Life Groups // Fall 2021 // Week 6
Posted October 15, 2021 — Lincoln Berean
Providence, Plans and a Different Perspective // Acts 18:1-22
Introduction
Our passage this week opens with Paul heading out to Corinth on his own but it’s not mere coincidence that he’s soon joined by Aquila and Priscilla; God continues to spread the gospel among groups of believers. It’s an encouraging reminder for us that the good hand of God is moving in our experiences too.
To get the most out of your group time, we invite you to look over the questions below and write your thoughts down before you meet with your group.
Warm Up (Suggested time: 30 min)
Here are some suggestions to get your conversation started:
1) What is a favorite Fall activity you like to enjoy with friends or family? Share what makes it so special (the food, the fun, the people).
2) Share something you’ve done recently to reach out with kindness to a neighbor, co-worker, or someone you’ve encountered in your daily life.
Getting Started
Transition into group discussion.
1) Open group discussion with prayer. Here are a few potential prayer items:
a. For the Spirit of God to lead you in truth
b. For the fruit of the Spirit to be cultivated in your lives
c. For grace to hear and apply what the Spirit says to you
2) Invite someone to read the passage in the group.
Study Questions (Suggested time: 40 min)
1) What part of the church service this week met a need or spoke to your heart?
2) As we’ve been following Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey that began in Acts 15:36, we’ve seen him threatened, beaten, imprisoned, and rejected, but never discouraged. How does reading in Acts 18:9-10 that Paul is fearful and withdrawn give insight into the reality of living a God-focused life in a sinful world?
Have you experienced times of fear and discouragement while actively serving God and others? Share an example, if you are willing.
3) Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-3 and notice how Paul describes this time in Corinth. Though Paul had arrived there alone, he is soon joined by Aquila and Priscilla, then Silas and Timothy. How significant was it for Paul to have others support him at that time?
Can you think of times when God has seemingly arranged for others to come alongside you when you were discouraged? What was that experience like for you?
Have you had opportunity to support others in similarly challenging times? What did you learn in both receiving and offering care in the company of other people?
4) In Acts 18:9-10, the Lord promised Paul that he would not be harmed which gave him courage to press on with the work in Corinth. How does Paul’s experience compare with how we receive a promise from God today?
What are some promises that God has given you in challenging times?
Share some practical ways you keep those promises in front of you.
Prayer (Suggested time: 20 min)
Prayer opens us up to the leading of the Holy Spirit which makes it an important part of the Christian life. We realize that everyone has their own comfort level with group prayer, and we want this to be a time of safety and care. You may verbalize your prayer or pray silently to yourself; that way everyone is a participant in sharing this time before God together.
Some things to consider during prayer time:
- What did the message or group discussion cause you to notice about your relationship with Jesus?
- How can you express gratitude for what God’s teaching you?
- What questions are stirring that only God can answer?
- Are there troubling things in your life that need to be confessed to God?
- Is there an unmet need that only God can fulfill?
Personal Spiritual Exercises
Each week we’re suggesting a couple of spiritual exercises. These are not required, but they may help us to actually live our faith and grow as followers of Jesus. Feel free to practice one or both of them. If a certain exercise is very helpful for you, maybe you can figure out a way to incorporate it into your daily life. Next week in your Life Group, take a few moments to share how either of these exercises may have changed your outlook on your daily life.
(Upward Look) Begin your day reading Psalm 27. Notice the characteristics of God; write them down, repeat them back to Him, or form them into a prayer of gratitude.
(Inward Look) At the close of your day, find a quiet place and set aside 10-15 minutes to reflect on the activities, attitudes and emotions that shaped your day. Notice times that felt distant from God. What was happening around or within you to create that distance? Confess anything that comes to mind.