Momentum: The Relationships that Grew the Church“Momentum” Series

October 7/8, 2017Main IdeaThe first church was a community where authentic relationships propelled them to do extraordinary things.

Discovery Questions

1. Last week we issued a “challenge” to read God’s word every day. Did anybody in your group take that challenge? Share your experiences of how it went.

This week as we continue our “Momentum” series, we’ll take a look at the relationships that served to grow the early church. In order to do that, we’ll look at the unique community the early Christians had, and a famous story of a sin that threatened that community.

2. Read Acts 4:32-5:11. In this passage we see both the benefit of close relationships in the early church and the way that the church can be damaged by a lack of honesty and integrity.

a. What do we learn from this passage about the type of community that God wants us to be? b. What do you think about God’s punishment of Ananias and Sapphira? What makes you

answer the way that you do?

3. a. It is said that although we have more “connections” than ever (through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) our generation is the most isolated it has ever been. How have you experienced this?

b. What do you think keeps people isolated and out of deep, meaningful relationships with other people?

4. a. As you think about your spiritual journey, what relationships have had the most profound impact on you in a positive manner? What did you learn from these relationships?

b. Seeing the community in Acts 4:32-37 and what was most attractive about the early church, what steps can you take to provide that kind of community and build those relationships?

c. What would get in the way of living in those relationships and how can you overcome those obstacles?

5. Consider pairing up with one other person in your group to “check in” with each other on a regular basis throughout this week. Through phone calls, text messages, or emails, offer to pray for one another, and share some of the challenges, etc. Then report back next week about how it went!

Leader Guide Starts on Next Page

Leader Guide

1. Last week we issued a “challenge” to read God’s word every day. Did anybody in your group take that challenge? Share your experiences of how it went.

This is a “lighter” question designed to get the conversation going. Spend about 5-7 minutes on this question.

This week as we continue our “Momentum” series, we’ll take a look at the relationships that served to grow the early church. In order to do that, we’ll look at the unique community the early Christians had, and a famous story of a sin that threatened that community.

2. Read Acts 4:32-5:11. In this passage we see both the benefit of close relationships in the early church and the way that the church can be damaged by a lack of honesty and integrity.

a. What do we learn from this passage about the type of community that God wants us to be? b. What do you think about God’s punishment of Ananias and Sapphira? What makes you

answer the way that you do?

Acts 4:32-37 is one of the famous “summary statements” of Acts that we see several times in the book; occasionally Luke will “pause” the narrative of Acts to tell us how the church was doing.

For part “b,” we note that the book of Acts portrays a time of immense transition in God’s Kingdom. God was doing a new thing in the time of Acts, and often in Scripture when God does new things, He will do some things that we may consider “extreme” to prove/make a point. Two other scriptural examples come to mind:

- Aaron’s sons disobeying God about the temple and being killed as a result (Leviticus 10:1-2).

- Uzzah touching the Ark as it is being moved to Jerusalem and being killed(2 Samuel 6:7).

In those two cases and in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, it was disobedience that caused death. It’s important to recognize that all disobedience/sin is always deserving of immediate death (Romans 6:23); often in His mercy, however, God will not punish sin with immediate death. But there are times when God needs to show His people how seriously He takes certain things, and in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, God’s point got across!

Spend 7-10 minutes on this question.

3. a. It is said that although we have more “connections” than ever (through platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) our generation is the most isolated it has ever been. How have you experienced this?

b. What do you think keeps people isolated and out of deep, meaningful relationships with other people?

For part “a,” an interesting read is an article in The Atlantic entitled “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?”1 This is a long article, but talks about the ways that we are more “connected” than ever, but at the same time, isolated by a lack of face-to-face connection.

For part “b,” fear is one of the biggest answers. When we exist in relationship with other people—deep, meaningful relationships with other people—we run the risk of feeling “exposed,” letting down the barriers that we put up to make people feel like we have it all together, have no problems, etc. It can be embarrassing for some to let other people in, and be open about their struggles.

Spend 5-7 minutes on this question in its entirety.

4. a. As you think about your spiritual journey, what relationships have had the most profound impact on you in a positive manner? What did you learn from these relationships?

b. Seeing the community in Acts 4:32-37 and what was most attractive about the early church, what steps can you take to provide that kind of community and build those relationships?

c. What would get in the way of living in those relationships and how can you overcome those obstacles?

For parts “b” and “c,” we understand that the type of relationships that the early church experienced won’t come without risk, including the risk of rejection. The truth is that some people don’t want the types of relationships we see in the early church, and will reject us because of that. It’s hard not to take this personally, but often someone’s rejection has very little to do with us, and everything to do with them. It may take some time and a lot of trial-and-error to find the right “safe” people with whom we can exist in relationship. It will also take people willing to open up and not keep things on just a “surface” level.

Spend about 10-12 minutes on this question in its entirety.

5. Consider pairing up with one other person in your group to “check in” with each other on a regular basis throughout this week. Through phone calls, text messages, or emails, offer to pray for one another, and share some of the challenges, etc. Then report back next week about how it went!

It's probably advisable to have men pair with men and women with women. It’s also important to note that this may look different for the male pairs than it does for the woman pairs. Often, women are more likely to open up than men are, willing to share more of themselves initially. Men are probably much more likely to be content with a “check-in” every so often via text, while women may be more willing to call, etc. That’s OK! The point is to take small steps towards authentic community, and not require that everyone become immediately open and vulnerable all at once.

1 https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-destroyed-a-generation/534198/