Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
Ice-Breaker:
Have you ever met someone famous?
Discussion Questions:
- In Acts 6, Stephen had been teaching about Jesus in the Synagogue, which got him in some trouble. Some witnesses testified falsely about Stephen, saying he was blaspheming God, Moses, the Law and the temple. But something interesting happens when the high priest asked Stephen if the accusations were true... he didn't defend himself. Instead Stephen launches into a lengthy sermon defending the Gospel. The greek word for this is "apologia," where we get the word "apologetics." This isn't saying you're sorry, it's a reasoned statement of defense based on facts and history. Stephen does what Peter tells US to do in 1 Peter 3 when he says, "And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it." What about you? Are you ready to explain why you believe what you believe about Jesus? Can you give a solid defense of the Gospel if you had to?
- Over and over in Scripture, Jesus is described as now being SEATED at the Father's right hand. But now he is standing. Why is this significant? Jesus is standing up as the judge and receiver of Stephen’s testimony. He stands to receive Stephen as the first martyr of the faith, to say, "Welcome home!" Jesus is fulfilling the promise he made in Matthew 10 shown above. The same is true for us! If we acknowledge (stand up for) him, he will acknowledge (stand up for) us! Can it be said of your life that you stand up for Jesus? Not just around church friends, but all day every day... at school, work, parties, etc.?
- As they stoned Stephen, he prayed two prayers. One was for Jesus to receive his spirit, and the other was that Jesus would forgive the sins of those stoning him. Right there, present at this execution, was a young man named Saul, soon to be Paul. He most likely played a major role in the stoning of Stephen, and he would be the one to lead a massive wave of persecution that was to follow. Saul would eventually have his own encounter with Jesus, but you have to wonder if what he had just seen and heard - namely the passion and conviction of Stephen, and the defenselessness and grace he showed as he died - had anything to do with Saul's heart change that was to come. Did it plant a seed? Stephen died for Jesus so that others might live for Jesus. Stephen was willing to die so that others might live. What would you be willing to endure for YOUR faith? What kinds of discomfort or danger might you be willing to suffer in order that others might come to know Jesus?
- The first takeaway from Sunday was that it's ALWAYS been about Jesus. Stephen's lengthy sermon pointed this fact out as he talked about Abraham, Joseph and Moses. He made the point that at every turn in the Israelites history they have rejected everyone God sent, and they did it again with Jesus. Stephen's sermon contained many references to Old Testament Scripture, which is extremely common throughout the Bible. To illustrate this point, Brandon showed Bible visualization chart, shown below. It shows how the Bible speaks to itself; all the textual cross-references within it. Every book and chapter of Scripture can be seen along the bottom, and every colorful arc is a connection from one book to another... 63,799 of them. This is astounding given the fact that the Bible is a collection of 66 books and letters written by more than 40 authors over a period of about 1,500 years. And every bit of it, from start to finish, points to Jesus. It is our prayer that our church family would fall in love with Scripture... value it, study it, let it transform them. Can you say that you LOVE God's Word? How often do you crave reading and studying it? How do we stir our affections for Scripture?
- The final takeaway was that Stephen shows us that we should be about a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus over RELIGION. With religion, you hope your good deeds outweigh the bad, that you can work your way up the ladder. It's rules without reason, a system without substance. It emphasizes the outward, what you CAN'T do, sets up barriers. Biblical faith, on the other hand, a relationship with Jesus, is all about realizing you cant earn the grace God freely offers. It emphasizes the inward because God looks at the heart. It's about what you CAN do, the freedom we have in Christ. It Doesn't set up barriers, it tears them down. Which does your life resemble the most, Stephen or the religious leaders? Are you truly sold out for the Gospel? Has your fire for Jesus gone out over time? Are you in a rut? Do you need to Lord to do a fresh work in you?
Prayer Topics:
- That we would be willing to suffer for Jesus.
- That we would have a new-found love for Scripture.
- That God would do a fresh work in our hearts.
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