THE WAY--Prevailing Wisdom is not Always Wise
Discussion Guide – The Way- Prevailing Wisdom is not Always Wise. Pastor Tony
Questions by Pastor Ric
July 23, 2017
If we want to understand the history of the church, Acts is our book. This study will continue to give us a picture of how the early church handled its beginnings, struggles and subsequent growth in a culture not unlike our own—somewhat hostile but open to spiritual things. We need this.
Feel free to use more or less of these questions. They are here to move us from knowledge to obedience as God’s Spirit speaks to our hearts. Share what God is doing in your heart as a result and have others you trust hold you to account for the life-change God is working in you.
Text: Acts 27:1-44
- Disagreements are common. However, sometimes we limit our options and put new ways aside to preserve the “we’ve always done it that way” philosophy. How can we better respond when new ideas (even those that don’t appear to make sense) are presented? What are some good ways of entertaining new ideas instead of simply dismissing them out of hand?
- Another common element in disagreements is not listening. Many of us have taken speech courses, but how many of us have taken a course on how to listen? How does James 1:19 help us? What inner character qualities help us be better listeners?
- Paul’s calm confidence in God along with personal experience (in the midst of the storm) led him to passionately communicate a different perspective to his ship mates. Have some conversations about how a life challenge has increased your faith and how you feel God spoke to you through it. As Paul shows us, a life lived by faith dependent upon godly wisdom, is an incredibly powerful testimony to others. Later, Paul’s advice was accepted. Why did his ship mates now trust him and how does Paul’s model speak to a better way of leadership?
- Majority rules but is not always right. Paul’s advice was ignored by the majority (“experts”), however, he was right and the majority was wrong! What biblical principle does this support?
- Discuss how one determines whose wisdom to trust and if it comes from God? (Proverbs 3:5, 6) Living by faith with respect to how we handle our money is a great challenge. We live in a culture of consumerism. Author/speaker Alan Hirsch says, “…Consumerism is the secular religion of our day”. As Christ-followers, how do we decide how the life of faith affects our daily life with Jesus when it comes to how much we spend on ourselves vs. investing in Kingdom work?