8.29.21 - Expect the Miraculous

Service Video, Message Notes, & Community Group Guide

MESSAGE NOTES

Expecting the Miraculous - Acts 14:1-3; Mark 16:14-20; John 14:12

Medicine #1: Habit – Acts 14:1-2

Key Concept: A nail is driven out by another nail. Habit is overcome by habit. (Erasmus)

Key Verse: Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Community Group Application:

Four key habits for spiritual health:

1. Regular Sunday worship

2. Participation in a community group

3. Personal Listening Room time with God

4. Serving others
   

Medicine #2: An Encounter with God - Acts 14:3 and Mark 16:14-20

Key Concept: Habits are the conduit through which we can encounter the living God

Key Verse: 2 Timothy 3:5 They will go to church, yes, but they won’t really believe anything they hear. Don’t be taken in by people like that (Living Bible Translation).

Community Group Application: Greatest danger to your spiritual life is that your good habits become routines without life.

Medicine #3: Expecting of the Miraculous - John 14:12-14

Key Concept: The only limit is in us. Our asking, our thinking, our praying is too small. Our expectations are too limited.” (AB Simpson)

Key Verse: Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Community Group Application: Lets encourage each other to expect miracles.

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Crossroads Community Group Guide

Click here to join a Community Group! (All groups meet online.)

A. Welcome

B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Glory to God

D. Announcements

• Weekly Resources on Crossroads Facebook Page

• Daily Devotional Video: The Encouraging Word with Pastor Willie

• Events: Crossroads Website

E. Review

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?

2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

F. Opening Question: What area of your life do you need God to act and do something you can not do?

G. Background Information

These 3 verses in the book of Acts 14 show us the boldness and faith that the early followers of Jesus had. Why do you think they had boldness and faith?

Note also that there was opposition but that did not stop them. As you lead this study seek to apply these insights to our situations at present. The verses in Mark 16 are a commission of Jesus’ followers to go reach other people. This is similar to Matthew 28:18-20.

Note that some Bible's will note that these verses do not appear in early manuscripts. This means that there are ancient copies of the book of Mark that do not contain these verses for unknown reasons. The early church however accepted these verse as part of the Bible and they are part of the Bible. Everything that is taught in these verses is mentioned elsewhere.

Note that signs and wonders is the phrase used to refer to miracles done by the followers of Jesus - just like Jesus did and as He said his followers would do (John 14:12-13).

H. Word: Acts 14:1-3; Mark 16:14-20; John 14:12

1. What key words do you see in these verses?

2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.

3. What are the details?

I. Discuss the following general questions together.

1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus, or Holy Spirit) from the story?

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

J. Commitment - Obedience - Application: What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study?

K. Prayer Time:

1. Pray for new people by name who you want to join your group.

2. Pray for your group to multiply.

3. Pray for the needs of the members of the group. Divide into 2 groups, for male and female.

L. For Next time: Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group for next week.