Pray for Our Lives:
o Ask God to give us strength and perseverance to remain faithful when our faith is challenged.
o Pray that He will empower us to make the most of every opportunity we have for gospel advancement.
· Pray for Our City:
o Pray for the Local Disciple-Making ministries at Brook Hills, which includes Preschool Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Student Ministry, College Ministry, Singles 20s/30s Ministry, and Adults.
o Pray for FBC Trussville and Pastor Buddy Champion.
· Pray for Our World:
o Pray for Rekindle Children’s Hope, which reaches orphaned, disadvantaged, and abandoned children in Cameroon. To learn more, visit rchafrica.org.
o Pray for our Short-Term team serving in Nepal.
“Missional Realities,” April 24, 2016 | Page 1