Verses Used:

• Acts 6-7
• Leviticus 24:16
• 1 Peter 3:15
• Galatians 5:6-24

Takeaways:

The gospel is such good news because it gives us not only an earthly perspective, but an eternal perspective.

Full of the Spirit

• To be full of the Spirit is yielding to his lordship in our lives. Letting God be in charge of our lives, even daily stuff instead of letting ourselves take charge.
• Being full of the Spirit means we will be led by the Spirit and in step with the Spirit.
• We are called to follow Jesus and to be filled, led, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• Ordinary people filled with the Spirit can do everything an apostle can do.
• Some of God’s greatest miracles are supposed to happen through you.

Rooted in the Story

• Knowing the story of God (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration/New Creation) are important for our own faith.
• The story of God helps shed light on questions like “Why did all these things happen? Does God care? What’s the point of life?”

Suffering and Death

• We ask questions like “What happened? Why didn’t God rescue Stephen?” when we are so focused on this life and not the next.
• There is a cost to being a disciple.

As confusing and sometimes painful this life is, our calling is to love Jesus and live sent.

Discussion Questions:

• Why is being led by the Spirit important to living the life of discipleship? Can you give an example of what that looks like?
• How does understanding God’s redemptive story help you make sense of life’s circumstances?
• What are some examples of suffering you and I might face in this life?
• How do you think Stephen was able to pray for his accusers as they were killing him? How do you think you would respond?

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