What if our struggles are God's strategy to change our lives? What if crisis conditions our message for maximum impact? This study in the book of Acts addresses these applicable questions.
“Struggle to Strategy!” Acts 8:1-4
Pastor Brian Conover | 3.22.2020
1. What if your Struggle is God’s Strategy to change your world?
2. Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
3. Acts 8:1-4 “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
4. Acts 9:31 “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.”
5. What if your struggle is His Strategy?
“Maximum Impact!” Acts 8:1-4
Pastor Brian Conover | 3.29.2020
1. What if your Struggle is God’s Strategy to change your world?
2. What if Crisis conditions your message for maximum impact?
3. Acts 8:1-4 “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
4. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C.S. Lewis
5. What if Crisis conditions your message for maximum impact?
6. Focus on others and not your crisis.
7. Focus on the message and not your crisis.
8. “You may need to shelter in place – but don’t shelter your love. Don’t shelter your joy. Don’t shelter your peace. Don’t shelter your message in place.”
“The Greatest Week!” 1 John 4:9-10
Pastor Brian Conover | 4.5.2020
1. What if your Struggle is God’s Strategy to change your world?
2. What if Crisis conditions your message for maximum impact?
3. What if one week could change the world?
4. 1 John 4:9-10 “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
5. He loved us first.
6. He sacrificed His life for our sin.
7. What should we do with His love?
- Embrace it.
- Celebrate it.
- Distribute it.
8. What if one week could change the world? It did!
Discussion Questions
Read Acts 8:1-5
1. Describe the typical response of people in crisis or pain. (attitude response, social response, focu
2. How can God use crisis or pain to maximize the impact of His message? (either pain/crisis in the life of the giver of the message or in the receiver of the message)
3. Can you think of a personal or biblical example where one’s personal crisis or pain added to the impact of their message?
4. Personally interact with this quote with specific application … “You may need to shelter in place – but don’t shelter your love. Don’t shelter your joy. Don’t shelter your peace. Don’t shelter your message in place.”