2.2.20 Huddle

Zach Below   -   February 2, 2020

INTRODUCTION

We are in week 5 of our Travel Log Series . . . exploring mission and movement in the book of Acts. This week we are looking at how the disciples defined success and handled rejection in their travels.

 

 

REJECTION

In his message, Matt showed a clip from Jia Jiang’s project “100 Days of Rejection” (worth watching on your own time!).

 

  1. Tell us a story of a time you experienced rejection (not necessarily a painful one).

 

  1. How well do you handle rejection? In what ways have you grown in your ability to handle it? Or…do you hate it as much today as ever.

 

  1. In what ways can rejection be dangerous?

 

 

SUCCESS

  1. If you were talking to someone from another country, and they asked you what success looks like in America, what would you tell them?

 

  1. In what ways can success be dangerous?

 

 

GROUP SCRIPTURE ENGAGEMENT

READ ACTS 13:44-52

 

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“‘I have made you[a] a light for the Gentiles,
that you[b] may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’[c]”

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord;and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

 

 

SETTING UP THE ACTIVITY 

Either as a large group, or breaking down into smaller groups, look back over the text and explore the following questions

 

  • In what ways did the disciples experience both success and rejection in this text?

 

  • How did the disciples manage success and rejection?

 

  

On Sunday, Matt gave us two principles for navigating success, and failure, in a healthy way.

  • Don’t Play the Comparison Game
  • Always remember the good news

 

  1. What makes not playing the comparison game hard in our culture? How is our culture designed to cause us to compare our lives?

 

  1. Thinking back to the text? In what ways do the disciples (Paul and Barnabas) illustrated the principle “always remember the good news?”

 

 

Matt suggested that one the ways we can avoid the comparison game and always remember the good news is stay connected to the Holy Spirit by “putting ourselves in his presence.”

 

  1. What do you think that means? What is one tangible practice or habit that helps you do that?

 

 

CLOSE IN PRAYER