Week of May 27, 2012

1. Read Acts 2:1-21.
2. What do you know about the Holy Spirit?  What do you think it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit?  Is this something you are comfortable with?
3. Luke says that they were all together in one place (v. 1).  How important is unity to the church?  How should we handle conflict?  Do you think there is a connection between division in the church and the absence of the presence of the Holy Spirit?
4. Read v. 2-4.  What do you think was happening here?
5. Do you think people are filled with the Holy Spirit today?  How does it happen?  How do you know if it is happened to you?
6. Note how the Lord immediately uses them to reach the people in town for Pentecost (v. 5-12).  Father Mike made the point that the Holy Spirit will empower us to reach our mission field "in a language that they can understand".  What do you think he meant by this?  Who are the people he is gathering around us?  Where are they from?  What do they need?
7. Peter gets up and quotes from Joel 2:28-32 (v. 14-21).  In it, he mentions things like prophesy, visions and dreams.  Has the Holy Spirit ever spoken to you like this?  What happened?
8. Father Mike talked about how prophesy is a simple, encouraging word that the Lord inspires and gifts you to articulate.  What words of encouragement might the Holy Spirit be giving members of your group to encourage others?
9. Pray for one another....

Easter 7 - Small Group Questions

If you were unable to be with us on Sunday you can listen to this sermon here.

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

1. Can you recall an experience of 'not making the team?'  How did that feel? Share with the group.
2. This passage, only half a chapter, occurs between when the resurrected Jesus ascended to the Father and when the Holy Spirit descended on believers at Pentecost.  What do you think about this 10 day period?  What do you think the disciples were thinking during this time?  Try and put yourself in their place.  How do you think this period would have felt for you?
3. Can you recall a time when you were called to 'wait on the Holy Spirit?'  Were you able to do so? or did you start working out a solution on your own?  Discuss when you've been blessed by waiting on the HS.
4. The disciples reflected on scripture, prayed together, established qualifications, discussed it amongst the believers, asked God to guide their decision, chose, and moved forward.  Is this a pattern that you regularly follow in your own discernment of God's will?  If not, what is your pattern?  How is that working for you?  What aspects of this pattern might you incorporate in your discernment?
5. Have you had a powerful experience of group prayer?  How was this different than private prayer?
6. Mtr. Mary quoted Adam Hamilton who says, "God’s will is more about how we make our decisions than about the specific decisions we make."  Do you agree?  Why or why not?
7. How might this understanding of God's will be freeing for you?  Do you believe that God is always working to redeem our decisions?  Do you live that way?  Or do you live in fear - of God's judgment, of getting it wrong?
8. Consider your ministry in the Church and the world.  How have you been a 'Matthias-like apostle?'

Week of May 14, 2012

1. Read Matthew 6:5-15.
2. Can you think of someone you know who has a great prayer life?  How can you tell?  What about them would you most like to emulate?
3. Father Mike talked about how prayer involves the entire Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  How is this so?
4. How often do you think we should pray?  Do you think you pray often enough?  Why or why not?
5. Share with the group a time when God answered a prayer of yours with a "yes".
6. Share with the group a time when God answered a prayer of yours with a "wait".
7. Share with the group a time when God answered a prayer of yours with a "no".
8. For each, of the above, how did it make you feel?
9. Do you find praying easy or hard?  If you are comfortable, share with the group about how you pray.  Where?  When?  How do you do it?  Any advice on what works well?  What doesn't work well?
10. What do you think are the major barriers for you in having the prayer life that you desire?
11. Pray for one another.....

Week of May 7, 2012

1. Read Acts 8:26-40.
2. Who was your favorite teacher?  What made them great?
3. What kind of person are you:  one for whom learning comes easy or hard?  Was school easy for you or hard?
4. What do make of Father Mike's statement from his sermon:  "disciples of Jesus Christ are life long learners"?
5. What do you think it was that compelled the Ethiopian eunuch to go to Jerusalem?  Why did he make the trip?
6. On his way home, was is the eunuch doing?  Why?
7. What non-fiction book would you like to read? On what topic?  
8. How do you feel about your current knowledge of the Bible?  What could you do to learn more?
9. What role does Philip play in the Ethiopian's life?  Who are the "Philips" in your life:  the people that God has sent to help you learn?  Have you invited them into your chariot?  Why or why not?
10. What actions are you prepared to take to be a better life long learner?  How can your group help you?
11. Pray for one another.....