LIFEGROUPS: WEEKLY DISCUSSION GUIDE 8/23/21

by | Aug 21, 2021 | Church Wide, LifeGroup Guide

Week of August 23, 2021 

SERIES: Life Together          

TITLE: Week #2 – “Sharing Like Family”

Acts 2:44-45

MESSAGE PREVIEW: 

Pastor Brian continued our series “Life Together” Sunday as we looked at Acts 2:44-45.  This in-depth study of how the church in Acts 2 practiced life together is an important picture as we are encouraged to strive do life together here in the 21st Century. Below is a recap of the message from this past weekend. 

INTRODUCTION

  1. There is a contrast between the community life of the church in Acts 2 and what most churches experience today. 
  2. Let’s continue our look at the church as described in Acts 2 and see how we can learn from them about living “Life Together.” 

THE EARLIEST CHURCH PRACTICED RADICAL COMMUNITY (Acts 2:44-45) 

  1. How did the early church practice this radical community? 
    1. Believers Were Together and Had All Things in Common. 
      1. Acts 4:32 ESV “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”
      2. They were unified in spirit (heart and soul). 
      3. Philippians 1:27 ESV ““Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”
      4. They shared like family. They had all things in common. They shared everything and lived with open hands. 
    2. Sacrificial Giving for the Good of the Community. 
      1. Acts 4:34 ESV ““There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”
      2. There was “down-sizing for the Kingdom of Jesus.” 
      3. They sold property and houses (Acts 4:34). Sold possessions and belongings (Acts 2:44). 
      4. “Laid at the apostles’ feet” – gave it to Jesus for the glory of God and the good of the people. 
      5. The Results: 
        1. Funding the Mission 
          1. Acts 4:33 ESV ““And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”
        2. Sharing with Family 
          1. Acts 2:45 ESV “…distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”
          2. Acts 4:35 ESV “…it was distributed to each as any had need.” 

GOOD AND BAD EXAMPLES OF SHARING WITH THE SPIRITUAL FAMILY (Acts 4:32-5:11) 

  1. We see both good and bad examples of sharing with the spiritual family. 
    1. Barnabas
      1. Acts 4:36 ESV “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
    2. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) 
      1. They conspired together to lie about the proceeds. 
      2. They brought only part of it and laid it at the apostle’s feet. 
      3. This was a purely voluntary action to give. (5:3)
      4. The sin is the lie (not lying to man but to God). 
      5. The result: they both died. 

HOW CAN WE “SHARE LIKE FAMILY” AS WE DO LIFE TOGETHER?

  1. We are not just any family…we are the household of God. 
  2. How can we do this? 
    1. Recognize everything we have comes from God. 
    2. Have a proper view of “treasure”. 
      1. Matthew 6:19-21 ESV ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 
    3. Practice giving as discipleship. 
      1. It’s like prayer, reading the Bible, and going to church. 
    4. Do your part and I will do mine. 
      1. We all have a role in sharing. 
      2. When we face a need, we need to let the church know. 
    5. Prioritize the local church as you give. 
      1. You help fund the mission of the Kingdom of God and ministry to people. 

OUR RESPONSE

  1. What is your next step? Take a step now. 
    1. Giving through the body has been very sporadic this year. When this happens, ministry is hindered and slowed. We all have a part to play in this common mission and common ministry of the church. 
  2. Take a step. 
    1. Become a first-time giver. 
    2. Become a regular giver. 
    3. Become a tither.
    4. Become an extravagant giver. 
  3. Let’s share like family! 

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION

OPENING DISCUSSION: GOD MOMENTS  

As we practice “looking up” together, let’s share God Moments from this past week. Sharing with others how we see God moving and at work brings encouragement and hope as we all walk through a broken world. There is sometimes so much negative and brokenness around us that we become discouraged and lose hope. These God moments can remind us and others that in the midst of the difficulty and challenge of life, God is faithfully at work for His glory and our good! Use the following questions to guide your discussion. 

  1. What are the “God moments” from this past week?  How have you seen God at work that is unmistakably Him? 
    1. How has He been working not just in your life personally, but in the lives of your family (spouse, kids, grandkids)? 
  2. How did God speak to you through His Word this past week? 
    1. How are you hearing and obeying? 
  3. How can we specifically pray for you this week? 

Pray as a group – thanking God for how He is at work and asking Him to answer the requests that were mentioned. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Ask and discuss the following questions.

Q: Read Acts 2:44-45. How would you describe the community of faith in these verses? 

Q: How does this compare to what you see (generally) in American churches in the 21st Century?  

Q: Read Acts 4:32-35. What was the culture of generosity and giving like for the early church? 

Q: What motivated them to sell possessions and property to take care of each other?  

Q: What resulted from the generosity and giving of these early followers of Jesus? 

Q: How does radical generosity like this reflect and help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Q: Have you seen or experienced this kind of generosity in the local 21st Century church? Tell the group more about it?   

Q: Read Acts 5:1-11. What lessons can we learn from the story of Ananias and Sapphira?

Q: How can the 21st Century church become more like the church in Acts 2? What are some obstacles and challenges to this becoming a reality?  

WRAP-UP

The church in Acts 2 shared like family. This is how they lived “Life Together.” To wrap up your time, take a few minutes to reflect on these questions and share how God has spoken to you today. 

  1. What did you hear? 
    1. What is your one “take-away” from this week? How did God speak specifically to you through this passage and study? 
  2. What do you think? 
    1. How did this passage and study affirm, challenge, or change the way you think giving and being generous? 
  3. What will you do? 
    1. What is your next step? How will you take the truth of God’s Word and apply it to your life this week?   
    2. What about your Life Group? What is one thing you can commit to or do as a group to live out the truth of this passage? 

Close with prayer. 

SCRIPTURES FROM THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE: 

  • Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:32-5:11, Philippians 1:27, Matthew 6:19-21

UPCOMING MESSAGES: “Life Together” 

  • August 22 – “Sharing and Giving Like Family” (Acts 2:44-45)
  • August 29 – “Gathering in Big and Small Ways” (Acts 2:46-47)