The Apostle
June 2, 2024 - “Fulfill Your Ministry"
Main Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 2 Timothy 1:1-7, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
1. What was your favorite/most challenging takeaway from the Apostle series?
2. When Paul encountered Jesus, his life was turned around! When you encountered Jesus, what changed for you? Maybe this was recent, maybe this was 30 years ago, but it's good to remember and share how Jesus changed your life!
3. Read 2 Timothy 1:1-5 and Acts 16:1-3. How does Paul, Lois, and Eunice model investing in the next generation? How are we also taking seriously the call to pass down our faith to the next generation? Who are you investing in?
4. Read 2 Timothy 1:6-7. Where do you need to believe God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound judgment? What is a gift the spirit has given you that you need to fan into flame? Maybe spend some time as a small group talking about your gifts. Check out this resource on spiritual gifts. (If spiritual gifts peak your interest and maybe your group wants to spend time studying them over the summer reach out to Sydney for more resources!)
5. Read 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5. Why is scripture so important? How are you doing spending time in scripture? Is scripture serving as the ultimate authority for your life and faith?
May 19, 2024 - “Aufhenbung > Schadenfreude (Book Release)"
Main Text: John 17:20-23, Romans 2:1-11
1. Austin talked about how we all have a "them." "Them" are the people who you really don't like, whether that be personal or political. Austin also said that being a Christian robs us of the ability to justify our hate. What did you think about that?
2. Read John 17:20-23. Why does disunity make the gospel unbelievable? How is the Church (big "C" Church) doing at making the gospel believable through unity? How is Vista/our small group doing at making the gospel believable through unity?
3. Read Romans 2:1-11. What is Paul trying to get at here? Austin said, "while most of us accept that we’re sinners, we also like to think of ourselves as better than most other sinners because while we do sin, we don’t do the worst sins." Do you fall into this temptation? How does the statement "your sin is not special" challenge you?
4. Understanding that we are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), how can we be people who are for others (even THEM), instead of people who are against others (action step)? Remember there's another way than anger/hate and that is Jesus!
May 12, 2024 - “Enduring Storms and Avoiding Shipwrecks”
Main Text: Acts 27, Phil. 3:14
1. Dave talked about enduring storms. These are the trials we go through that are out of our control. Are you going through a storm currently?
2. How can we as a small group learn from Paul’s wisdom in how he approached the storms in his life? Below are the points Dave made about how Paul handled storms. Is there a specific one you could be better at?
3. How can we as a small group improve in being better supporters for each other in the storms? How are we already doing a good job at this?
4. Dave then talked about avoiding shipwrecks. These are the trials we go through that could have been avoided (bad decisions/sin). Below are the points he made to avoid shipwrecks:
With these points in mind, are there any actions you need to take to avoid a shipwreck? Do you need to confess a current shipwreck situation?
5. Spend time praying together, believing with and for one another that God is with you in the storms and shipwrecks!
May 5, 2024 - “A Raving Madman”
Main Text: 2 Corinthians 1:1-9, 15-24, 7:2-7
1. Austin described how there was a season where Paul’s relationship with the church in Corinth seemed like a massive “L” (L = Loss).
• What were some of the dynamics in Paul’s relationship with the church in Corinth which caused him so much pain and insecurity? (Betrayal, Rejection, etc.)
• Has anyone ever experienced a situation that made you feel the ways Paul described in 2 Corinthians? (Drowning – 2 Cor. 1:8, relationally malnourished – 2 Cor. 7:2, bombarded by conflict and fear inside and out – 2 Cor. 7:5)? Would anyone be willing to share your story?
• Paul also described God as the God as the God who comforts the depressed (2 Cor. 7:6)? Have you ever experienced God in that way? If so, explain.
2. What is the “Cursus Honorum.” (Course of Honors)? How does Paul turn the cursus honorum on its head in 2 Corinthians 11:21-33? (Not only did Paul not make it up the wall first, receiving the wall crown, but he was let down the wall in a basket to keep from being killed)
• Corinth was a status seeking culture much like our culture today. Austin said: “few things tell you more about someone than what impresses them.” What impresses you? What does that say about you?
• Philippians 2:2-11 shows us Jesus’ path to downward mobility. How can we, as a small group, rebel against the status game? How can we lay down our status for the sake of serving others?
3. Austin’s action step was: “Make sure someone knows the truth and the whole truth about you.” And he said: “healing comes from telling the truth.”
• Are you ok with letting others know you’re not, ok?
• Who knows everything about you?
April 28, 2024 - "Engaging Culture"
Main Texts: John 17:14-18, Acts 17:16-34
1. What are some ways you’ve seen the church interact with culture? (Dave said: Ignore to avoid, fight to shame, join to avoid offending, engage to reach)
• Of those categories which of those ways have you typically responded to culture?
• What role does fear play in some of the responses above?
2. Dave quoted Ed Stetzer who said: "A church becomes missional when it remains faithful to the gospel and simultaneously seeks to contextualize the gospel, so the gospel engages the worldview of its hearers. The apostle Paul sets for us an excellent example of this. He sought to understand the people he was reaching and relate to them in their cultural context. His approach was controversial then, and it still is."
• What are some of the tensions involved in remaining faithful and contextualizing the gospel?
• What are the cultural issues you see requiring the most wisdom and discernment to know how to respond faithfully?
• Can you think of any historical examples where the church either responded faithfully or unfaithfully to a given cultural issue? Are there any ways their response can be instructive for us?
3. Dave’s action step was: Look for ways you can use the culture in which you live to point people to Christ. How can you/we do that?
April 21, 2024 - “Gotta Serve Somebody”
Main Text: 1 Corinthians 9:1-23
1. Austin laid out several of the problem categories where modern people have problems with Paul: sex, slavery, misogyny, freedom. What's your impression of Paul's teachings on these issues?
2. Paul was inconsistent on issues he thought were of lesser importance (eating/abstaining from certain foods with certain groups) because his chief concern was making sure his behavior didn’t cause anyone to miss out on the gospel. Have you ever been in a situation where you either engaged or abstained from something for gospel reasons? How do we know what issues are ok to be inconsistent on for the greater good of someone hearing the gospel?
3. Paul thought the deepest form of freedom was found in repressing and losing our sinful selves so that we can serve Christ by serving others. We moderns tend to think the deepest form of freedom is found in expressing and asserting our most authentic selves. Do you agree with this assertion? If so, how are you navigating this tension? How do you repress your sinful self without losing your whole self?
4. If having the freedom to be yourself (individualism) is best, then why are the worlds freest countries so mentally unwell?
5. The Action Step was: Find ways to serve someone/something besides yourself. How can we do this as a group rather than just individually?
April 24, 2024 - The Man and the Message
Main Text: Acts 13:26-33
1. Paul taught that Jesus was the fulfillment of Israel’s story (the Old Testament). Dave said scripture is a means to the end of revealing Christ as Israel’s messiah.
•What are some potential pitfalls when we don’t interpret the Scriptures with Jesus as its fulfillment?
•Read the scriptures Dave referenced. (Romans 1:1-4, 2 Timothy 2:8)
2. Paul taught that the law was insufficient to provide salvation.
•Has anyone ever struggled with believing that we must earn our salvation?
•What are the consequences of trying to earn your salvation?
•Read the scriptures Dave referenced. (Romans 8:1-4, Galatians 3:10)
3. Paul taught that in Christ salvation was available to all people. Many of the earliest Jewish Christians struggled to believe that believing Gentiles could be fully welcomed/included in the Kingdom of God.
•Is anyone familiar with some New Testament examples of gentiles being treated as second class citizens in the Kingdom of God? (Acts 15:1-2, Galatians 2:11-14)
•Are there any types of people that you struggle to welcome/include that Jesus has made welcome?
•Where does the Church (global and Vista) need to faithfully live into the reconciliation Paul taught about in Ephesians 2:13-16?
April 7, 2024 - The Zealot's Turn
Main Text: Acts 9:1-18
1. What do you think has made Paul both one of the most famous and infamous people in history?
2. What is the tradition of Jewish zealotry and how was Paul shaped by it? How did that affect his view of Jesus prior to his conversion? (Phineas – Numbers 25:10-11, Acts 7:58 – 8:3, 9:1-2)?
3. What are the blessings and curses of being a zealot: i.e. someone who desperately wants to please God? What is the zealot’s turn? (becoming very harsh in the name of holiness, and fixated on church discipline and accountability -- typically for others -- Romans 10:1-4)
4. Has anyone made the zealot’s turn in their life? What were the consequences and what’s the way back to mercy? (Luke 18:9-14)
5. God has not chosen us because we are good, we’ve been chosen because we are God’s, and he loves us. Do you struggle with feeling like you’re not good enough for God? How does that affect the way you see/treat other people?
6. How can we help one another to keep from obsessing about whether we’re good enough, accept that we’re not, and be ok with that? (It's always good to think about the action step communally rather than just individually)
Main Text: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 2 Timothy 1:1-7, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
1. What was your favorite/most challenging takeaway from the Apostle series?
2. When Paul encountered Jesus, his life was turned around! When you encountered Jesus, what changed for you? Maybe this was recent, maybe this was 30 years ago, but it's good to remember and share how Jesus changed your life!
3. Read 2 Timothy 1:1-5 and Acts 16:1-3. How does Paul, Lois, and Eunice model investing in the next generation? How are we also taking seriously the call to pass down our faith to the next generation? Who are you investing in?
4. Read 2 Timothy 1:6-7. Where do you need to believe God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound judgment? What is a gift the spirit has given you that you need to fan into flame? Maybe spend some time as a small group talking about your gifts. Check out this resource on spiritual gifts. (If spiritual gifts peak your interest and maybe your group wants to spend time studying them over the summer reach out to Sydney for more resources!)
5. Read 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5. Why is scripture so important? How are you doing spending time in scripture? Is scripture serving as the ultimate authority for your life and faith?
May 19, 2024 - “Aufhenbung > Schadenfreude (Book Release)"
Main Text: John 17:20-23, Romans 2:1-11
1. Austin talked about how we all have a "them." "Them" are the people who you really don't like, whether that be personal or political. Austin also said that being a Christian robs us of the ability to justify our hate. What did you think about that?
2. Read John 17:20-23. Why does disunity make the gospel unbelievable? How is the Church (big "C" Church) doing at making the gospel believable through unity? How is Vista/our small group doing at making the gospel believable through unity?
3. Read Romans 2:1-11. What is Paul trying to get at here? Austin said, "while most of us accept that we’re sinners, we also like to think of ourselves as better than most other sinners because while we do sin, we don’t do the worst sins." Do you fall into this temptation? How does the statement "your sin is not special" challenge you?
4. Understanding that we are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), how can we be people who are for others (even THEM), instead of people who are against others (action step)? Remember there's another way than anger/hate and that is Jesus!
May 12, 2024 - “Enduring Storms and Avoiding Shipwrecks”
Main Text: Acts 27, Phil. 3:14
1. Dave talked about enduring storms. These are the trials we go through that are out of our control. Are you going through a storm currently?
2. How can we as a small group learn from Paul’s wisdom in how he approached the storms in his life? Below are the points Dave made about how Paul handled storms. Is there a specific one you could be better at?
- Paul remained focused on the goal and the prize. (Phil. 3:12-14)
- Paul learned contentment (II Cor. 12:10, Phil. 4:11)
- Paul chose to live with Joy and gratitude (II Cor. 7:4, Phil. 4:4)
- Paul placed complete confidence in Christ (Phil. 1:6, Phil. 4:13)
3. How can we as a small group improve in being better supporters for each other in the storms? How are we already doing a good job at this?
4. Dave then talked about avoiding shipwrecks. These are the trials we go through that could have been avoided (bad decisions/sin). Below are the points he made to avoid shipwrecks:
- Pay attention to the warning signs
- Don't waste time and opportunity
- Listen to wise godly people
- Chose what's right over what is popular
- Don't put trust in the wrong things
With these points in mind, are there any actions you need to take to avoid a shipwreck? Do you need to confess a current shipwreck situation?
5. Spend time praying together, believing with and for one another that God is with you in the storms and shipwrecks!
May 5, 2024 - “A Raving Madman”
Main Text: 2 Corinthians 1:1-9, 15-24, 7:2-7
1. Austin described how there was a season where Paul’s relationship with the church in Corinth seemed like a massive “L” (L = Loss).
• What were some of the dynamics in Paul’s relationship with the church in Corinth which caused him so much pain and insecurity? (Betrayal, Rejection, etc.)
• Has anyone ever experienced a situation that made you feel the ways Paul described in 2 Corinthians? (Drowning – 2 Cor. 1:8, relationally malnourished – 2 Cor. 7:2, bombarded by conflict and fear inside and out – 2 Cor. 7:5)? Would anyone be willing to share your story?
• Paul also described God as the God as the God who comforts the depressed (2 Cor. 7:6)? Have you ever experienced God in that way? If so, explain.
2. What is the “Cursus Honorum.” (Course of Honors)? How does Paul turn the cursus honorum on its head in 2 Corinthians 11:21-33? (Not only did Paul not make it up the wall first, receiving the wall crown, but he was let down the wall in a basket to keep from being killed)
• Corinth was a status seeking culture much like our culture today. Austin said: “few things tell you more about someone than what impresses them.” What impresses you? What does that say about you?
• Philippians 2:2-11 shows us Jesus’ path to downward mobility. How can we, as a small group, rebel against the status game? How can we lay down our status for the sake of serving others?
3. Austin’s action step was: “Make sure someone knows the truth and the whole truth about you.” And he said: “healing comes from telling the truth.”
• Are you ok with letting others know you’re not, ok?
• Who knows everything about you?
April 28, 2024 - "Engaging Culture"
Main Texts: John 17:14-18, Acts 17:16-34
1. What are some ways you’ve seen the church interact with culture? (Dave said: Ignore to avoid, fight to shame, join to avoid offending, engage to reach)
• Of those categories which of those ways have you typically responded to culture?
• What role does fear play in some of the responses above?
2. Dave quoted Ed Stetzer who said: "A church becomes missional when it remains faithful to the gospel and simultaneously seeks to contextualize the gospel, so the gospel engages the worldview of its hearers. The apostle Paul sets for us an excellent example of this. He sought to understand the people he was reaching and relate to them in their cultural context. His approach was controversial then, and it still is."
• What are some of the tensions involved in remaining faithful and contextualizing the gospel?
• What are the cultural issues you see requiring the most wisdom and discernment to know how to respond faithfully?
• Can you think of any historical examples where the church either responded faithfully or unfaithfully to a given cultural issue? Are there any ways their response can be instructive for us?
3. Dave’s action step was: Look for ways you can use the culture in which you live to point people to Christ. How can you/we do that?
April 21, 2024 - “Gotta Serve Somebody”
Main Text: 1 Corinthians 9:1-23
1. Austin laid out several of the problem categories where modern people have problems with Paul: sex, slavery, misogyny, freedom. What's your impression of Paul's teachings on these issues?
2. Paul was inconsistent on issues he thought were of lesser importance (eating/abstaining from certain foods with certain groups) because his chief concern was making sure his behavior didn’t cause anyone to miss out on the gospel. Have you ever been in a situation where you either engaged or abstained from something for gospel reasons? How do we know what issues are ok to be inconsistent on for the greater good of someone hearing the gospel?
3. Paul thought the deepest form of freedom was found in repressing and losing our sinful selves so that we can serve Christ by serving others. We moderns tend to think the deepest form of freedom is found in expressing and asserting our most authentic selves. Do you agree with this assertion? If so, how are you navigating this tension? How do you repress your sinful self without losing your whole self?
4. If having the freedom to be yourself (individualism) is best, then why are the worlds freest countries so mentally unwell?
5. The Action Step was: Find ways to serve someone/something besides yourself. How can we do this as a group rather than just individually?
April 24, 2024 - The Man and the Message
Main Text: Acts 13:26-33
1. Paul taught that Jesus was the fulfillment of Israel’s story (the Old Testament). Dave said scripture is a means to the end of revealing Christ as Israel’s messiah.
•What are some potential pitfalls when we don’t interpret the Scriptures with Jesus as its fulfillment?
•Read the scriptures Dave referenced. (Romans 1:1-4, 2 Timothy 2:8)
2. Paul taught that the law was insufficient to provide salvation.
•Has anyone ever struggled with believing that we must earn our salvation?
•What are the consequences of trying to earn your salvation?
•Read the scriptures Dave referenced. (Romans 8:1-4, Galatians 3:10)
3. Paul taught that in Christ salvation was available to all people. Many of the earliest Jewish Christians struggled to believe that believing Gentiles could be fully welcomed/included in the Kingdom of God.
•Is anyone familiar with some New Testament examples of gentiles being treated as second class citizens in the Kingdom of God? (Acts 15:1-2, Galatians 2:11-14)
•Are there any types of people that you struggle to welcome/include that Jesus has made welcome?
•Where does the Church (global and Vista) need to faithfully live into the reconciliation Paul taught about in Ephesians 2:13-16?
April 7, 2024 - The Zealot's Turn
Main Text: Acts 9:1-18
1. What do you think has made Paul both one of the most famous and infamous people in history?
2. What is the tradition of Jewish zealotry and how was Paul shaped by it? How did that affect his view of Jesus prior to his conversion? (Phineas – Numbers 25:10-11, Acts 7:58 – 8:3, 9:1-2)?
3. What are the blessings and curses of being a zealot: i.e. someone who desperately wants to please God? What is the zealot’s turn? (becoming very harsh in the name of holiness, and fixated on church discipline and accountability -- typically for others -- Romans 10:1-4)
4. Has anyone made the zealot’s turn in their life? What were the consequences and what’s the way back to mercy? (Luke 18:9-14)
5. God has not chosen us because we are good, we’ve been chosen because we are God’s, and he loves us. Do you struggle with feeling like you’re not good enough for God? How does that affect the way you see/treat other people?
6. How can we help one another to keep from obsessing about whether we’re good enough, accept that we’re not, and be ok with that? (It's always good to think about the action step communally rather than just individually)
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