Week 13 Paul

Grace Community Church - Loveland, CO

Week 13 Paul

September 3, 2023 • Erik Miller • Acts 7:54—8:3, Acts 9:1–22, 2 Corinthians 11:23–28, 1 Corinthians 15:1–11, Philippians 3:5–6

Verses: Philippians 3:5-6, Acts 7:54-8:3, Acts 9:1-22, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Philippians 3:7-10

Main Point: God is mighty to save and graceful to pursue.

Questions:

1. What impacted you from this message? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God through the study of Paul?

2. What details do you know about Paul’s life? Which details seem the most important to you?

3. Read Philippians 3:5-6. How did Paul describe his religious background? Which things was he born into, and which things did he pursue? How could have Paul’s background created a barrier to following Jesus?

4. Read Acts 7:54-8:3. What was Saul’s role at the Stephen’s stoning. What happened after Stephen was martyred? Describe Saul’s persecution of the early church?

5. Read Acts 9:1-22. What was Saul doing at the beginning of this passage? How did the Lord get his attention? What did Jesus say to Saul? What would you have felt if you were in Saul’s place?

6. What was Ananias’ response to being told to pray for Saul? What did the Lord tell Ananias about Saul? After his conversion, what did Paul do? What did the people say about him?

7. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. Paul was called to be the “Apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13). Throughout his missionary journeys, Paul would suffer for the Jesus. Describe the sufferings Paul listed in these verses?

8. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. In these verses Paul described the Gospel message and how it impacted him. How would you describe the Gospel from these verses? What impact did it have on Paul?

9. Read 1 Timothy 1:12-17. How did Paul describe himself in these verses? How did God’s grace change him? How do these verses give us hope that anyone can trust in Jesus and experience his grace?

10. Read Philippians 3:7-10. This is the continuation of the verses you read above. What did Paul desire above all else? Why is knowing God so important?

11. What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Week 1 Abraham

June 11, 2023 • Erik Miller • Genesis 12—22

Main Point: Growing faith requires trusting God when we don’t understand. Questions: What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Abraham’s life? Read Genesis 12. What promise did God make to Abram? How old was Abram? What kind of faith would it take to do what Abram did? Why did Abram lie to Pharoah about his relationship with Sarai? What does this show us about Abram? Read Genesis 15. In this chapter, God made a covenant with Abram, and promised him a male heir. What do we read about faith in Genesis 15:6? Why is this significant? What is symbolic about the ceremony that takes place in this chapter? What does this reveal about the Covenant God makes with Abram? Read Genesis 16. Abram and Sarai grew impatient and took matters into their own hands. What happened? What were the consequences of Abram having son with Hagar? Read Genesis 18:1-15. God fulfilled his promise to Abram and sent messengers to let him know. What did the messengers say? How did Abram and Sarai respond? Read Genesis 21:1-20. What happened when Isaac is born? How were Hagar and Ishmael treated? How did God respond to their situation? Read Genesis 22:1-19. What did God command Abraham to do? Why do you think God asked Abraham to do this? Read the story carefully. How would you have felt? What level of faith would it require for Abraham to do what God called him to do? What did Abraham think God was going to do? (See Hebrews 11:17-19.) How did God respond to Abraham’s faith? How did this incident change Abraham? What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Week 2 Jacob

June 18, 2023 • Erik Miller • Genesis 25—32

Main Point: Through faith God gives us a new identity to live into. Questions: 1. What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about the God’s character through the study of Jacob’s life. 2. Read https://biblia.com/bible/niv/gen%2025.19-34. What were the circumstances surrounding Jacob and Esau’s birth? What is the significance of their names? 3. What did Jacob get his brother to do? Why was was the birthright so important? 4. Read Genesis 27. This is a tragic account of deception, favoritism, and broken relationships. What did Rebekah do to help Jacob? How did Esau react when he discovered he had lost his birthright? 5. How would you describe Jacob’s character at this point in the narrative? 6. Read https://biblia.com/bible/niv/gen%2029.1-30.22. Who deceived Jacob in this section of the story? Under what circumstances did Jacob marry Rachel and Leah? 7. What was the relationship like between Jacob, Rachel, and Leah? Why were children so important? How did the names Leah gave her children change as she had more children? 8. Read https://biblia.com/bible/niv/gen%2032.1-21. Why is Esau chasing Jacob? What is Jacob preparing to do? 9. Read https://biblia.com/bible/niv/gen%2032.22-32. With whom was Jacob wrestling with? What is the outcome of the struggle? How was Jacob marked by this encounter? 10. What is the significance of Jacob’s name being changed to Israel? What does Israel mean? 11. What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?

Week 3 Joseph

June 25, 2023 • Erik Miller • Genesis 50:15–21, Genesis 37, Genesis 39—47

Main Point: Responding to adversity with trust and integrity honors God. Questions: What impacted you from the message this weekend? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about God’s character through the study of Joseph’s life. Read Genesis 37. What do you notice about Israel’s family dynamics in this chapter? What did Joseph dream about? Why did his family resent his dreams? What did his brothers do to him? What do you think Joseph might be feeling during this time? Read Genesis 39-41. Why did Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household? What temptation did he face? What did he say when he was tempted? (See Gen 39:8-10) How did Joseph display integrity in the face of adversity in chapter 39? What happened to Joseph in prison? How does his ability to interpret dreams get him out of prison? How old was Joseph when he was put in charge of Egypt? How did he respond to the impending drought? Read Genesis 42-47. How did Joseph get his brothers to bring whole family down to Egypt? Why was it so hard to get all of his brothers and father to come? What happened when Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. How did they respond? How did Joseph respond? (See Gen 45:1-15) Read Genesis 50:15-21. After Israel died, why were Joseph’s brothers afraid of him? What did Joseph say to reassure them? What do Joseph’s words reveal about his understanding of God’s sovereignty even in difficulty? What is one thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?