Tough as Nails | Week 3
Our Once Upon a Time
INTRODUCTION
Once upon a time . . . Jesus stood against the injustice of an empire and the hypocrisy of the temple. He introduced God as the father. He taught his followers to love their enemies and forgive everyone. Jesus never wrote a word or traveled farther than he could walk. But he taught a way of thinking, believing, and behaving that, though it was foreign and seemingly impractical, changed the world forever. Jesus isn’t finished changing the world. He calls on each of us to stand against injustice, love our enemies, turn the other cheek, and follow him.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you enjoy election season, or do you meet it with apathy or dread? Why do you respond the way you do?
2. During the message, Pastor said, “There was once a version of Christianity that was awe-inspiring.”What would it take for Christianity to be awe-inspiring in our culture?
3. Read Acts 4:12. Does this passage offend or disturb you? Why or why not?
4. What are some things you fear? How does that fear undermine your ability to follow Jesus?
5. Read Acts 4:24–33. During the message, Pastor said, “We pray little prayers. Perhaps that’s why so little happens.” Respond to that statement. Do you agree? Why or why not?
6. In what areas of your life do you need to pray more boldly and with greater confidence in God? What is one thing you can do this week to change the focus of your prayers? How can this group support you?
MOVING FORWARD
As a nation trembles in fear, looking to the government for salvation, as rhetoric gets nastier and more dangerous, people take sides. Compassion wanes. Racial divides increase. But there are those who have no fear. They’re informed but not worried. The worse things get, the better they get. They are Democrats, Republicans, Independents, but above all, they are Christians. What will our Once Upon a Time... story be?
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Acts 4:12
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”