By Doug Redford
1. Did you “step up” during the past week to increase your involvement with some ministry within your church or to your surrounding community? What steps did you take?
2. What subjects do you find easy to talk about with others (even with complete strangers)? What subjects are harder for you to discuss with others?
Ask two people to read aloud Acts 8:4-24 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passage.
3. “Those who had been scattered [following the outbreak of persecution in Jerusalem] preached the word wherever they went” (Acts 8:4). Why didn’t they cower in fear or go into hiding to protect themselves?
4. Why are Christians often hesitant to share their faith with others? What are the specific challenges to sharing one’s faith in the following settings?
- workplace
- school
- neighborhood
- family
5. There was “great joy” as a result of Philip’s ministry in Samaria (Acts 8:8).
- How would you define the joy that Jesus offers to us?
- How does the joy Jesus offers differ from what the world offers?
- Have you known someone who exhibited “great joy” because of Jesus?
- How could you tell their joy was real and not just “for show”?
6. Peter described Simon’s heart as “not right before God” (Acts 8:21). How does one maintain a heart that stays “right before God”?
- What in today’s culture makes “heart health” challenging to maintain?
7. Mark Scott describes Simon’s ego being fed by people calling him the “Great Power of God” (Acts 8:10).
- How can our egos get in the way of a close relationship with God?
- How do we keep our egos under control?
8. What makes the difference between a person faithfully following the Lord and someone who chooses to follow, then falls away quickly or fails repeatedly?
9. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”
10. At the beginning of each day this coming week, write down one recommendation for yourself as part of a personal prescription for spiritual “heart health.” Ask the Lord (the Great Physician) for his help in following your prescription.
For Next Week: Read and reflect on Acts 9:32-43. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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