The human heart longs for a fresh start and a new vision. In Jesus we have received the new beginning our soul longs for.
“It’s nice to share our toys!” That’s what parents in every generation tell their little children. Some kids get the message and others don’t seem to catch on.
Teenagers face the same challenge. “Let someone else use the remote control and pick the TV show.” Don’t grab the last piece of pizza.”
Fortunately, people become generous and share naturally by the time they enter the grown-up world…right? Wrong! It is still a battle and a challenge, well into our adult years.
In chapter 28 of The Story we hear our heavenly Father say, “It’s nice to share!” God tells his people that the grace they have received, the love they are experiencing, the amazing fellowship they share as a community of believers, the forgiveness of sins, and the restored relationship they have with God would not be hoarded and kept hidden. God calls his people, then and now, to share the good news and hope found in Jesus alone.
How are we doing? Are we quick to share? Have we discovered that the more we give away the things of God, the more we have?
Think of a time when you had something brand new and found it difficult to share with others.
The above is taken from The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story, page 179.
1. Along with sharing the message and love of Jesus, we are also called to share our resources/material goods, our meals/fellowship, and our lives/stories. How is each valuable and what can we do to share these more intentionally?
2. What sorts of conflict and spiritual battle did the early Christians face as they tried to share Jesus’ message? How did they respond to persecution and resistance, and how can this inspire us as we encounter people who push back against the message of God’s love?
3. Compare the Peter we read about in the Gospels to the Peter we read about in the opening chapters of Acts. What are the chief similarities? What are the chief differences?
4. The early church struggled to unite very different people. What steps did it take for them to become a united body? What can we learn from their example?
5. The church grew rapidly from the beginning even in spite of growing opposition and persecution. What factors might account for such growth then?
6. God the Father was the most visible person of the Trinity in the Old Testament. Jesus, God the Son, was most visible in the gospels, and now, God the Holy Spirit, becomes prominent in Acts. For most Christians, the Holy Spirit is the least understood person of the Trinity. What did you learn about the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for your own life?
7. What did you learn about suffering from Peter’s flogging (The Story, pgs. 329 – 330), and imprisonment (The Story, pgs. 334 – 336), and Stephen’s martyrdom (The Story pgs 330 – 331) that you could apply personally?
ReplyDeletePoint to ponder…
The human heart longs for a fresh start and a new vision. In Jesus we have received the new beginning our soul longs for.
“It’s nice to share our toys!” That’s what parents in every generation tell their little children. Some kids get the message and others don’t seem to catch on.
Teenagers face the same challenge. “Let someone else use the remote control and pick the TV show.” Don’t grab the last piece of pizza.”
Fortunately, people become generous and share naturally by the time they enter the grown-up world…right? Wrong! It is still a battle and a challenge, well into our adult years.
In chapter 28 of The Story we hear our heavenly Father say, “It’s nice to share!” God tells his people that the grace they have received, the love they are experiencing, the amazing fellowship they share as a community of believers, the forgiveness of sins, and the restored relationship they have with God would not be hoarded and kept hidden. God calls his people, then and now, to share the good news and hope found in Jesus alone.
How are we doing? Are we quick to share? Have we discovered that the more we give away the things of God, the more we have?
Think of a time when you had something brand new and found it difficult to share with others.
The above is taken from The Story: Getting to the Heart of God’s Story, page 179.
Questions to consider…
ReplyDelete1. Along with sharing the message and love of Jesus, we are also called to share our resources/material goods, our meals/fellowship, and our lives/stories. How is each valuable and what can we do to share these more intentionally?
2. What sorts of conflict and spiritual battle did the early Christians face as they tried to share Jesus’ message? How did they respond to persecution and resistance, and how can this inspire us as we encounter people who push back against the message of God’s love?
3. Compare the Peter we read about in the Gospels to the Peter we read about in the opening chapters of Acts. What are the chief similarities? What are the chief differences?
4. The early church struggled to unite very different people. What steps did it take for them to become a united body? What can we learn from their example?
5. The church grew rapidly from the beginning even in spite of growing opposition and persecution. What factors might account for such growth then?
6. God the Father was the most visible person of the Trinity in the Old Testament. Jesus, God the Son, was most visible in the gospels, and now, God the Holy Spirit, becomes prominent in Acts. For most Christians, the Holy Spirit is the least understood person of the Trinity. What did you learn about the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for your own life?
7. What did you learn about suffering from Peter’s flogging (The Story, pgs. 329 – 330), and imprisonment (The Story, pgs. 334 – 336), and Stephen’s martyrdom (The Story pgs 330 – 331) that you could apply personally?