ACTS 1:12-26 | Crooked Sticks & Straight Lines

W25_WK2

SERMON OUTLINE

THEME OF ACTS:

• God ___________ and _____________ His church through His spirit, working in and through His people.

THE PLAIN MAIN THING:

• Jesus makes ___________ paths with ___________ sticks

THE PLAIN MAIN THING REVISITED:

• Acts isn’t a story about ___________ Christians.
  It’s a story about __________ building his ______________.

WHEN WE MAKE ACTS A STORY ABOUT SUPERSTAR CHRISTIANS…

1.       We read everything as ______________ rather than ______________.

2.       We turn the Bible into a book of ______________.

3.       We fall into a __________________, “god of the gaps” theology.

4.       We limit the scope of god’s _________________.

5.       We become _______________ and cynical rather than confident and _____________.

WHEN WE READ ACTS UNDER THE SCOPE OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

• Jesus said he would ___________________.
  Therefore, we can become ______________ about our present and future.

LIFE GROUP GUIDE

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

1.        What’s your favorite way to relax after a long day?

2.        What’s the weirdest/oddest/most unique talent you have?

QUICK REVIEW

1.        Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?

2.        This weekend, Pastor Justin said that we can limit the scope of God's Sovereignty when we see God in "spiritual" things, but not in "natural" things. What are the ways you feel you fall into this trap? Why do you think it's so common?

TRIADS

READ TEXT Acts 1:12-26

1.  What does this passage say about the character of God?

2.  What does this passage say about fallen humanity and the world we are in?

3.  Where does this passage specifically expose sin or unbelief in my own life? How does it specifically call me to change my thinking, redirect my affections, replace behaviors, and trust in my Savior?

DIGGING DEEPER

1.        READ Acts 1:12-14.  Luke tells us that this church was focused on being of “one accord” (ESV) or “joined together” (NIV), as well as prayer.  What do you think their actions and behaviors looked like? Did they dress up and gather on Sunday mornings? Or might their patterns have looked differently?

a.        READ Acts 1:14.  What do you think they would have been praying for?  Is there anything mentioned in the whole chapter of Acts 1, that this group might be longing for?

b.        How will their prayers help them?

2.        READ Acts 1:16-17.  We’re told in Matthew 27:3-5 that Judas took his own life after betraying Jesus.  There must be much pain amongst the 11 Apostles regarding his defection and death.  How do we see God working through this very complex and rather sad scenario?

a.        READ 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.  How does Paul’s words here help us further understand God’s ability and desire to work in and through us?

3.        READ Acts 1:24-26.  The 11 Apostles relied upon God’s wisdom to select a new leader.  John Piper writes about God’s sovereignty saying that God “is powerful and authoritative to the extent of being able to override all other powers and authorities.” What do the following passages tells us about God’s sovereignty?

a.        Isaiah 46:9-10.

b.        Daniel 4:35.

c.        Romans 8:28.

TAKING IT HOME

READ Genesis 50:20, Job 42:2.  Both Joseph and Job faced events in their lives that included unimaginable pain, loss, and devastation, yet at the end of their stories, they were able to say these words about the Lord’s guiding hand.  How have you experienced God’s sovereign care in your life?  How has being joined together in a church family, and prayer, helped you?

PERSONAL REFLECTION

READ Psalm 115.  What strikes about the way that the Psalmist here is making the case to other nations about God’s presence and provision for the nation of Israel?  Like the other nations, we consistently look to our own version of idols for help and encouragement.  What are your earthly idols?  Do you find it easy or hard to turn away from those idols and to trust in the Lord for all the factors and events of life?