Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
“To What Length Will God Go?” “The Jesus Way” series
Pastor Jim Zippay
May 3/4, 2008
Acts 8:1-8, 26-38
Outline
1. God uses human suffering to push us out.
2. God uses divine promptings to send us out.
Content
1. God allowed the early believers’ surroundings to no longer be comfortable, which pushed them out into surrounding areas to spread the gospel. (Acts 1:8)
2. God is the Great Evangelist and desires that no one perish.
3. God uses setbacks to push us forward and have opportunities to share our faith.
4. We need to die to self and embrace God’s agenda. (John 12:24 – kernel of wheat)
5. Setbacks, pain and persecution are part of the price we pay when we follow God.
6. We all have stories of the length God went to for us.
7. The Ethiopian understood the pain of humiliation and knew the emptiness of success.
8. Some people have an important job but still feel empty inside; they reached their dream job/situation but don’t feel the satisfaction they expected, now know that success doesn’t satisfy.
9. Jesus understood humiliation, injustice, pain and rejection because He experienced it.
10. Jesus endured pain and separation from God so we don’t have to; He died so we can have eternal life.
11. Pray that God will open our eyes and mouth to people to tell them about Jesus
Aim
The only way to find true fulfillment in life is in Jesus.
Application Questions
1. Describe a time you were out of your comfort zone and saw God work through you.
2. When was a time you experienced hardship or suffering and as you looked back you saw how God had worked in your life?
3. What is your reaction to/opinion of the quote, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”?
4. Describe when you had a dream/goal in life and reached it, but weren’t satisfied.
5. When is a time you prayed that God would give you an opportunity to tell about Him and you did? Or you remained silent?
6. Was there a time God went to great lengths to reach you?
