Discussion Topic: Prayer, Faith, Community, and Sacrifice

Pray

Pray together for the group meeting, and any pressing needs within the group.

Mission Talk

Each week you’ll spend some time sharing about the previous week’s mission. What was your mission, what were your results, and what did you learn from it?

Watch

Watch the following discussion-starter video. It’ll set the topic of discussion for the group.

Read Acts 12:1-17

1. One person will first read the scripture selection in the King James Version.
2. Next, another person will read the same passages in a modern language or amplified version for more clarity such as the New Living Translation (NLT), Message Bible (MSG), New English Translation (NET), Amplified Bible (AMP), etc. We recommend using the YouVersion Bible app.

Retell

1. Choose one person to begin retelling the scripture passage in their own words (a new person each week is great!)
2. As a group, work together to fill in gaps and build the story. This will help us internalize and own it.

Discuss

Together, share around the group how the topic and scripture setting applies to your life personally, and to the mission and direction of our Church.

Here are some thoughts to consider for discussion… don’t let the discussion stop here, though… what questions can you ask that will help uncover God’s message?

• When King Herod began harming the church, how do you think that affected their sense of community?
• Why did it “please the Jews” when Herod executed James? What role did James have in the church at that time?
• What might Herod have intended to do to Peter when he arrested him?
• What was the response from the church community when they learned Peter had been captured?
• On the night before his trial, how securely was he being guarded? Describe that scene.
• When the angel appeared to Peter, who was in the prison cell? Who saw the angel? In what way was this miraculous?
• Has God ever revealed something to you that people around you didn’t experience? Explain.
• What did the angel tell Peter to do?
• What did Peter think was actually happening?
• How might Peter and the Angel have gotten past the guards? What would have had to happen?
• When Peter and the angel came to the iron gate, what happened?
• What role did prayer play in Peter’s deliverance from prison?
• What does this tell us about prayer’s importance in our church?
• What role did faith play in Peter’s deliverance?
• When did Peter realize this experience was real?
• Where did Peter go once he realized God had delivered him? Why might he have gone to this place?
• What were the people doing in the house when Peter arrived?
• What does this tell us about community? About persistence in prayer? About faith? About sacrifice?
• What was Rhoda’s response when she saw Peter? What does this tell us about her faith?
• Have you ever experienced faith like Rhoda? Explain.
• What was the response of the crowd in the house when Rhoda said Peter was there? What does this tell us about their faith?
• Have you ever felt skeptical when someone described a miracle to you? Why?
• What did Rhoda do when they didn’t believe her?
• What finally happened for them to believe Rhoda? Does God sometimes give us physical proof to help us believe?
• What did Peter do after they recognized him?
• Why did he tell them to share his experience with James?
• In what way is sacrifice expressed in this story?

Mission

In light of what we now know about this passage, what is God calling you to do this week? As a group, take just a couple of minutes to silently pray to God asking, “Lord, what do you want me to do this week because of what I’ve seen today?” Briefly write this down as a personal mission statement for the week,

“Lord, this week, I will __________________________.”

Some possible suggestions:

• Lord, this week I will share a testimony with a friend in the church.
• Lord, this week I will pray earnestly for someone else’s deliverance or blessing.
• Lord, this week I will sacrifice some extra personal time to pray.
• Lord, this week I will ask a couple of friends to have a prayer meeting.
• Even better, write your own!

Next Week…

Next week is your celebration meeting, thanking God for another incredible semester. Feel free to study any scripture you’d like and share with your group.