Edgewood Bible Church

Acts 9:1-19a - Conversion of a Terrorist

Main idea: God sovereignly sets the assignment for his servants
God confounds SaulGod calls AnaniasGod converts Saul
Discussion Questions:1. Saul was passionate, disciplined, and sincere—but still wrong. How can we guard ourselves from sincerely following the wrong path?2. What does this story teach us about God's sovereignty and His right to interrupt our lives?3. “Man is God’s method.” How does this statement challenge our thinking about how God spreads the gospel?

Acts 8 - Scattered to be Sent

Big Idea: Opposition scatters seeds to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 
 
1.  (1-25) Seeds scattered: The good news is scattered through spirit filled proclamation
2. (26-40) Seeds Sprouted: Personal ministry in the word bears fruit
 
Discussion Questions: 
1.How does Saul’s attempt to stamp out the church (8:1-4) end up amplifying the gospel, and where do we see a similar dynamic today?
2.Compare Philip’s Spirit-empowered ministry with Simon’s magic (8:5-13, 18-24). How can we discern and guard against bad motives in our own service?
3.Why do you think God delayed the Spirit’s arrival until Peter and John laid hands on the Samaritans, and what does that teach us about church unity across cultural lines?
4.Philip obeys a Spirit nudge that reaches one Ethiopian official—who then carries the gospel toward “the ends of the earth.” Where might God be nudging you to open your mouth or change your route this week?

Acts 6:8-7:60 - The Second Martyr

Big Idea: When God-given means become self-exalting ends, faithful men become martyrs.
1. (6.8-15) Stephen accused: You want to destroy the temple and change the law2. (7:1-53) Stephen’s defense: God is never confined, you resist his spirit 3. (7:54-60) Stephen’s Sentence: Public Stoning in false Zeal because of true testimony
Discussion Questions:1. What practices or “good things” in our church life today are in danger of slipping from means to ends, and how can we guard against that shift?
2. Stephen charges the council with always resisting the Spirit (7:51). What are practical signs that we might be resisting the Spirit’s leading in our own lives?
3. Saul watched Stephen die and later became Paul. How does this long-range impact of Stephen’s witness encourage us when our own faithfulness seems fruitless or costly? Share examples where perseverance eventually bore unexpected fruit.

Acts 6:1-7 - Called to Serve

Main idea: A rightly ordered church will preserve unity and foster growth.
1. Growing churches will have conflict2. Growing churches will have opportunities to serve3. Growing church will have leaders who lead
Discussion Questions:1.What are the dangers of assuming motives versus stating facts in church conflict?2. How can you personally contribute to the unity of the church?3. How can we practically protect and prioritize the preaching of the Word and prayer?4. Why is Christ's sacrificial death the ultimate motivation for serving others?

Acts 5:12-42 - Obeying God

Main idea: Obeying God will result in more persecution but always ends in joy.
1. Obeying God instead of men will result in envy2. Obeying God instead of men might result in death3. Obeying God instead of men will result in persecution
Discussion Questions:1. What does it mean to obey God rather than men in your current context (work, school, family, etc.)?2. Why is it significant that Peter mentions both repentance and forgiveness of sins as gifts given by the exalted Jesus?3. What might it look like for a Christian today to obey God rather than men—especially when there’s real cost involved?4. When persecution or opposition arises, is your natural response fear, silence, compromise—or joy?

Acts 4:32-5:11 - Pure Church

Main idea: True unity in the Spirit results in a true reputation
1. Barnabas—Son of encouragement
2. Ananias and Sapphira—Children of Hypocrisy
Discussion Questions:
1. What do we learn about Barnabas in this passage?
2. What parallels can we draw between the early church's practices and how we can pursue unity in the church today?
3. What was the real sin of Ananias and Sapphira?
4. The sermon pointed out that the real marvel in this story is not just God’s judgment but also His mercy to us in Christ. How does the gospel give us hope, even in the face of our own sin?

Acts 4:1-31 - Sharing in Boldness

Big Idea: Faith fuels boldness by the Spirit to proclaim the name of Jesus.
1. (v.1-4)The Spirit gives boldness… in the face of opposition
2. (v. 5-22)The Spirit gives boldness… no matter your station
3 (v.23-31) The Spirt gives boldness to…pray for more boldness 
Discussion Questions
1. How have you seen God use opposition in your own life—to advance the gospel?
2. Why is the exclusivity of Jesus still a stumbling block today, and how can we communicate this truth with both conviction and compassion?
3. Where do you feel least qualified to speak about Christ, and how does the Spirit’s filling (4:8, 31) reshape that sense of inadequacy?
4. What might change in our prayers—and our expectations—if we prioritized bold witness over comfort or security?

Acts 3 - Power in the Name

Big Idea: The name of Jesus brings healing, truth, and salvation.
1. The name of Jesus brings healing for the broken (v.1-10)
2. The name of Jesus brings truth for the ignorant (v.11-18)
3. The name of Jesus brings salvation and refreshment (v.19-26)
Discussion Questions:
1. What does it mean to act or pray “in the name of Jesus”?
2. How does the healing of the lame man demonstrate the gospel message—not just physically but spiritually?
3. Peter confronts the people’s ignorance and calls them to repentance (vv. 17–19). Why is willful ignorance so dangerous?
4. What kind of “refreshing” does repentance bring (v. 20)?

Acts 2:42-47 The Church in Fellowship

Main idea: A healthy church loves teaching, fellowship, communion, and praying together.
A healthy church loves teaching
A healthy church loves fellowship
A healthy church loves communion
A healthy church loves praying together
Discussion Questions:
1. What does the repeated phrase “the word of God increased and multiplied” suggest about how the church grows?
2. How does the biblical definition of fellowship (koinonia) differ from how we often use the word today?
3. Why is it important for the church to be intentional about meeting together for meals in homes, not just for formal gatherings?
4. Why is praying with and for others in your local church essential to spiritual unity and growth?

Acts 2:1-41 - The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Main idea: The coming of the Holy Spirit brings together a people through the power of preaching.
The Coming of the Holy SpiritThe Preaching powered by the Holy SpiritThe Repentance because of the Holy Spirit
Discussion Questions:1. What does this passage teach us about God’s heart for the nations and the global mission of the church?2. What does it mean to “call upon the name of the Lord”? How would you explain that to someone unfamiliar with Christian faith?3. Why is it important for us to understand that Jesus’ death was not a mistake or miscalculation?4. What is the difference between repentance, regret, and remorse? How can we know if we’ve truly repented?