THREE TRUTHS ABOUT THE GOSPEL

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MEETING AGENDA

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
  2. GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
  3. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
  4. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
  5. GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
  6. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.

GROWTH QUESTION #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

GROWTH QUESTION #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon?

GROWTH QUESTION #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

TODAY’S PASSAGE:

Acts 14:1-7 (NLT) - 1 The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. 2 Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas. 3 But the apostles stayed there a long time, preaching boldly about the grace of the Lord. And the Lord proved their message was true by giving them power to do miraculous signs and wonders. 4 But the people of the town were divided in their opinion about them. Some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. 5 Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them. 6 When the apostles learned of it, they fled to the region of Lycaonia—to the towns of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding area. 7 And there they preached the Good News.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What did you learn from what we just read?

TRUTH #1

BOLD PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL LEADS TO SALVATION! (V. 1)

  • Paul and Barnabas preached with power and boldness, and a “great number” of people were saved.

  • Despite the fact that they experienced rejection in the past (Acts 13:45-52) and were encountering opposition again, they continued to preach boldly.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) - For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power…

  • We must never allow persecution to make us timid or keep us from preaching the Gospel boldly.

Romans 1:16 (NLT) - For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes…

  • As long as we boldly proclaim the Gospel, souls will be saved!

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What do you think makes some people hesitant to share their faith? What’s one practical step you can take this week to share the Gospel with boldness?

TRUTH #2

THOSE WHO REJECT THE GOSPEL BRING JUDGMENT ON THEMSELVES (V. 2)

  • Some of the Jews “spurned” (rejected with disdain or contempt) the Gospel message that was being preached.

  • This wasn’t the first time these men had rejected the Gospel.

Acts 13:46 (NLT) - Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles.

  • These same Jews not only refused to believe, but sought to “poison” the minds of the Gentiles around them.

  • Whenever someone rejects God’s Word, they become poisonous, killing themselves and those around them.

  • We are all evangelists of one kind or another. We are either bringing the Good News of salvation or we are poisoning others with unbelief.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Have you ever seen how someone’s rejection of the Gospel affected those around them? What happened?

TRUTH #3

MIRACLES, SIGNS, AND WONDERS CONFIRM THE GOSPEL (V. 3)

  • God proved the Gospel message was true by giving Paul and Barnabas the power to do miraculous signs and wonders.

  • We should also expect miracles and signs to follow our preaching.

Mark 16:15-17 (NLT) - …Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone… These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe…

  • It’s important to remember that the signs and wonders don’t come before the Message; they confirm the Message. 

  • We need to be sure that we are preaching the only message that God will confirm - the message of the Gospel.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Why do you think it is important that miracles confirm the message rather than replace or precede it?

CLOSING QUESTION

What is one thing from today’s lesson that you will apply this week?

GIVING

The call to give without expecting anything in return challenges us to embody a selfless generosity that mirrors God's love for us.

Luke 6:30 (NLT)
Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.


Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.

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PRAY

QUESTION #1

Who are you praying for to be saved?

QUESTION #2

Who can you invite to the next meeting?

QUESTION #3

What are your prayer requests?