Fall 2009, Week 5 – Small Group Questions

The sermon for this week from the series “Acts in 3 Acts: Act 1” is titled “Is My Faith Real“.

What religious practice did you once do “just because everyone else did it that way,” but you have since “outgrown”?

Read Acts 5:1-11 out loud. What stands out for you in this passage? What questions do you have?
Were Ananias and Sapphira required to sell the land and lay all the money at the apostles’ feet? Why or why not? What was their sin?
What would Ananias and Sapphira gain by lying about the money they received? How does this compare or contrast to the description of the church in Acts 4:32-37?
Given that we all to bad things, why do you think God punished Ananias and Sapphira so severely? How might “great fear” be a good thing for the church at this time?

When have you tried to “fool” God? What happened?
Did you ever simply “go through the motions” when it came to your spiritual life? In what way? Do you now ever find yourself “going through the motions”? In what way?
What part of your life are you “keeping back” from God? Why? If you gave that part over to God, how would that affect your life? How might it affect your faith in God?

Application: Ask God to help you develop a life of faith that is truthful, honest, and genuine, and to be honest about those things you are “keeping back” from him.
Joys and Challenges: What joys and challenges are you facing this week?
Here at Northminster: Pray for the Session (Northminster’s board of elders) this week as they continue to listen to God and discern where God may be leading our church.
Beyond Northminster: Pray for all those in our neighborhood who have not experienced the life-giving love of God. Pray that we might connect with them so that they might experience God’s love through us.