Group Guide

February 16th, 2025

This Week's City 7:

7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)

Ice-Breaker:

What was your favorite show/movie growing up?

Scripture:

For time's sake we'll skip the scripture reading that covered all of Acts 28.

Discussion Questions:

In chapter 28, Paul finally arrives at Rome. He ends up able to speak to a group of Jewish leaders and, once again, lays out the gospel for them. He preaches to this group with all he has. Luke writes that using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning til evening. That's a long time! These people were HUNGRY for the Word of God. They couldn't get enough! Has your hunger for scripture grown in the past couple of years since we've been teaching verse by verse? What does your study of the Bible look like from day to day?
Verse 24 says that some were persuaded by the things he said, while others were not. This has been a consistent theme throughout Paul's life and ministry. He is constantly seeking to persuade people and calling for a decision. How many of us are always on "go" in this way when it comes to our faith? When was the last time you actively tried to persuade someone with reason and logic that Jesus rose from the dead and is the only way to get to God? What would it look like for this to be the main thrust of your life and purpose?
In verse 25, Paul is making his final plea with them... a word of warning and judgement. He quoted the prophet Isaiah saying, "For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them." He's telling them there is no plan B. Jesus was God's plan for redemption and they were missing it. There is also no plan B when it comes to getting this message to the world. God makes His appeal through US! We are plan A to plead with people to turn to Jesus. In other words, YOU are God's plan A in YOUR circle of friends and family. Who has God placed in your life in order for you to share Jesus with them? Seeing as how we are in the last days and Jesus could return at any moment, do you feel a sense of urgency to tell them about Jesus?
Paul preached to gospel to the very end, and he never got his miracle. The prison doors never flung open. The chains never hit the floor. God used Paul's circumstances for His purposes. Ultimately Paul's CONFINEMENT was God's ASSIGNMENT. His PRISON became his PULPIT. He never let his circumstances kill his passion for Jesus. What is your passion level right now? How would you describe your relationship with God at the moment... hot, cold or somewhere in between? How can we make sure we keep the fire burning?
Acts closes saying that Paul continued to preach the gospel and "no one tried to stop him." Remember back in verse 5, after a poisonous snake bites him, Paul shook it off into the fire. This is an allusion to the prophecy in Genesis 3 that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent. This prophecy is ultimately about Jesus, but is true of His followers as well! The devil is going to resist the church, intimidate the church, bite the church, but we will trample him and overcome him by the blood of the Lamb! As a Christ-follower, you are all dragon killers and snake crushers! How much different might your life look if you walked in this kind of authority over the enemy?

Prayer Topics:

That we would stay hungry for God's Word.
That we would share the gospel with urgency.
That we would walk in authority over Satan.

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