The Ultimate Question

Written By Mark Avery

Acts 16:16-33


Connect:

  • Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.

Prayer:

Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.

Review:

This weekend we had Baptism Sunday! Let’s take a look at a story from Acts where baptism was a clear declaration of allegiance to Jesus Christ…

The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…

o What did you learn about God?

o What did you learn about people?

o What did you learn about yourself?

o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?

Reflection:

Personal Experience:

  • They say, “Nothing clears the mind like the sight of the gallows.” When you think about the fact that this life is going to end, what do you feel/ think? Talk about that.

    Group Discussion:

  • Read Acts 16:16-33

    • This lady was freed by the supernatural power of Jesus, and the owners were enraged.

      • How can people be so blind as to react to a miracle with anger? What is going on when that is the reaction?

      • The religious leaders made a similar statement about Jesus (Mark 3:20-30). Jesus gave one of the most forceful responses to this in Scripture, speaking of an “eternal sin”! Why is it so critical that we acknowledge God’s power as God’s alone?

      • This story was a power encounter as much as it was a truth encounter. The truth that Jesus is Lord was shown in the freeing of the lady and the shaking of the prison. With this kind of power, why would God even allow the apostles to be stripped, beaten and locked away in stocks in a pitch black dungeon in the first place? (John 11; Luke 22:42; Luke 24:25-26; 1 Peter 4:19; 1 Corinthians 1:9)

    • The story of the jailor who led his household to acknowledge Jesus as Lord is a test imony of forgiveness and grace as much as it is about power and the Gospel!

      • Why do you think God allowed the apostles to be put in prison when He knew they were going to be released from Prison just hours later (by an earthquake!)?

      • The Jailor’s response to the Gospel was not, “Jesus sounds really nice” but “What must I do to be saved?” Talk about what we are saved FROM (Mark 16:16; John 3:16-18, 36; 1 Thes 5:9; Romans 5:9; Eph 2:1-10)

  • Baptism is a declaration of commitment, allegiance to the Person and mission of Jesus. It is all about setting our sights not just on what we are saved from (hell) but what we are saved FOR! Talk about that…

    • What are we saved FOR (Psam 16:11; Romans 8:29; 2 Cr 5:11-21; Col 3:10

    • Look over Romans 8 by breaking up into smaller groups/pairs to each take one of the following sections to read and then summarize for the group from Romans

      • Grp 1: Romans 7:13-25

      • Grp 2: Romans 8:1-11

      • Grp 3: Romans 12-17

      • Grp 4: Romans 8:18-34

Application: 

What are some ways that we can st ay mindful of what God is doing in and through us during the week? Talk about some habits, tactics, reminders, etc. that support the “acknowledgement of God in all our ways (Prov 3:5,6).

Prayer:

The jailor was baptized right then and there because he wanted to take a bold, p[ublic step, come what may, deciding and declaring that Jesus was now his Lord. Spend some time in prayer this evening for that same boldness and steadfast commitment to set apart Christ Jesus as Lord in our hearts, minds, words and actions this week.

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Mark Avery
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Holy Habits: Steadfastness