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Commonwealth Week 8

This series is all about how we can better live into spiritual empowerment made accessible to us, through Jesus. 

In our teaching this week in Commonwealth we discuss Sharing in the Commonwealth of God’s Spirit. We’re excited for you to listen along with us! If you want to talk through this message with a group of people join a community group- www.societychurch.com/groups. We will be discussing the questions listed below.

Community Group Discussion Guide:

STEP 1- Ice Breaker:

Help people to loosen up and share. It will be helpful if someone is new to go around and do names and have each person share about a question and share a bit about themselves.

(Group Leader Note: Use the Learning/Living Circle to guide your discussion and application of the content. Try your best to keep the “learning” and “living” focus balanced.)

Step 2- Learning- Observe, Reflect, Discuss

(Group Leader Note: Don’t feel the need to go through every scripture, point or question. Pick and choose what you feel will be most impactful for your group. If you are not sure where to start, just ask your group what stuck out to them about the message most and start with that.)

Point 1: Sharing in the Commonwealth of God’s Spirit through generosity

Read this scriptures together:

Acts 4:32-37- “32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”

• Anything that jumps out to you as important, helpful or interesting in this scripture?
• How does Luke describe the church in this portion of Scripture?
• What does Barnabas do here?
• What about this portion of Scripture inspires you?

Point 2: Sharing in the Commonwealth of God’s Spirit through Honesty & Integrity

Read this scriptures together:

Acts 5:1-11- “1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”

• Anything that jumps out to you as important, helpful or interesting in this scripture?
• How does Luke describe the church in this portion of Scripture?
• Why do you think Luke partners this story with the story about Barnabas?

STEP 3- Living- Planning, Accountability, Action

Point 1: Sharing in the Commonwealth of God’s Spirit through generosity

• What does generosity mean to you?
• What impact has the generosity of others had on your life?
• What does it mean to you that “the church is responsible for the renewable resource of ‘good’ in our world”?
• How do you currently live out a generous lifestyle?
• What are some ways the Spirit is leading you into an act and/or habit of generosity?

Point 2: Sharing in the Commonwealth of God’s Spirit through Honesty & Integrity

• What might a “careful reverence” or an “intentional respect” look like for you?
• What part do you think fear plays in faith, if any?
• Does it take courage to be honest about our own brokenness?
• What are some hard, honest conversations you have had in your past? What did you learn through those moments?
• Are there some honest conversations the Spirit is leading you to have? With whom? When will you have them? How can your group support you in those conversations?

STEP 4- Prayer And/Or Meditation:

Try one of these options, don’t be afraid to mix it up.

• Share requests and pray for one another.
• Inner, Other & Outer life prayer needs
• Meditation with silence and stillness- A word or phrase to focus your group. A time of silence and stillness, set a timer for 5 minutes if you want.