Based on Acts 13:1-12
Icebreaker: Answer the Call
📌 Share a time when you felt God calling you to a specific task—whether it was a ministry opportunity, a career move, or even a difficult conversation. How did you respond? What was the outcome?
Scripture Reading & Analysis
📖 Read Acts 13:1-12 as a group.
🔍 Context:
- The church in Antioch was engaged in worship, fasting, and prayer when the Holy Spirit called Barnabas and Saul to go on mission.
- The church affirmed this calling, laid hands on them, and sent them out.
- On their journey, Paul and Barnabas encountered Elymas the sorcerer, who opposed them and tried to turn others away from the faith.
- Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, rebuked Elymas, and he was struck with blindness. This led the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus, to believe in the gospel.
Discussion Questions
- Recognizing the Call
- How did the church in Antioch recognize and respond to the Holy Spirit’s call?
- What does this passage teach us about how God calls and equips His people for ministry?
- Have you ever experienced a time when God called you or someone you know into a specific role?
- The Church’s Role in Affirming Gifts
- The church laid hands on Barnabas and Saul before sending them out. What does this act symbolize?
- How can our church better identify, encourage, and affirm spiritual gifts in our members?
- What steps can you take to discover and develop your own spiritual gifts?
- Facing Opposition in Ministry
- Elymas actively opposed the gospel and tried to lead people away. What are some modern ‘adversaries’ that hinder the spread of God’s Word?
- How does Satan try to discourage believers from fulfilling their calling?
- How can we stand firm in faith and righteousness, like Paul, when facing spiritual opposition?
- The Power of the Gospel
- Despite opposition, the proconsul believed. What does this teach us about the effectiveness of the gospel message?
- How can we remain confident in God’s power when we face challenges in sharing our faith?
Prayer Focus: Missionaries & Church Leaders
🙏 Spend time praying for those who have been called to ministry, missions, and church leadership. Pray specifically for:
- Missionaries who are spreading the gospel in difficult areas.
- Church leaders who need wisdom, strength, and encouragement.
- Members of your group who may be sensing God’s call in their lives.
📖 “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” – Matthew 9:37-38
Action Steps for the Week:
✅ Take time to pray and ask God where He might be calling you to serve.
✅ Identify one person in your church or small group whom you can encourage in their spiritual gifts.
✅ Look for opportunities to share the gospel, even if you face opposition.