Experience - End of Week 2

INTRODUCTION
The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with, or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN QUESTIONS
Have you ever had a religious experience (been to a worship service, read a book, experienced a concert) that was different than the one you grew up in or are a part of now?  What was it like? Did you learn anything? Were inspired by anything? Did you disagree or question anything?

HEAD

1. Read Acts 2 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading.
2. Knowing that the believers spent 40 days with Jesus after His resurrection, do you think any of them were still afraid of the religious leaders and what they may do to them, or had their joy of seeing Jesus and their hope of what was to come next enough to help them get over any fear?  Explain your answer.
3. What do you think your reaction would be to a person who you knew couldn’t speak English, suddenly speaking English to you?
4. Why do you think some of the people in the crowd claimed the disciples were drunk?
5. Knowing that traditionally, the Jews had become an isolated people who thought they were the only chosen ones, how do you think they received this more global invitation to the gospel and knowledge of God?
6. Why do you think the outpouring of the Spirit led to a beautiful picture of community?

HEART

1. Have you ever experienced something that you had no other explanation for other than it was from God/supernatural/otherworldly?
2. Do you think we are more open, or less open, to the work and presence of the Holy Spirit as a denomination?  How about as a Crosswalk movement?  If you answer yes, why?  If you answered no, why?
3. What obstacles do we put in people’s way today when it comes to baptism?  Should we make baptism easier or harder?  Explain why.
4. Why do you think we struggle to find many communities like the one we see described in Acts 2: 42-47?
5. What can you and I do to work towards creating more of these types of communities in our homes, with our churches?

HANDS
Who is your community and what are you doing to make it a better one?  This week, really spend some time in prayer thinking about the opportunity you have to pour into a community of faith, both to help you grow in your love for God and others, and, to help others grow as you share the love of Christ with those we’re called to serve.  Then come up with 2-3 actionable items you can do in the next two weeks to work in this direction (sign-up to volunteer at church, join a connect group, lead a connect group, lead a ministry, etc…).

LIVING WORDS FOR YOUR WEEK
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT