The Church, Part 2
Anthony Fusco
Part of Small Groups—Questions
January 17, 2024

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

The hope of our writing team and staff is for this material to provide valuable content around Scripture, biblical principle(s), themes, or books of the Bible being taught. The purpose of this Discussion Guide is to encourage us to KNOW, GROW, and GO in our relationship with Jesus by creating:

  • Conversation amongst one another
  • A better understanding of God’s Word
  • Application of Scripture in our lives


For each Small Group, our prayer is that every member has the opportunity to share ideas and thoughts during group. For our leaders, facilitation (not teaching) achieves this goal. As discussion unfolds, use discernment to ask additional questions if it helps one another to grasp biblical truth. With that in mind, life is messy. There will be times when an important theological breakthrough happens or a member experiences a significant life event that gives good reason to intentionally pause the study and allow discussion to go in a different direction. There is always freedom to pivot when necessary.

We understand that everyone is coming to a Small Group with a wide range of biblical understanding. We hope each person will walk away with an increased knowledge of the specific passage and its place in the broader Biblical narrative and apply its truth to their lives. Small Group discussions can be a springboard for group members to dive deeper into their own personal study and grow in their relationship with Jesus.

OVERVIEW OF SCRIPTURE

Main Scripture: Acts 4:12–32

Author and Audience: The Book of Acts does not specifically identify its author. From Luke 1:1–4 and Acts 1:1–3, we know that the same author wrote both Luke and Acts. Scholars agree that Luke, a companion of the apostle Paul, wrote the books of Luke and Acts (Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:11). Luke was a doctor who accompanied the Apostle Paul on several missionary journeys.

Date of Writing: The book of Acts was likely written between AD 61 and 64.

Purpose of Writing: The Book of Acts provided a history of the early church. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Acts records the apostles being Christ’s witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the surrounding world. The book of Acts sheds light on the gift of the Holy Spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our Counselor. The book of Acts covers the transitional time between the ascension of Christ and the completion of the New Testament canon. It also serves as a transition from the Old Covenant to the New.

Brief Summary: The book of Acts gives the history of the Christian church, the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (locally, regionally, globally), and the mounting opposition to it. It was primarily written for believers and those who were not Jewish. The Book of Acts covers 30-40 years and shows how Christians and the church were outward-focused. The Book of Acts gives us a glimpse into how Christ-followers, even under Roman rule, were good citizens, reasonable, peaceful, and charitable. Throughout the 28 chapters, the Book of Acts tells the story of how God first invited the Jewish people, and then people of all nations, to follow Jesus.

Practical Application: God can do amazing things through ordinary people when He empowers them through His Spirit. The book of Acts shows how God essentially took a group of fishermen and commoners and used them to turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6). God took a Christian-hating murderer and transformed him into history’s greatest Christian evangelist, the author of almost half the books of the New Testament. God used the persecution the Christians endured to help stimulate the incredibly rapid expansion of the fledgling church. God can and does do the same through us—changing our hearts, empowering us by the Holy Spirit, and giving us a passion to spread the good news of salvation through Christ. If we try to accomplish God’s work in the world in our own power, we will fail. Like the disciples in Acts 2, we must faithfully proclaim the Gospel, trust God for the results, and devote ourselves “to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

KNOW

Read Acts 3:1, Acts 4:1, and Acts 4:5–6

  • Who are the two main people speaking in Acts 4?
    Who are they speaking to?

Read Acts 3:2–10 and Acts 4:2.

  • Why are Peter and John in trouble with the religious leaders?

Read Acts 4:12. Peter gives a succinct yet clear proclamation of Christ alone being one’s only means to salvation. In life, we will interact with people who believe there’s more than one way to heaven.

  • Read John 14:6 and Ephesians 2:8–9. How do we as believers, with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15), discuss, share, and defend that Jesus is the only way and all roads don’t lead to heaven?
  • How do we do this without coming across narrow minded, intolerant, angry, or even hateful?

Read Acts 4:13. The Jewish leaders were extremely impressed with John and Peter because they were untrained, uneducated, and bold.

  • How do Jesus’ words in Luke 21:5 and Acts 1:8 come to fruition in this situation?

Read Acts 4:19.

  • What does this verse teach us regarding who has ultimate authority?
  • What does this account in Acts 4 teach us when facing a situation where God’s commands conflict with another authority in our lives?

Read Acts 4:21–23. We’re told “all were praising God,” and “they lifted their voices to God.”

  • How does real persecution ultimately unite Christ followers?

Read Acts 4:24-30. Faced with opposition, the new church took comfort in God’s sovereignty and had confidence in His allowance of suffering.

  • In Verse 29, instead of requesting protection, they asked for more courage to speak boldly. Discuss.
  • The very same leaders who had brought Peter and John in for questioning had recently crucified Jesus. Having done their very worst to Him, all they had really succeeded in was fulfilling God’s ultimate plan. Based on the response given by the church in Verses 24–30, what had God accomplished through this particular scenario (Hint, see Genesis 50:20).

Read Acts 4:31–35. The religious leaders ordered Peter and John not to speak of Jesus at all.

  • In spite of this request, what do we find the believers doing in Verse 31?
    What do the believers ask for in Verse 31?
  • In Verses 32–35 how did God answer their request and how were these believers described?

GROW

In today’s message we talked about how a church’s natural gravitational pull is to go from outward focused to inward focused.

  • Have you seen this pull in your own life?
  • How do we have a healthy balance of being outward and inward focused?

Early on in Acts we see Peter and John together several times. (Acts 3:1; 3:11; 4:13; 8:14). There is value in partnerships when sharing the Gospel, and seeking to grow in our Christian Walk.

  • Do you have a Peter or John you could team with when sharing the Gospel or in accountability?

When the religious leaders observed Peter and John’s boldness they concluded that they had been with Jesus.

  • Would those observing our lives also come to the same conclusion? Why? Why not? If not, what could we do to have the same witness?

The religious rulers also observed the miracle performed by Peter, and noted it was evident to all those in Jerusalem. It simply could not be denied.

  • Would those who observe us also see evidence of changes in and around our lives?
  • What might we share that shows a changed life, something that would be helpful in a witnessing situation?

When facing the religious leaders, Peter and John seek to please God rather than man.

  • How can we avoid the major pitfall of placing more emphasis on how we are perceived by others as opposed to how we are perceived by God?

GO

What would it look like to have an attitude toward those who don’t believe in Jesus that says…

  • How can I help you believe?
  • While you’re contemplating things, what can I do for you because you’re not my enemy?
  • I’m not against you, I’m just excited for you to know about Jesus.

Although we can bring all our requests to God…

  • What would it look like to pray for boldness?
  • Is there anything holding you back from praying this way?
  • Would you pray for boldness even if difficulties come your way?

Think outward!

  • What’s something you or your group could do to be more outward focused this week?

PRAYER

Small Group Prayer Requests: Take some time to gather prayer requests from the group. Have someone write these down to see how God moves and answers prayer.

Northwest Prayer Highlight: Continue to focus on our 60-Day Prayer Challenge of praying twice a day for:

  1. The presence of God
  2. Increased faith
  3. Purity of God
  4. Boldness