Connect Group Study Notes:  29 May 2022

Theme:   Disturbing the city!

Readings:  Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21 and Acts 16:16-24

Fellowship (10 min)

Begin with general conversation and sharing about how the past week has gone. Try not to go over time.

Worship and Prayer (15 min)

Click on the link below on your smartphone, Smart TV, or computer, to select songs to sing; and then spend a few minutes in song and prayer.

PLETT METHODIST YOU TUBE CHANNEL SONG’S PLAYLIST:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbsAkwbV_S1vXdZVPkZ0_tQW5n9RqeZX0

Please note that the message is now recorded in church and will be available on line from Tuesday.  If you need to check on the Message for the week again, then click on:

PLETT METHODIST YOU TUBE CHANNEL (MESSAGE): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCU1X4YYw1KLpda1yGnqKgfw/videos

This time of worship and prayer will encourage you to move your thoughts from daily worries and pressures to our time of Bible study and prayer.

 

Read: Revelation 22 ff.

What verse speaks the most to you?

What does the invitation “Come” mean for you?

Read:  Acts 16 ff.

Our Scripture reading today happens when Paul and Silas are in Macedonia, and they disturb the status quo.

Discussion Questions (Approx. 30 min)

  • Paul was annoyed (vs. 18). Why do you think he got so annoyed with this woman? After all, she was declaring the truth about what who they were and what they were doing.
  • The consequence of Paul’s action – He cast out a spirit that was not from God from a woman, which ultimately frees her from that slavery. This is good, but her owners don’t like it because they can no longer make money off her, affecting their livelihood. Were the owners right to be upset at this change that affected their livelihood? What do you think happened to the slave girl? Would that have been fair to her?
  • Have you ever got in trouble or known someone who has got in trouble from doing something good?
  • What makes people get upset when they are presented with change, with “disturbance” like the people in this scripture did?

 

Faith Building (Approx.30 min):

  • If God is walking the streets of our country – what changes will he make? What will that change look like? What will be different? If God is the God of peace, how will he make Peace in our community, our country, our world? What will God need to do? How will he do it?
  • What will God do to end violence in our communities? How will God end poverty and hunger in our world? Will he send an army of angels…? Or raise up an army of people? What will God do?
  • Visualize with me, God walking the streets of Plett! What will God do in this place to bring about his Kingdom here (Sing songs? Pray? Preach? Act?)
  • What will God’s Kingdom look like in our community?

 

Prayer (10 min). Share prayer requests and then pray together.

Sending Prayer (2 min). End by praying the following or a similar prayer:

God who continues to disturb us out of our routines and superficial contentment. Help us to be open to your guidance however it might disturb us or challenge us and those we encounter. Help us, Good Shepherd, to be led by your grace, mercy, and love as your witness to the world. Amen.

Have a great week.

God bless,

Tim.

Acknowledged and with thanks to: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/