"How To Find Courage" - Acts 4:1-14 - Nathan Edwards

"God's Gifts" - 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 - William Baker

Spiritual Gifts are an essential component for the church to glorify God and display the gospel.  Outline: 3 Truths to Anchor our understanding of Spiritual Gifts 1. Spiritual Gifts Center on the Lordship of Christ “no one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit” 2. Spiritual Gifts are given to all believers for the benefit of others. “To each is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 3. Spiritual Gifts are not our own; they belong to the Spirit of God “All of these are empowered by the one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” Questions for Personal Reflection 1. What was something encouraging to you from the sermon? 2. What is your experience with spiritual gifts? Would you say you tend to neglect them or overemphasize them? 3. Why do you think Paul connects spiritual gifts to the lordship of Jesus Christ? 4. How do you think people tend to misuse of the spiritual gifts? 5. What gifts do you think the Spirit has given you and how can that be used for the benefit of the church? How have you benefited from someone else displaying their gifts? 6. How does playing the comparison game when it comes to spiritual gifts dangerous for the church? 7. How should love guide the way Christians use spiritual gifts?

"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made" - Psalm 139 - Adam Lipps

God has uniquely designed and prepared each of us to serve His Kingdom. Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Re-read Psalm 139:13-15. What is your initial reaction to these verses? 2. Where are you most tempted to “wear Saul’s armor” - leaning on your own (or someone else’s) ideas about how God designed you? 3. Before we get into the details of SHAPE during this series, what are some abilities, passions, or experiences that you believe God has given you that can aid his Kingdom? 4. Of the 5 categories of SHAPE (spiritual gifts, heart/passion, abilities, personality, and experiences), which ones are you looking forward to exploring more? Why? 5. What is the difference between asking, “What do I want to do with my life?” and “What does God want to do through my life?” Why is this difference important? 6. If God truly designed you for His glory and the building up of his church, what would need to change in the way you view yourself, your gifts, and your purpose?

"The Power of the Gospel" - Acts 4:15-31 - Nathan Edwards

We share the gospel with divine power. 1. We share the gospel with the power of divine authority 2. We share the gospel with the power of divine assurance 3. We share the gospel with the power of divine assistance Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. What was something encouraging to you from the sermon? 2. How have you experienced intimidation for being a Christian? 3. Read Matthew 28:18 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN9ZYZSuxrE&t=1698s]. Where are you hearing secularism’s call to silence that you need to hear Jesus has given you all authority even here to be his witness? 4. How have you benefited from Christian subculture? How might we discern if we have made subculture a retreat from witnessing? 5. Read Romans 8:28 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN9ZYZSuxrE&t=508s]. What experiences can you point to in your life that has proven this verse true? Where do you need to apply this verse to give you assurance today? 6. The Holy Spirit is with us in our witnessing. Recall a story or verse about the Holy Spirit that reveals His power (cf. Judges 15:14 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN9ZYZSuxrE&t=914s]-15, Matthew 12:28 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN9ZYZSuxrE&t=748s], Acts 10:38 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN9ZYZSuxrE&t=638s]). How do these recollections affect your sense of intimidation?

"How To Find Courage" - Acts 4:1-14 - Nathan Edwards

Courage doesn’t come from education, training, position, power, or experience. It comes from being with Jesus. Outline: How do we find courage in the gospel? 1. Reliance upon the Holy Spirit (vv. 8-11) Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them 2. Resolve in the necessity of the Gospel (v. 12) There is salvation in no one else 3. Relationship with Jesus (vv. 13-14) they recognized they had been with Jesus Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. What was something encouraging to you from the sermon? 2. What makes you fearful or timid when it comes to living or sharing your faith out in the world? 3. Share a time where you sensed the Holy Spirit was guiding you with the right words to say in a tough conversation. What were some of the things about the conversation that revealed the Holy Spirit was with you? 4. Do you think it is arrogant to believe Jesus is the only way of salvation? Why or why not? 5. Suppose you are in a conversation with someone who believes many ways can lead to salvation, what might you say to show them that belief is very problematic. 6. A fellow believer is struggling with it being unfair that God only gives one way to be saved. How might you respond? 7. What is something about you that has changed by being with Jesus? How might you use this to share Jesus?

"Why Repent?" - Acts 3:11-26 - Nathan Edwards

Repentance is not defeat; it's what prevents it. Outline: Why we must turn to Jesus 1. To realize the wrongness of our way (3:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRa6j2O0WGs&t=191s]-17) 2. To receive perfect forgiveness (3:18 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRa6j2O0WGs&t=198s]-21) 3. To recognize Jesus is Lord (3:22 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRa6j2O0WGs&t=202s]-26) Questions for Personal Reflection: 1. Why do you think so many have a negative picture of repentance? 2. Think back to conversations from your previous week. Describe one where it might have been possible to turn the conversation to the gospel. How might you have done it? 3. Peter describes Jesus as the glorified servant, the Holy One, the Righteous One, the Author of Life, the prophet after Moses, the promised offspring of Abraham. Which of these titles speaks loudest to you today? How can we use the titles of Jesus to strengthen our faith? 4. Peter removes ignorance of the people’s sin. Does ignorance remove the guilt of our sin? Why or why not? 5. Read Isaiah 53:4-6: How does seeing the cross work to remove the ignorance of your sin? If willing to share, how has the cross exposed your need for repentance? 6. Describe in your own words what it means that your sins are blotted out. Read Colossians 2:13 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRa6j2O0WGs&t=133s]-14: How does the cross assure you of your forgiveness when you don’t feel forgivable? 7. Why is repentance incomplete when it does not turn to Jesus as Lord? Personal reflection: Think of a specific sin struggle – what does giving the keys to Jesus look like here?