Now what you worship as something unknown, I'm going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it
MARCH 21/22, 2015
LOSING MY RELIGION / BOB MERRITT KEY SCRIPTURE ACTS 17:22-27 “Men of Athens, I can see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and observed your objects of worship, I found an altar with this inscription: To an unknown God. Now what you worship as something unknown, I’m going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. God himself gives life and breath to everything and everyone. From one man he created all the nations of the earth. God did this so that so that men would seek him and reach out to him and find him, though he’s not far from each one of us.”
NOTES
ACTS 17:29-31 “Since we are God’s offspring, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold, silver or stone. ‘God overlooked people’s former ignorance about this, but now he commands everyone everywhere to turn away from idols and turn toward him. For he has set a day of judgment by the man he’s appointed, and he proved to everyone who this man is by raising him from the dead.” ROMANS 1:20 From the time the world was created people have seen the earth, sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his eternal power and divine nature so they have no excuse for not knowing him.
DISCUSSION GUIDE DISCUSSION GUIDE DISCUSSION GUIDE CHRISTIANITY SPREAD SO RAPIDLY IN THE EARLY CHURCH THAT IT BECAME A THREAT TO BE JUDAISM, WE THROUGHOUT HAVE ALL FACED THE BIBLE THE PRESSURE WE SEE A GOD TO WHO PERFECT— THE SAME SPIRIT THAT RAISED WITHIN and Saul wasn’t about to let that happen.JESUS Saul wasLIVES so far from Jesus IN PURSUES OUR CAREERS, HIS PEOPLE. OUR We MARRIAGES, can try to ignore AND Him. OUR We canFAITH— try to THE BOOK OF ACTS TELLS ABOUT THE UNSTOPPABLE EVERY WHO HAS THEIR FAITH IN HIM. that you’dPERSON never expect expect the love love andPUT power of Christ Christ to reach reach him. He that you’d never the and power of to him. He run from Him. But He is relentless in His love for us and will never stop faith that grew across Judea, Rome and all of Asia. could BUT LET’S NOT FOOL OURSELVES. We all struggle, and we God gives all believers theInvite same unstoppable ofNothing the Holy Spirit. was everyone’s Do To Church But his was on on everyone’s Do Not Not Invite To Church list. list.power But after after his miraculous miraculous
pursuing us. And the moment when you least expect it, Hekid may bring stop people like Peter, John Paul from telling others about all sin. People fight inone marriage. We all get irritable. Every has had Starting today, ofJesus, usand can be bold in our faith and live a life ofa conversion to follower of he was unstoppable in reaching people conversion to a aevery follower of Jesus, he was unstoppable in reaching people another person into from your life attojust the right time.arrested Jesus, even though they were mistreated and for it. Next, meltdown at Target time time. As a church, let’s stop pretending hopehis if we chooseof tap into His power. with his message oftoHope. Hope. with message Paul himself inofAthens, a place filled with very religious people and finds commit to a life truth above all else. who knew little about God. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS DISCUSSION DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What are some QUESTIONS of your thoughts from the baptisms that took place DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. We sometimes buy into the lie that Godthe only uses the people who 1. How would you if part in when 1. during How would you feel feel if you you were part of ofHave the church church in Jerusalem Jerusalem when the service this pastwere weekend? you been baptized as DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Issmartest, there an area of your life where you care about what other people areSaul most eloquent, and most knowledgeable about the Bible. wanted to join it?
Saul wanted to share join it?your baptism story with the group. If not, what’s an adult? If so, holding you back? because you feared the made opinions others? consequences have available. Where have you yourself available, and where have worshiped do of people inWhat today’s society worship? 2. crisis to Saul’s one that was of blue 2. God used used a amany crisis gods. to get get What Saul’s attention, attention, one that was out out of the the blue God you experienced because of living thisbeen way?hit by something that was you not? and that he couldn’t fix. Have you ever couldn’t Have you been hitthe bymessage, something was 2. and Havethat youhe ever gone fix. to church andever found that orthat maybe beyond your control God used to convert or change 2. Paul sayswas thejust creation wethat experience proves we have a Creator. beyond your control but that God to used to that convert orMaybe change a song, whatbut you needed hear day? you felt that 2.What We have allinfudged the truth, exaggerated, lied, how about can The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s power is to and boldly tellbut others something life? in creation grabs attention? something in your your life? your the pastor was speaking directly to you. Share about your experience. we instead to verbal Because every liesometime is more Christ. Who is commit God wanting you transparency? to bravely share your faith with vertical than horizontal, how may a habit of lying be affecting your this week or year? True conversion when surrender your to Christ invite 3.Read True conversion is when you surrender your life lifeof tothe Christ and invite It’s often easy to is come upyou with a list of approach excuses why weand don’t want 3.3. Acts 17:16-34. How does Paul Athenians? relationship with God today? him to be Lord over EVERY part of your life, including your time, money, him be can Lordyou over EVERY partPaul of your life, including time, money, to doto something orglean follow what God is calling us to do.your What areChrist? some What tips from when telling people about 3. work God gives us his power,What so wearea mayinoverflow with hope. Howfor full of to and relationships. your life is the hardest you work andthat relationships. area in your life is thefor hardest for you to reasons hinder you What from following God’s plan your life? 3. When no chance you’ll get and likelihood someone hope are there’s you, these days? Where do caught you need tono rely on His strength in surrender to Why? surrender to Christ? Christ? Why? 4.your We all struggle with some form of idolatry, whether it’s money, will be disappointed by your sin, are you still motivated to resist? life? 4.fitness Read Matthew 10:32-33. Baptismladder. publicly identifies you as a follower or climbing theascorporate areis some things Character is defined who1:2-4. you are whenWhat no one looking. Whothat are 4. Read Acts 9:23 and James Sometimes our faith can come with 4.get Read Acts 9:23 and James 1:2-4. Sometimes our faith can come with of Christ. What are other ways that identify a person as a follower thebe way of trusting God and by putting him first ininyour life? youincan when no one is looking? 4. aYou filled with God’s power putting yourself a position What you faced your of a price. What struggles have youactions faced in indemonstrate your life life because because of your your ofprice. Christ? Howstruggles can yourhave life and your faith to where the Holy Spirit can speak to you and simply asking for his power. faith? How God use times to strengthen faith? faith? How can can Godyou? use these these times to small strengthen our faith?or family the people around How can your group,our friends 4. WithTHE whom or at what times have you felt pressure to be perfect? How Whether that’s spending time reading the Bible or praying, “Holy Spirit, JOIN CONVERSATION support you in this during the upcoming week? can you lead the way and stop pretending like you it all together? fill me with your power,” what will you do this week tohave experience the We become what we worship. Wouldn’t it be freeing to say “God, 5. Read Romans 7:15-25. What’s your initial reaction to these verses, 5. Read Romans 7:15-25. What’s your initial reaction to these verses, Where do you need to confess and forsake your With God, you fullness His Spirit? you’re it, of You’re Share how God sin? first in of your knowing that Paul with sin just as us do? As knowing that enough”? Paul struggled struggled with sinputting just as as much much as any any of us life do? has As JOIN will find THE mercy. CONVERSATION impacted you with #UnstoppableGod. Christ followers, we should be increasingly more aware of our sin and Christ followers, we should be increasingly more aware of our sin and How hasdetermined God CONVERSATION pursued you or shown you his love lately? Share on JOIN more to moreTHE determined to overcome overcome it. it. How How can can this this group group or or a a close close Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using #UnstoppableGod. JOIN THE God wants us CONVERSATION tomember boldly share whatever way place friend/family help hold you accountable this week in one friend/family member help our holdfaith you in accountable thisor week in we one COMMIT TO MEMORY Every church isit’sfilled withverse imperfect people, yettoday’s we feelmessage, the need can. Whether a Bible or a quote from area of struggle? area of struggle? The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven to COMMIT to TO be MEMORY something we’re not. How you live with more usepretend 140 characters to share about Christ on can social media using and earth. Acts 17:24 transparency Therefore, if you today? confess Share with on your socialmouth mediaand using believe #UnstoppableGod. in your heart that #UnstoppableGod. JOIN THE CONVERSATION JOIN THEJesus CONVERSATION God raised from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 How How have have you you seen seen God God at at work work in in your your life life this this week? week? Share Share on on COMMIT TO MEMORY Facebook, Facebook, Twitter Twitter or or Instagram Instagram using using #UnstoppableGod. #UnstoppableGod. People coverofover sins will not prosper. if they confess and For the who Kingdom Godtheir is not just fancy talk; it is But living by God's power. forsake them, they 1 Corinthians 4:20will find mercy. Proverbs 28:13 think you? have you pretended to be someone you’re But nothing could beWhen further from the truth. Hethat chooses those who 1. As Paulabout walked around Athens, he noticed the people are not
COMMIT COMMIT TO TO MEMORY MEMORY
Take Take up up your your cross cross daily daily and and follow follow me. me. Luke Luke 9:23 9:23
