Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
Ice-Breaker:
How old were you when you moved out of your parents' house? Was it voluntary or forced?
Discussion Questions:
- In Acts 8, we learn that the killing of Stephen begins a wave of persecution of the church that was lead by Saul. Verse 3 says that he was "going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison." Spoiler alert... Saul will eventually meet Jesus and become "Paul," who would end up authoring 2/3 of the New Testament and bring the Gospel to the gentiles. But at this point in the story, if you'd have asked the Christians that Saul was throwing in prison and having executed if there was any hope for him, what do you think their answer would be? We all have people in our lives that we think God could never reach. Who are those people in your life? Have you let the feelings of impossibility stop you from praying and trying to reach them?
- The first take away on Sunday was that salvation is OWNED by FAITH but is SHOWN by FAITHFULNESS. In other words, our deeds are not the BASIS of our salvation, they are the EVIDENCE of our salvation. They are not the foundation, but a demonstration. We can tend to get this backwards. We think our church attendance and Christian label is enough to make us right with God and, thus, headed to heaven. This is why it's important to examine our lives to make sure we really do belong to him. Saying a sinners prayer when you were little isn't quite enough; in fact, the sinners prayer that magically saves you is found nowhere in Scripture. We must make sure our lives reflect that there has been a heart change, a rebirth. Is there evidence in your life that you have the Holy Spirit inside you? Is there evidence that you have been reborn and are a new creation? Or are you hanging your hat on a sinner's prayer?
- The next takeaway was that the church PLUNDERS with PREACHING, PRAYER and PRAISE, not POLITICS, POSITION and POWER. The Gospel will not be advanced through force or by political action or by any individual politician. So how are people going to be set free? Through the preaching of the Gospel. Clayton made the case that we need to wake up to our calling! We have gotten too comfortable, passive and bored. We are called to be Satan plundering, Kingdom advancing, Gospel preachers that set people free and fill our city with joy! What about you? Have you gotten comfortable in your life and faith? What are you doing to fulfill your God-given purpose of advancing his Kingdom?
- Discuss this quote from John Stott: "Ambitions for self may be quite modest... Ambitions for God, however, if they are to be worthy, can never be modest. There is something inherently inappropriate about cherishing small ambitions for God. How can we ever be content that He should acquire just a little more honor in the world? No. Once we are clear that God isKing, then we long to see Him crowned with glory and honor, and accorded His true place, which is the supreme place, We become ambitious for the spread of His kingdom and righteousness everywhere." What are your thoughts?
- The final takeaway was that God BEATS Satan with his own STICK. In the book of Acts, that looks like Saul! He was Satan's instrument to bring persecution to the church that God would end up turning into a lethal weapon for the Gospel. At the cross, God used Satan's literal stick, a wooden cross, to defeat him once and for all. God allowed the believers and apostles to experience pain for their own good and for God's greater purpose. Is there any pain in your own life that God might be allowing? How might it be for your own eventual good? How might God use it for his glory and purposes?
Prayer Topics:
- That we would fulfill our God-given purpose.
- That we would live our lives for God's glory.
- That we would be Gospel plunderers.
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