Ignite Your Life – Part 1: Effortless Faith
“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:11 (p.824)
- When God Is Your First Love, Your Desires Are His Desires.
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!” Revelation 2:4 (p.950)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…” Acts 1:8 (p.830)
Acts 8:26-40
- Pray for the spark.
“As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia…” Acts 8:26–27 (p.837)
- Follow the nudge.
“The Holy Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and walk along beside the carriage.’ Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ The man replied, ‘How can I, unless someone instructs me?’ And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him… So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.” Acts 8:29–35 (p.837)
“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14 (p.864)
- Live in the FOG (favor of God).
Series Memory Verse: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (p.863)
My Next Step This Week:
_____ I will begin each morning with this prayer, “God help me to lead everyone, everyday closer to Jesus.”
LIFE GROUP GUIDE
One Thing: When God is your first love your desires are His desires.
Memory Verse: Romans 8:28 (p.863)
Bible Background: Philip and the Ethiopian Acts 8:26-40
CONVERSATION STARTER
// How do you like to drink your coffee? Hot? Cold? What about lukewarm?
WEEKEND REVIEW
When God Is Your First Love Your Desires Are His Desires.
How you can live that out:
// Was there anything that stood out to you, challenged you, or maybe even confused you?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
// Read Revelation 2:4 (p.950).
- What might be some signs that a believer has drifted from their initial love for God?
- How could this affect their ability to share God with others?
// Read John 15:11 (p.824).
- How does the joy mentioned relate to the desire and motivation to share one’s faith?
- Can you identify a time when your joy in Christ overflowed into a conversation about your faith? How can you seek to experience and share this joy more regularly?
// Read Acts 8:29-31 (p.837).
- What characteristics of Philip’s approach to sharing the Gospel are highlighted?
- Recall a recent moment when you felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to speak or act but hesitated. What held you back, and how can you prepare yourself to respond differently next time?
// What does living in the “favor of God” mean to you?
- What is one step you can take this week to rekindle your first love for God and begin to live in His favor?
My Next Step This Week:
_____ I will begin each morning with this prayer, “God help me to lead everyone, everyday closer to Jesus.”
DIGGING DEEPER
Read these verses this week and reflect on how you can rekindle that first love with God. As you do this, prepare to be able to share your faith.
1 Peter 3:15 (p.936) 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (p.905) Colossians 4:2-3 (p.904) Hosea 10:12 (p.685)