3 Dangerous People in the Bible

 

Study Guide for Week of October 2, 2022 

This Week's Scripture: Acts 10:1-48

Crossroads Community Group Guide

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud 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 (Optional): Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: Great Are You Lord  (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)

D. Video Message                                                                   

       

E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website        

F. Review:

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

G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):

• What types of situations are out of your comfort zone?

H. Background Information for this study: 

This chapter of the book of Acts is a key point in the spread of the good news of Jesus. Jesus had given His disciples the command known as the great commission to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations and peoples. The disciples were Jewish and did not relate to people who were not Jewish. They called these people Gentiles (non Jews). They considered non Jewish people to be unclean and they would avoid them. 

This attitude created an obstacle to the spread of the good news of Jesus to all the world. Peter was living in his comfort zone. God had to open his eyes and move him outside of his comfort zone.

Cornelius was an army officer in charge of 100 men. He was hungry for God. He however needed someone to explain to him the good news about Jesus. Cornelius was also a contagious person. Note how he invites many people to come to his house to meet with Peter.

The 3 dangerous people (dangerous in a good way) are:

Cornelius - a person hungry for more of God

Peter after God changes his attitude - a person willing to go outside his comfort zone

Cornelius - a person who invites and reaches other people.

 

First Section: Acts 10:1-8. This section shows us Cornelius and his hunger for God.

Second Section: Acts 10:9-23: This section shows how God changed peter attitude and got him out of his comfort zone.

Third Section: Acts 10:24-48: This section shows how the good news spread in as a result of Cornelius inviting other people.

In this study be sure to make a practical application to each section. Make application to your life including what you will do to tell other people the message.

J. Word: Read the scriptures above by section. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to 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 jumps out at you and catches your attention?

5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for 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?

 
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application

(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.) 

1. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

M. Prayer Time:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

1. Pray for your group to multiply.
2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group.

N. For Next time: Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.