Experience S2 - End of Week 3

INTRODUCTION
The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN QUESTIONS
Have you ever traveled to a foreign country, or visited a place, where you felt so out of place?  Share what that was like and what you did to address your discomfort?

HEAD

1. Read Acts 10:1-48 together, and share any thoughts, wisdom, insight, or impressions that come to you through the reading of the Word.
2. At this time in Acts 10, the gospel had not spread much father than the Jews in Jerusalem, so as a reader of the text today, why should you be excited at God’s Spirit working in places where God’s messengers hadn’t gone yet?
3. Peter grew up his whole life believing that eating things declared impure or unclean was a sin, but now God was challenging that belief.  What do you think that was like for Peter?  What is that like for us when God challenges something that we’ve always thought to be true?
4. So why do you think the Spirit fell on the believers before they were baptized instead of after?  What did this mean?
5. Read Acts 11:1-18 together, and share any thoughts, wisdom, insight, or impressions that come to you through the reading of the Word.
6. Why do you think that even the Jews who spent time with Jesus had a hard time with the gospel going to the Gentiles?
7. Have you ever seen another person, or a community, that in your opinion “stood in the way” of God’s work?  What happened and what was the response?

HEART

1. Have you ever had God speak to you through an unlikely source or in an unlikely way?  If so, what happened and how did you respond?
2. Because the church is made up of humans, and humans are far from perfect, what are some of the “us” and “them” divisions that you see the church make when it comes to the “sinners” and the “saved”?
3. Do you think the church needs to stop objecting and start celebrating?  If so, what are some things we could celebrate more and what does celebrating look like?

HANDS
Spend some time thinking of three things happening in your life, and/or the life of your church, that you can celebrate.  Then, think of one or two ways you could tangibly celebrate each of those things.  Finally, over the next two weeks, see if you can’t begin those celebrations and see what it does for your own faith journey.

LIVING WORDS FOR YOUR WEEK
1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven!
2 Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!
6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150: 1-2, 6, NLT