Radical Apprentices: Week 4 Readings and Discussion Questions

Readings: Acts 12: 1-17; Acts 15: 1-35; Radical Apprentices, Chapters 7 and 8

Discussion Questions:

Discussion 1:

• Reflect on Peter’s angelic rescue in the passage from Acts 12. What does this event teach us about the sovereignty of God?
• Who are the opponents of the Church in Acts 12? What spiritual opposition is the church facing?
• How is the church struggling against this opposition (see Acts 12:12)? Do you think that there is a relationship between the sovereignty of God and the prayer of His people? If so, how would you describe this relationship?

Discussion 2: 

• Even the earliest Christians were surprised by God’s answer to prayer! Can you think of a time when an answer to prayer left you in a state of astounding amazement?
• Consider this statement concerning prayer from page 96 of Radical Apprentices:

“Prayer, as the supreme form of human speech and intimacy, guides our minds and hearts through the Rock of our salvation and eternal hope Jesus Christ (see Philippians 4:7). Our full confidence in an omnipotent God, and not in our own finite selves, serves as the crowning righteousness of the Christian spiritual life (see Philippians 3:3).” 

• How does this statement make you feel about the importance of prayer?

Discussion 3:

• What do you see as the central issue facing the Church leadership as they gathered in Jerusalem in Acts 15?
• What was the challenge being brought against the all-important teaching of salvation through the grace of God?
• How do you understand the radical grace of God? How is a gospel of “grace and…” not a gospel at all?
• Why do you think we are tempted to add aspects of our own religious heritage or perspectives to the grace of God? How can we preserve our witness to the radical grace of God in our lives and churches?