I live for God, not man

  • Aug 13, 2011
  • Series: Rediscovering our mission

Life Group: 8/14-8/20

 

Life-Giving Truth

 

What was last week’s truth? How did it impact your heart?

 

Were you more aware of your selfish approach to church?

 

 

Read Acts 5:11-16

 

What is this passage saying about what is attractive to people outside the church?

 

Why is it problematic to work hard at making ourselves attractive to people outside the church?

 

 

What was attractive to people even though it was dangerous to associate with the church?

 

Do you have fears about people seeing your faith? What are they? What do you think will happen if you do?

 

What do you think it means to live your faith out loud in front of people?

 

Read these two stories below… which sounds more like the kind of lifestyle we are called live? Which sounds more attractive to the world? Which has greater opportunity for impact.

 

Bob is a 22 year old college senior. He has always been very confident in his set of beliefs. In fact he has always been so confident that has never had a problem starting up spiritual conversations with friends, relatives, classmates and even perfect strangers. He often times spends his down time between classes walking around with his Bible teaching people about Christianity. He often times ends up in heated debates with atheists all around campus. Bob knows his stuff, and always finds himself winning arguments. His faith has at times turned people off, and every now and then he finds himself really making people angry. He has a Jesus sticker on his car, listens to only Christian music out loud, never drinks, curses or smokes, and loves sharing with people why he has chosen such a lifestyle. Bob begins most of his conversations with, “Well the Bible says…” and, “Well, God says.” He is bold confident and fearless with his faith. Bob lives his faith out loud!

 

 

Karen is a 45 year old x-ray tech and mother of 3 teenage girls. She spends her days seeing patients at the office, interacting with doctors, and then rushing home to her family. Karen is devoted follower of Jesus who loves praying for friends around her. She loves to give sacrificially so that no one will ever notice. Karen looks for ways to encourage people, and only corrects or advises when someone asks for it. She believes in the transformational work of the Holy Spirit which releases her from the obligation to fix people’s lives or ways of thinking. She goes out of her way to eat lunch with people who seem to be lonely, or cast aside. Karen loves the Lord, but recognizes that for His power to actually have an impact on those she loves, she must be the active love of Jesus in everyone’s lives she comes in contact with. She prefers listening to people and learning who they are over arguing over faith differences. Karen is quiet, yet her faith drives everything she does, it seasons her every word, and postures her in every relationship.

 

 

Which one is a better picture of living for God?

 

 

How do you think people will naturally respond to each approach?

 

The apostles were charged with a slightly different task then us. They were called to preach a message that was completely foreign to everyone. Our message is not foreign to most people anymore, but most people have never seen the message lived out in real life.

 

For us living our faith out loud is all about active love and intentional, sacrificial relationship.

 

Do you feel like you more often live your life for man or for God?

 

 

How can living our faith for God make us more effective at reaching people for Him?

 

Read verse 17-32

 

What will be the result of living our faith out loud? (Respect, hardship, impact)