Sermon Based Curriculum
Sermon Date: Jan. 30, 2011
Sermon Title: God’s People
Sermon Text: Acts 16:6-10
Small Group Text: Acts 16:6-34
Introduction
What’s the best vacation/trip you’ve taken? How did you plan where you were going? How did you navigate throughout the trip? Were there any “surprise” stops, detours, or unplanned experiences that were memorable? Paul and his companions were on a journey. They had a purpose for their journey and were subject to a lot of detours, closed doors, and course-corrections. But Paul never viewed with discouragement. Rather he saw new opportunities for God to use him to accomplish His purpose. How might God want us to be familiar with His voice, obedient to it, and responsive to those course-corrections along the way? Let’s see what happened in Paul’s story and how it could give us confidence in God’s leadership in our lives.
Discussion
Application
Read Acts 16:6-34 1. In verse 6, what were Paul and his companions doing? What was the Holy Spirit doing? 2. What are some possible ways the Holy Spirit may have “kept” them from entering Asia? 3. What specific direction does the Holy Spirit give Paul? 4. Luke says that they left immediately to go to Macedonia. What does that tell you about Paul and his group? 5. Read Acts 16:11-34. What lives were changed as a result of Paul’s obedience to God’s re-direction? 1. Paul was redirected by closed doors, open doors, and a vision. How might you recognize God’s redirection in your life? 2. When have you experienced God “open” or “close” doors in your life? 3. Where do you have an “open door” for ministry now? Think of some specific steps you can take to go through that open door.