HOME GUIDE | August 30, 2020

HOME GUIDE | August 30, 2020
SUMMARY | Church on mission leans on spirit-led leaders to handle difficult questions and problems (Acts 15)
INTRO | The morality of a person is important especially for Christians. In the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5, Jesus is stressing the importance of the believers actions of those in lower economic and social classes, and those in the higher ranks.  Jesus stresses that we are the salt and light of the world.  Unfortunately,  this has taken Christians down the path of rules and regulations for believers that might not have impact on their salvation.  In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas are met with a group of people communicating mixed messages about the steps required for salvation. The point of tension is the subject of salvation for the Gentile believers.   Take a few moments to read Acts chapter 15 and see how they debated and resolved this subject. 
*Notice that the people are categorized by social groups (Apostles, elders, Gentile, believers, “believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees”.   These categories are in the text to help the reader understand the various perspectives of the people in the conversation.  Focus in on 15:9: He (God) did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |

1. [Children] Activity: Have the children draw what comes to mind throughout today’s discussion. Help them use their words to describe what GOD is doing in this storyline. 
2. [Children - Adult] Having a simple faith like a child is essential when we try to understand who God loves. What are some rules we think we have to follow to ‘go to heaven’?  
3. [Children - Adults] Take a few moments and discuss why people thought the Gentiles were not in favor of God’s gift of salvation through Jesus. 
4. [Children - Adults] The council at Jerusalem consisted of the believers who come from other religious ‘sects.” From reading the text, who were all in the council? Did one seem to have more authority? 
5. [Teens - Adults] with a heart of everything is permissible, but not everything in the law is condemning. Example: Some might feel as if the auditorium at church is a sacred place that requires reverence. When in reality, it is just a room that we have labeled as sacred in certain moments. Why is something like this difficult to discuss? If we are honest, is it preference? 
6. [Teens - Adults] Why do you think the council has an official ruling in these matters? How does that look today in our church? Who set’s the direction for its members? (ie: Elders) How or why are they selected?
7. [Teens - Adults] In vs 22 and following, Why is it important for the men from the council to go with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch? 
8. [Teens - Adults] Starting in vs36, we discover Paul and Barnabas's sharp disagreement that caused them to separate yet continue on the mission. Isn't it interesting that the Bible shares the brokenness within its own story? For some, this shows respect for the assignment in contrast to if this story were fake or a fairytale, wouldn't you think they would hide all the brokenness? 
9. [Children - Adults] In today's lesson, Tim will make a similar statement “Church on mission leans on spirit-led leaders to handle difficult questions and problems“In your own words, what does it mean to be spirit-led? Have you ever been led by the spirit to help discern a new direction? 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS | Family Activity for the summer
[Children - Adults] For several weeks now we have encouraged a family prayer board. How is that going?   Here is what that looks like: Find a blank piece of paper or a whiteboard, go around the room asking about any concerns or thanksgivings before a time of Prayer.   Leave this paper where you can see it all week, discuss them everyday and see where God might be working in them. [Deu 6]
Additional Resource | Mission and Vision of the West Side Church of Christ: https://www.westsidear.org/mission-and-vision.html