Church on the Move: Week 5 — Strengthening What’s Growing

Discussion

• What stands out to you from Acts 5:1-11 and the video?
• What is something that you've seen or experienced in your family or in a professional environment that quietly destroyed something good? What about in a church?
• What was wrong with what Ananias and Sapphira did? Was the problem that they kept some of the money, or something deeper?
• Why do you think Luke emphasizes that they lied to the Holy Spirit?
• What does this passage teach us about how seriously God takes truth and integrity?
• Why can dishonesty be especially destructive when it is hidden behind something that looks good on the outside?
• What are some ways we can be tempted to care more about how other Christians see us than about being honest before God?
• Why isn't growing in numbers necessarily the same thing as healthy growth?
• How can we help cultivate a church culture where people don't have to pretend, but can be honest, repent, grow, and serve?
  
  

Practice

• Give everyone an index card or piece of paper. Write down your answer: Where do I need greater honesty or alignment with The Lord?
•  Is there an area of my life where I'm more concerned about appearing faithful than actually being faithful?
• Where might God be asking me to serve right now?

Pray

• Spend time praying together.
• Share any answer from your cards that you are comfortable asking for prayer. 
• Lift up any burdens that you or others are experiencing, and share your joys, or areas where you've seen God "show up" this week. 
• Pray for The Gathering Church, especially for the integrity of our congregation, and true repentance where we've gone off track.
  
  

Closing Prayer
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Thank you for Your Word. Thank you that we can come together and grow in our faith, and in our love for one another week after week. Help us to seek your will in all things, and to be examples of integrity to those around us. Help our faith be of substance, and not a show. Amen.