Gifted & Appointed

Acts 6:1-7

Recap:

• What did you take away from the story of the apostles, the Sanhedrin & Gamaliel in Acts 5 (in last week's Connect Group Study and sermon)?

  • What does it mean to you to seek to 'obey God'?

  • Do you have any stories about being obedient to God's leading in the past week?

Read Acts 6:1-7

• We're now into chapter 6 - how would you describe the ways that the early church community have grown and changed up to this point?

• In what ways would you describe the current problem as a practical problem, and to what extent is it a Spiritual one?

• Look closely at the qualities the 12 apostles wanted in these 7 men (v3&5). Are these the qualities you would expect to find for people organising food distribution? Why/why not?

• Can you think of any roles in the life of the modern church (think especially of NVBC) that are similar to the roles undertaken by the seven?

  • What (if anything) do you think we can apply from their context to ours?

• If you were involved in the SHAPE course earlier this year, share with one another what you have reflected on or acted on from that experience.

• Who would you choose "from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom" to step into a new ministry opportunity at our church?

  • You might like to write notes to each other, or just share aloud with the group, things that you want to encourage one another to pursue.

Finish your time together by praying one by one for the ways each person in your group serves (at church or elsewhere) - recommissioning them for the ways they are continuing to serve, or even praying into new ideas or opportunities that are on the horizon.