Church on the Hill, McMinnville Church on the Hill

Stephen is a case study into what it looks like to practice the Way of Christ amidst suffering. We cannot practice the Way of Christ and experience the Life if we aren't ready to face the pain and suffering that this world forces on us. Our response and the life we lead amidst our suffering becomes a testimony far more powerful than giving someone a run down of the gospel with your words. The people who get it, who practice the Way, don't run from pain or ignore it, pretending as if it doesn't exist, but they face it knowing the God who stands with them with a broken heart and a powerful hand. He does not abandon us to our suffering but has given us the example of how to endure and still change lives amidst suffering, and in doing so following in the steps of Christ, shaming the Enemy, death and the powers of this world. Suffering lasts in the night, but God's power and justice always rises with the morning.

Group Life Questions
1. Compare Luke's account of Jesus' arrest and crucifixion and Stephen's arrest and eventual death. What are the similarities? Differences?

2. Read John 14-15. How does it relate to Stephen? What is the role of the Holy Spirit for believers and what can we learn about the Way of Christ from this passage?

3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in this snapshot of Stephen's life?

4. What role does the Holy Spirit play in your life? How has he moved you recently?

5. What pain or suffering has God transformed into a testimony, either in your own life, the life of someone you know or around the world? Is there any that hasn't yet been transformed? Is there someone who made Christ more real to you through their endurance?

6. Suffering is not open, it is not always public and it is not always obvious or massive. We experience some sort of discomfort, pain or suffering almost on a daily basis. Pray for each other's strength through the Spirit and that others may know Christ through our endurance. 

If it were only us in an open space with the anointing of Jesus and the charge to change the world, where would we begin? This was a picture of the early church. As we conclude our series on Practicing the Way of Christ, we will dive into what it means to Gather and then scatter like the church did in Acts 8. Our community needs more of us to carry the light of Jesus to them. God is just getting started!

Group Life Questions
1. If it were just your group in an open space with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the charge to go change the world, where would you begin?

2. Read Acts 8:1-3. What was the persecution they were facing and how did God use that to help take the message to other places?  

3. What is the purpose of our gathering on Sunday mornings? Make a list and discuss.

4. Questions to end your time together: How often do we pray in our gathering time for opportunities in our scattering? Am I a multiplier for Christ? If so, how? What can I do to bring heaven to earth in my Jerusalem?  

5. End your time in prayer for one another and for more opportunities to share Jesus with others.  

Our vision is to have a healthy, spiritually growing Church through practicing the way of Christ. One of the pillars in a healthy church is a deep, meaningful community. Today, we will explore how God is a community within himself and has established the same for us to participate in. Part of our growth is done in the community. The challenge is to break through that which might be hindering you from experiencing community and establish a walk with Jesus that will show us a better way to practice what He taught.  

Group Life Questions:

1. What is the best part about your small group community that you are in right now?

2. Explore the following Biblical concepts:  
  - God is the founder of shared experiences (Genesis 2:19)  
  - God Is in himself a Community in the Trinity
 -Jesus established a community among the disciples (Mark 3:14 & Matthew 9:10)

3. Have you ever been hurt by the church? If so, please share (to your comfort level) how you processed and were able to land where you did. How did the community help you through and what did you learn about Jesus?

4. How is your walk with Jesus? What are you learning recently from Jesus as you walk with him?

The apostles and the early church of Acts were on fire! They were adding to their number daily, people were being healed, and lives were being changed! We are wanting 2024 to be the year of miracles. We prayed for it during 21 days of prayer. Why do we not see miraculous signs and healings today as what was experienced in Acts? I submit that there is a dichotomous relationship between Faith and Fear. When we allow Fear to creep into our minds, we hamstring our Faith. When we hamstring our Faith, we hamstring the divine work that God wants to do in us and through us. When we believe and hold firm to the promises of God our Faith is increased and our Fear is suppressed and God can use us to accomplish the impossible!

Group Life Questions:

1. What does Liturgy mean? Discuss what makes up your current church liturgy?

2. God calls us to be Holy because He is Holy. What does Holiness look like to you? What does it mean to be Holy?Is perfect holiness attainable?

3. Can you think of Biblical examples of people not doing what God wanted them to because they were afraid?

4. Can you think of Biblical examples of Faith overcoming Fear and Divine work takes place?

5. Are you brave enough to confess a fear that has held you back? If so, what is it.

6. How can we encourage one another to walk in Faith and Trust and help one another not give into fear?

Am I trying to follow Christ or am I training in the practice of following? Our efforts to try things can be unsuccessful and that can lead to burnout, disappointment, and giving up when it comes to following Christ. If we look at following Christ from the lens of training in his practices and the continued routine making us stronger each day, then we will see our growth over time. Today, we dive deeper into training to live for Christ vs. trying to live for Christ and we also explore the church in Acts 4 and how their training got them through the first line of persecution.  


Group Life Questions:

1. What stuck out to you the most from today's message?

2. Would you say that most of your journey with Christ has been you trying to follow or training to follow? What is the difference to you?

3. In Acts 4, what do Peter and John face early in this chapter and how were they able to get through this tough time? 

4. Read 1 Corinthians 4:16. What is your initial reaction to Paul's words here and is it easier for us to understand what he meant with a little context?

5. Are you living the kind of life that you would want to see multiplied in others? 

6. End your time by praying these verses from Acts 4.  
Pray - Acts 4:31 
Grow - Acts 4:32
Serve - Acts 4:32
Multiply - Acts 4:33