Acts 21:1-14 Questions for Discussion and Reflection

Acts 21:3-6 records details of the Apostle Paul’s stay in Tyre. He and his companions are in Tyre for seven days while the ship upon which they found passage unloads its cargo (Acts 21:3). While there, Paul meets local disciples and is encouraged by their friendship and hospitality. Although his time with these disciples is short they experience deep fellowship. In what ways do the following scriptures enhance your understanding of Christian fellowship?

1 Corinthians 12:21-26--

Romans 12:16--

Galatians 2:9-10--

Ephesians 4:2-3--

Philippians 4:1-5--

1 Thessalonians 5:11--

Hebrews 10:24-24 --

1 Peter 3:8--

1 John 4:10-12--

How is the Holy Spirit leading you to deeper fellowship with fellow Christ-followers?

Empowering People for Ministry #8

#8 Give People T.I.M.E. (Touch, Inspiration, Motivation, Encouragment).

Tim writes, "Make sure you are giving your people T.I.M.E. Teach your leaders the importance of giving T.I.M.E. to those under their care. If this isn't natural for you, then systematize the practice inot your life... People matter too much not to make this a priority." (Page 33)

Simply Strategic Volunteers: Empowering People for Ministry By Tony Morgan & Tim Stevens Power-packed strategies to plug people into church ministry! Providing 99 straightforward, field-tested solutions to help you recruit, train, motivate, and keep volunteers, these in-the-trenches authors also explain how to create an encouraging environment with unique serving roles; how to help contributors find greater personal fulfillment in the process; and much more. 236 pages, softcover from Group.

Acts 20:32-38-- Questions for Discussion and Reflection

The Apostle Paul’s final words of farewell begin, “And now I commit you to God and to the message of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified” (Acts 20:33). The Christian life is not merely difficult, it is impossible. It can only be authentically lived as the Holy Spirit graces (empowers) the believer. Ephesians 2:8 declares that we are “saved by grace.” Here in Acts 20:33 we observe that we are “built up” and receive our “inheritance” by grace. The entirety of the Christian life is an experience of grace.

Read Genesis 22:1-19. How was Abraham’s test an experience of God’s grace? (See also Romans 4:3 and Galatians 3:6.)

Read James 1:2-4,12. How does the “testing of your faith” build you up in Christ?

Paul ends his message quoting the words of Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). How is generosity and service an experience of grace?

2 Corinthians 8:6-7, 8-9—

2 Corinthians 9:8—

Ephesians 3:7—

Ephesians 4:7—

1 Peter 4:10—

How are you growing in grace?

Empowering People for Ministry #7

#7 There’s More To Worship Than Singing.

Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Tony writes, “True worship through service helps to fulfill our need for significance, but it’s certainly not worship’s primary purpose. More than anything, worship is about pleasing God. God is pleased when we serve.” (Page 31)

How can we as leaders help people understand and discover genuine (“spiritual”) worship, both adoration AND service?

Simply Strategic Volunteers: Empowering People for Ministry By Tony Morgan & Tim Stevens Power-packed strategies to plug people into church ministry! Providing 99 straightforward, field-tested solutions to help you recruit, train, motivate, and keep volunteers, these in-the-trenches authors also explain how to create an encouraging environment with unique serving roles; how to help contributors find greater personal fulfillment in the process; and much more. 236 pages, softcover from Group.

Acts 20:25-31 Questions for Discussion and Reflection

Acts 20 records the Apostle Paul’s final in person encouragement and challenge to the overseers (pastors) of the church at Ephesus. In verse 28 he gives the charge, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood.” (ESV). Why is it significant that the first duty of an elder be that he “pays attention to himself”? What insights to the following Scriptures provide as to the duty of every Christ-follower to pay attention to his or her walk.

Philippians 3:17—

2 Thessalonians 3:7—

1 Timothy 4:12—

1 Timothy 6:20—

2 Timothy 1:14—

Titus 2:7—

James 5:10—

How is the Holy Spirit leading you to pay greater attention to your walk?

Compare Acts 20:25-31 with 1 Peter 5:1-5. In light of these Scriptures, how is God leading you to pray for or respond to your pastors?

Empowering People for Ministry #5 & #6

#5 We All Love a Standing Ovation.

Romans 13:7 "(Give) honor to those you owe honor.” My wife is great at thanking those who care for our girls: Sunday School teachers, Preschool teachers, dance instructor, etc. The best part is that our daughters see her doing this. Tony writes, “We all need cheerleaders. We all need people who will encourage us to do the next right thing… We need others to affirm that we’re moving in the right direction and recognize the value of our contributions.” (Page 27)

What are meaningful ways in which you’ve received encouragement for past ministry? What are some creative ways in which we can cheer on ministry volunteers?  

#6 Embrace the Chaos.

Jesus says in John 12:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (ESV) There is no way to avoid chaos in ministry. Tim observes, “But let me encourage you to embrace the chaos. If you wish to much for the serenity of silence and chaos-free living, you may get what you want. And then you’ll find yourself in a dying church, the sole purpose of which is preservation rather than transformation.” (Page 29)

How can we encourage ministry volunteers to “embrace the chaos”?

What role does excellent planning, administration, and preparation play in helping to alleviate the stress of chaos?

Simply Strategic Volunteers: Empowering People for Ministry By Tony Morgan & Tim Stevens Power-packed strategies to plug people into church ministry! Providing 99 straightforward, field-tested solutions to help you recruit, train, motivate, and keep volunteers, these in-the-trenches authors also explain how to create an encouraging environment with unique serving roles; how to help contributors find greater personal fulfillment in the process; and much more. 236 pages, softcover from Group.

Acts 20:22-24-- Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Acts 20:24 reads, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” The KJV translates the second phrase, “so that I might finish my course with joy…” What reasons for the Christian’s joy are discovered in the following Scriptures?

1 Samuel 2:1—

Psalm 4:7—

Psalm 122:1—

Job 8:21; 22:22-26—

Ecclesiastes 2:26—

Acts 13:52; 14:15-17—

Luke 1:46-49—

Romans 15:13—

Philippians 1:4-6; 4:4—

What ministry (service) is the Holy Spirit impressing on you the desire to finish well?

Challenge from Titus 2

Last week at the Wednesday morning Men's Bible Study we listened to Pastor Scott Thomas' message on Titus 2. Pastor Scott gives a powerful challenge to older men and women to invest into the lives of younger men and women. Listen to the message below and spend some time working through the following questions. With whom is the Holy Spirit leading you to invest? 

Read Titus 2:1-9 considering the specific call to certain groups.

What is God calling older men to? Older women? Young women? Young men?

What do these have in common?

How are they different? Why are they different?

Where do you fit in? What is God calling

you to through these scriptures?

Where have you been tempted to cut corners because no one would know but you?

How does that apply to verse 9 and 10?

In what way have you protected the word of God from maligning, condemning or made it attractive?

Where have your actions been detrimental to this purpose?