How The Church Changed The World

The weekend doesn't have to end. Keep Talking on your own or with a group.

Start Talking - Find conversation starters for the group or with a friend.

• What has been your favorite week of the Acts series so far? What has really stood out to you?
• As we’re approaching summer, do you have a vacation, special project, or something fun planned?

Keep Reading – Read the Scripture and ask a question to get the group thinking.

Read these Scriptures out loud:

Ps. 26:8, 84:10, 122:1; Matt. 16:18

All of these verses talk about the house of God.

• What stands out to you from these verses? What most grabs your attention?
• In light of God’s heart for His “house,” how should that impact how we view the people of God? What should this perspective change in us?

Acts 17:6

These are those who have turned the world upside down…

• The early Church was known for how it impacted culture and society. The same should be true of us today – what happens when we come together to worship God together should impact what happens throughout the rest of our lives at home, at work, at school,…
• Does your faith actively impact how you live the rest of your week or do you see a disconnect between your Sunday and the rest of your week? What are areas that you see where you can “turn the world upside down” with the love and message of Jesus?

Keep Talking – Choose questions to create openness.

Acts shows that the early Church consistently moved up toward God and moved out toward people. As they did this, the Church turned the world upside down in 4 key ways:

1. Geographically

• As we read through the book of Acts, we see that the early Church began in Jerusalem, but it didn’t stay there. The Church spread the Good News of Jesus throughout the entirety of the known world, in obedience to Jesus’ command to be His witnesses throughout the world [see Acts 1:8].
• This same command applies to the Church today, and part of our Heart for the House is to continue to carry this mission forward throughout South Florida and around the world. What aspect of what Pastor Todd shared about Christ Fellowship continuing to move geographically most resonated with you? Why?

2. Socially

• The Gospel of Jesus is for everyone. There are no distinctions between Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor, young or old, and so on. We also see that it was the Church that actually changed existing social structures and behaviors; Pastor Todd mentioned that before Christians, no one cared for neglected children. It was Christians who created the very first orphanages and radically changed society through the redemptive love and compassion of Jesus [see also Matt. 25:35-36,40].
• At Christ Fellowship, we follow in the footsteps of the early Church, through ministries like Place of Hope which cares for orphaned or neglected children, partnering with organizations that feed the homeless, going into the prisons, and so forth. Is there an aspect of the societal engagement that particularly resonated with you? What do you think God may be calling you to become involved in?

3. Generationally

• God is a generational God, who makes His covenant with His people from generation to generation and we are also called to think generationally [see Gen. 17:7, Ps. 145:4].
• We also see that Paul was intentional about pouring into the next generation through young men like Timothy and Titus. How is God dealing with you to invest in the generations coming after you?

4. Sacrificially

• The sacrificial nature of the Church is perhaps the most foundational of all of these aspects, because the Church cannot take the Good News of Jesus geographically, socially, or generationally without the sacrificial giving of Christians. This is modeled throughout the book of Acts as well as within Paul’s letters to other churches in places like Corinth [read 2 Cor. 8:1-9 & 9:6-8].
• As Pastor Todd shared, generosity is not an “add-on” to the Christian life, it is a basic element of what it means to be a Christ follower, because Jesus is the model of generosity (2 Cor. 8:9). As you pray about our Heart for the House, what is God revealing to you about your part as a follower of Jesus?

Keep Moving/Going – Commit to a step and live it out this week.

• Continue to pray through this Heart for the House season. What is God saying to you about being involved in the Get There First vision that He has given to our house? Where is God prompting you to become involved? What is He asking you to give toward this vision?
• Pick one of this week’s key Scriptures and make it a reminder in your phone. Spend a few minutes repeating it and thinking about it each day.
• S.O.A.P out the Scripture this week.

Keep Praying

• Prayer requests from everyone at group
• Prayer

Keep Praising

“Glorious Day” – Passion

“Lord Send Revival” – Hillsong Young & Free

“In Control” – Hillsong Worship

Or check out our "Faith Over Fear" playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.

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