^ Click Take A Note ^ Remember to write down some short notes for each of the questions below before heading to life group.

1.

Share 1 thing that stood out to you about Sunday's Message (1 minute max please) Also press play button in image above to listen to Sundays message if you missed it or just to refresh your memory. (Each Individual)

2. Your Story Doesn’t Matter

Acts 28:21

21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.

On Sunday Pastor Vaughn talked about the way we often think our story is impacting the lives of others in a greater way than it actually is. Paul thought that all of the Jews in Rome would've heard his story an been anxious to talk about his life and trials with him but his story was not on their radar at all. Pastor Vaughn told us that while our story doesn't matter to the majority of people, our story definitely matters to God. God is taking meticulous notes on the lives of every human being that has ever lived. Aside from the notes/books being opened on judgement day, God loves to walk with and engage His people in the good and bad parts of our stories.

Philippians 1:6

6 And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion

Choose 1 part of your story (good or bad) where God has shown you that He cares about your story. It may be because of the way you saw Him show up during that time or it may be because as you look back you realize how aware of you and your story God was at that time even if you didn't know it then. Please try to keep these parts of your story specific and down to about 2-3 minutes to allow for everyone to share. (Each individual)

3. Snake Bites, Antidotes, & Healing Hope

Acts 28:3 & 28:8-9

3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.

8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.

In Mark 16:16-18 Jesus said...

16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in MY name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.

On Sunday Pastor Vaughn told us that these events really happened. He told us that while Christians should not be "stupid" by playing with poisonous snakes or drinking poison, they should realize that many things that would kill a non-believer will not harm believers. Christians don't have an antidote for everything that comes against them in life but they do have a relationship with the Author of life. This ability to live when the enemy and nature demand death is a grace and work ordained by the Father, modeled in the life, death, & resurrection of the Son, and ongoing in the lives of believers by the power of the Holy Spirit. The command and ability to bring healing into the lives of others works in exactly the same way.

On Sunday Pastor Vaughn described these biblical principles of Christianity as normal for all believers based on the words of Jesus in Mark 16 and throughout the bible. Do you believe this to be true? Have you seen people or experienced personally times where death should've followed the circumstances but instead the person/you were able to come out the other side? If so, how is that different than a non-believer getting "lucky"? What do you believe when it comes to all Christians being able to bring healing into the lives of those who are hurting and sick? How does your belief about the way healing works impact the way that you specifically live and engage others? (Group Discussion)

* Remember to pray for each other before heading home from life group and to stay in communication here in the app throughout the week on your life group messaging thread!