BY: Tim Chilvers
DATE: Sunday 5 March 2023

BIBLE PASSAGES: Read online
Acts | Chapter 16 | Verses 6-15

EXCERPT:

Have you ever missed the end of a movie and never found out what happened? You’re left hanging and wondering. Seeing how the story ends changes how you see the story beforehand. What if the same is true in life? In the book of Acts we read of some early Jesus followers. And as we see each step of their story, it sometimes doesn’t make sense. And yet, when we see how the story ends it changes how we see the rest of the story. It’s good to remember for our lives that the story is not yet finished.

Sorry, no resources this week. Youth (Roc Solid) will stay in during the service at Tally Ho.

Each week there are TWO different sets of questions for you to use, whether you are exploring the Bible within your Life Group, in other group settings, or simply using them on your own.

A | DISCUSSION STARTERS
These are simple questions to provoke discussion together out of the talk (ideal if you are watching our Sunday Service online with others in your group):

1 | Was there anything that particularly helped you during the talk?

2 | Was there anything that you didn’t necessarily agree with, or found difficult to understand in the talk?

3 | As a result of the talk, what:

a. Changes do you want to see?

b. Truths do you need to remember?

c. Actions do you need to take?

B | QUESTIONS TO EXPLORE
These are questions that are based on the talk and the surrounding themes:

Read:  Acts, Chapter 16, Verses 6-15

1 | Have you ever missed the end of a movie, or TV programme, and never found out what happened?

2 | Read Acts 1:8 and Acts 16:6-15. Jesus tells his disciples the plan – the good news of Jesus will travel to the ends of the earth. And yet, in chapter 16, Paul seems to get a bit stuck. Why might Paul have been frustrated in 16:6-8? How would you have responded?

 3 | In 16:9-13 things seems to be looking up again. How might Jesus’ plan of Acts 1:8 now be working its way out?

 4 | Read Acts 16:24. And yet, by now, it seems that things are looking worse for Paul and Silas again. If you were in prison for trying to faithfully follow Jesus, how likely would you be to doubt God’s involvement in your story? How easy do you find it to trust in God’s goodness when you don’t understand what is happening?

 5 | Read Acts 16:25 – notice what they do. They worship and pray. When we don’t understand what is happening, sometimes we need to do the same – actively choose to worship and pray, even if we would rather not do so. When was the last time you chose to do so, even when it was difficult? How did it impact the way you saw your life?

6 | Notice in Acts 16:40 where they meet, after they are released from Prison – Lydia’s house. God was at work in every step of their journey. He was still writing the story, even when things looked wrong. In what areas of your life do you need to remember that the story is not yet finished? What about for us as a church?

7 | Take some time to pray, asking that God would remind you of the fact that he is always at work, and therefore is at work in your life and through your life right now.

As you work thorugh these questions pray for one another to deepen and develop your relationship with Jesus in this year ahead.

WEBSITE |Helpful brief overviews of James: The Bible Project: James Video. (8 mins)

BOOK | The Letter of James by Scot McKnight (a shorter version with questions is also available: James & Galatians by
Scot McKnight). Please contact us to borrow a copy if you are preparing teaching material.

BOOK | The IVP Bible Background: Commentary by Craig S. Keener.

# Helpful for a brief overview of James.

BOOK | James NIV Scripture Journal

# Single copy £1 from this website.

FREE copies will be available at church THIS SUNDAY (8 January).