Go
Make an Impact – Part 3
November 19-20, 2022
Acts 13:4-12
“‘Come, follow me’…they left their nets at once and followed him…(Jesus) saw… James and John, sitting in a boat…he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him…” Matthew 4:19-22 (p.735)
“Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.” Luke 5:27-28 (p.784)
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (p.760)
- When I “Go” In Jesus’ Name, I Make An Impact.
Norm #1: “Go” when and where The Holy Spirit leads.
“So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.” Acts 13:4 (p.841)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (p.830)
Norm #2: “Go” expecting resistance.
“But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.” Acts 13:8 (p.841)
“Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, ‘You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord?’” Acts 13:9–10 (p.841)
“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.” Matthew 24:9 (p.755)
Norm #3: “Go” and teach about Jesus.
“When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.” Acts 13:12 (p.841)
“For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2 (p.871)
Series Memory Verse: “But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.” 2 Timothy 4:5 (p.915)
My Next Step This Week: ____I will prayerfully identify two people to disciple.
Discussion/Groups Guide Make an Impact – Part 3: “Go”
Life Groups use this guide in their discussion and study of the Weekend Talk. Use this also as a discussion guide with your family and friends.
Conversation Starters
- What are some events we invite people to?
- Did anyone ever ask you to follow Jesus? Who was it? When was it?
- Have you ever gone on a mission trip or served a longer-term assignment in missions? What was it like? Why did you go?
Quick Review
Looking back at your Weekend Talk Notes, was there anything you heard in the service that stood out to you, challenged you, or maybe even confused you?
Discussion Starters from the Weekend Talk
Refer to the Talk Notes and Bible verses from the Talk Notes.
Our One Thing: When I “Go” In Jesus’ Name, I Make An Impact.
- Read Matthew 4:18-22 (p.735); Luke 5:27-28 (p.784)
- What are some things that are common to these passages?
- Why do you think Jesus wanted to invite other people into His mission?
Series Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 4:5 (p.915)
- What does this verse say about telling others about Jesus? How do we “work” at it?
One Voice Bible Story Background: Acts 13:4-12 (p.841); Matthew 28:19-20 (p.760)
- Acts 13 describes the beginning of what is known as Paul’s first missionary journey.
- Who sent Paul and his team?
- What obstacles or challenges are described in this passage?
- How does The Great Commission of Matthew 28 relate to our passage in Acts 13?
Application: We are called to join Jesus in His mission, a “co” mission He declares in Matthew 28:19-20. We must live by certain norms if we are to faithfully do this:
- Norm #1: “Go” when and where The Holy Spirit leads. (Acts 13:4 (p.841); Acts 1:8 (p.830))
- Under what power are we to operate when responding to Jesus’ call to “go”?
- Where is The Holy Spirit telling you to go?
- When have you been a witness for Jesus?
- What obstacles do we face when we seek to be a witness? How can we deal with them?
- Norm #2: “Go” expecting resistance. (Acts 13:8-10 (p.841); Matthew 24:9 (p.755))
- What resistance did Paul and his team face?
- What external resistance might we face? What have you faced?
- See Romans 8:31b (p.863). How does this encourage you?
- Norm #3: “Go” and teach about Jesus. (Acts 13:12 (p.841); 1 Corinthians 2:2 (p.871))
- What was the subject of the teaching that astonished the governor?
- How does the 1 Corinthians verse relate to this?
- Must everyone who shares their faith be a gifted teacher? Is this what this means? How can all Christians “teach”?
- What happens if we don’t “Go” and share our faith?
- What was the subject of the teaching that astonished the governor?
Digging Deeper
Doing Missions can be a daunting thought. When we “Go” in Jesus’ name, we make an impact, we face real challenges. Sometimes we get put off by costs, time commitment, and even our age. If you work your way through Acts from chapters 13 to 28 you can see how God kept Paul safe so that he could get Paul to Rome. Satan tried repeatedly to derail the Good News: imprisonment, stoning, and even getting bitten by a snake did not derail God’s plan for Paul and the Gospel. It will be the same with you. If you step out in faith, Satan will be waiting for you, maybe not immediately but he will be there – but we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us! No contest, really.
Take time to look at the rest of Acts Chapter 13, verses 13-52. What are the key messages you can take away from the rest of the chapter? Can you explain why the reaction of the believers in verses 51-52 after the resistance they faced in verse 50? What was causing the believers to be filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit?
My Next Step This Week
____ I will prayerfully identify two people to disciple.
This Week’s Life Transformation Bible Daily Reading: Go (p.A102-103)