Expect the Miraculous

 

Study Guide for Week of August 29, 2021 

This Week Reading: Acts 14:1-3 and Mark 16:14-20 and john 14:12 

Crossroads Community Group Guide:
A. Welcome: Welcome everyone especially new persons and read out loud the purpose of your group
B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use Glory to God  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

D. Announcements

1. Weekly Resources on Crossroads Facebook Page    

        Monday: Listening Room Resources for the week

        Children's resource each week  

2. Daily Devotional Video: The Encouraging Word with Pastor Willie

3. Announcements and Events:  Crossroads Web Site

4. Watch the Sunday service here Sunday 11:45am

E. Review   

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

F. Opening Question (a simple question to introduce the main theme - called an icebreaker): What area of your life do you need God to act and do something you can not do?

G. Read Background Information: 

These 3 verses in the book of Acts chapter 14 show us the boldness and faith that the early followers of Jesus had. Why do you think they had boldness and faith? Note also that there was opposition but that did not stop them. As you lead this study seek to apply these insights to our situations at present. The verse in Mark chapter 16 are a commission of Jesus followers to go reach other people. This is similar to Matthew chapter 28:18-20. Note that some Bible's will note that these verse do not appear in early manuscripts. This means that there are ancient copies of the book of Mark that do not contain these verses for unknown reasons. the early church however accepted these verse as part of the Bible and they are part of the Bible. everything that is taught in these verse is mentioned elsewhere.

Note that signs and wonders is the phrase used to refer to miracles done by the followers of Jesus - just like Jesus did and as He said his followers would do (John 14:12-13)  

Verse Outline: Some key Points to discuss 

I. Medicine Number One: Habit – Verse 1-2

Key Concept: A nail is driven out by another nail. Habit is overcome by habit. (Erasmus)

Key Verse: Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Community Group Application: Four key habits for spiritual health 1. Regular Sunday worship; 2. participation in a community group and 3. personal Listening Room time with God 4. Serving others

II. Medicine Number Two: An Encounter with God - Verse 3 and Mark 16:14-20

Key Concept: Habits are the conduit through which we can encounter the living God

Key Verse: 2 Timothy 3:5 They will go to church, yes, but they won’t really believe anything they hear. Don’t be taken in by people like that (Living Bible Translation).

Community Group Application: Greatest danger to your spiritual life is that your good habits become routines without life 

III. Medicine Number Three: Expecting of the Miraculous John 14:12-14

Key Concept: The only limit is in us. Our asking, our thinking, our praying is too small. Our expectations are too limited” (AB Simpson)

Key Verse: Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Community Group Application: Lets encourage each other to expect miracles 

     II.    H. Word: - read the scriptures above in portions - break it down into smaller portions to read. Read it in portions aloud together several times. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words - keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?
2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.
3. What are the details?
4. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

I. Discuss the following general questions together (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion - the leader should not speak more than 30% of the time - let the group discover what God is saying to them).
1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?
3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?
4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
J. Commitment - Obedience - Application  (This is the key - have everyone answer this question): 
1. What in specific will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

K. Prayer Time:                
1. Pray for an empty chair representing new people who you want to join your group. Name names of people specifically. 

2. Pray for your group to multiply.               
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group. It is best to divide into 2 groups one of male and the other female.

L. For Next time:                
1. Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group                                         for next week.