Into the Wild Part 1

“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw avision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by itsfour corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and sawfour-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I hearda voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ “I replied, ‘Surely not,Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “The voice spokefrom heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has madeclean.’ This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heavenagain.
- Acts 11:5-10

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“Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about goingwith them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.
- Acts 11:11-12

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Wilderness rule: Don’t focus on being perfect. Focus on being present.

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“I can’t dance like Usher. I can’t sing like Beyonce. I can’twrite songs like Elton John,” he said. “But, we can do the best we can withwhat we’ve got. …. And so that’s what we do. We just go for it.”
‍- Chris Martin, Lead singer of Coldplay

Mixer

What view would you like to have from your back porch?

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Connect

1. What is one thing that has been a game changer for you in your routines this week?

2. Who is the most genuinely optimistic person you know? How does being with that person fill your bucket? How do they maintain it?

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Sermon Questions

1. Pastor Jared began a new series this week called Into the Wild. Everyone we know is feeling like we’re doing something we’ve never done before - and more than one thing at the same time! How did the message this week shed new light on your circumstances and give you hope?

2.  Like the analogy of the grapes facing adversity, are you feeling ‘squeezed’? If growth is what God wants for us (He wants us be ‘good-tasting’), what can you do to turn from wanting to go back to Capernaum (comfort and certainty), and respond instead to God’s invitation to ‘Rise, Peter…’ and enter the wild of your circumstances (discomfort and uncertainty)? How can your Table Group help you with this?

3. We were challenged with a Wilderness Rule this week: Don’t focus on being perfect. Focus on being present. What does it mean to be present? What is one way that you will be present with God, with yourself, and with your family/friends this week?

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Go Deeper

In Acts 11:1-18, we see Peter venturing out into the wild. He had been called by God to do something that he had not done before, and something that was not a popular endeavor in some circles. Even though this passage refers to the wilderness experience of the early church, it does have application to us personally today in how our relationship with Jesus is reflected in how we face our own wilderness moments. 2020 is a wild time, with adversity around every corner, and we are feeling squeezed! How can we get some help from Peter’s vision?

1. What led Peter to share his vision (verses 1-2)? What was the thing Peter had not done before, and why did this cause tension in him and in others? What did God show Peter about new ways?

2. In vs 10, we see ‘This happened three times….’ What happened? What is the significance of three times in this verse? What other ‘three times’ in the Bible does this remind us of - and who did it involve? What does this tell you about your own human nature and the nature of God? How can this be an encouragement to you?

3. Peter’s response in vs 15 was: ‘And as I began to speak….’ What happened? What does this tell you about God when you say yes to Him, and does this give you more confidence as you step out?  How can you finish this line: And as I began to… the Holy Spirit….

4. In the Book of Acts, we begin to see an active Holy Spirit. Who is the Holy Spirit?*Read Acts 1:1-11 -- Why did Jesus say the Holy Spirit was coming? What was happening as this book opens?*Read Acts 2:1-6 -- Describe the Holy Spirit’s coming and contrast it with Jesus’ first coming. What stands out to you? *Read Acts 13:16,17 and Acts 1:8 -- Why is it considered a gift to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?

5. A gift is meant to be opened up and to be enjoyed. Pastor Jared said this week that the role of the Holy Spirit is to help us to grow. The Bible also calls Him the Helper/the Advocate (John 14:15-18). This week, write down other verses about the Helper and enjoy Him! Call Him into an active role in your own life. Write out how you would pray to Him to help you embrace God’s plan to grow you and your faith in this time of great challenge and uncertainty.

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Suggestions to Serve

Good Neighbor Drop-N-Drive | The Church at RB | Thursday 10AM-2PM

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Prayer

Kids are headed back to school. Distance learning is still in place for most families. Lift them up in prayer for the Holy Spirit to be at work in these families as they step into this wilderness.