10.5.25 Huddle
Opening Discussion
- What is something you did this week to grow closer to Jesus?
Read and Discuss
Acts 17:1-3
1 After they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.”
- How did Paul talk and reason with the Jewish people in Thessalonica?
- What does it look like to reason with someone from the Scriptures?
- When there are other followers of Jesus who you don’t agree with, how do you talk with them?
- Is it more argumentative, or do you use the Bible to reason with them?
Acts 14:11-17
11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought bulls and wreaths to the gates because he intended, with the crowds, to offer sacrifice.
14 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting,15 “People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own way, 17 although he did not leave himself without a witness, since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.”
- When Paul spoke to crowds who weren’t Jewish, how did talk and reason with them?
- How did Paul connect their everyday life with the things God was doing in their lives?
- When you talk to people who don’t have a church background, what are some ways you can connect God to their everyday life?
Acts 14:27-28
27 After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they spent a considerable time with the disciples.
- What was significant about the “door of faith” being open to the Gentiles?
- What doors has the Holy Spirit opened for you recently to tell others about the good news of Jesus?
- Have you taken the opportunity to tell others about Jesus?
- Why or why not?
- What are some things you can report to your group about what God has done in your life recently?
Discipleship Questions
- What are some ways you can study the Bible this week so that you know it well enough to reason with others based on the Scriptures?
- Who is someone you can talk to about Jesus this week?
- Who can you talk to this week about what God is doing in your life?
Memorize it!
Acts 14:27 After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Prayer TACOS
Thanksgiving: Who are two people who made the gospel relevant to your life? Thank the Lord for putting them in your life and pray for them.
Adoration: How has the Lord been working in your life? Spend some time worshipping Him for the way He is personal in your life.
Confession: Have you passed up some opportunities to tell others about Jesus this week? What kept you from sharing: fear, lack of boldness, laziness? Confess those things to the Lord and ask for forgiveness.
Others: Who is someone in your life that needs to hear about Jesus but didn’t grow up in the church? Pray that the Lord would give you wisdom on how to connect the things in their daily life with the word of God so they may see how He is working.
Self: What are you lacking in your life right now? Ask the Lord to help you seek Him first in all things and to look for the ways that He is providing the things you already need.