Series Big Idea
The Holy Spirit is the CATALYST who can work through us to help people find their way back to God.
Catalyst Session one
Who, ME?
Big Idea God will give me the power to make a difference.
Ice Breaker Are you ‘six-degrees’ from anyone famous, powerful or at least marginally interesting?
Introduction
Many famous movies or books become a series (i.e., The Pirates of the Caribbean, Die Hard, Rocky, Harry Potter, or Bridget Jones, etc.) We can’t get enough of the characters from these stories, and we become enwrapped in their fates. Will Bridget live happily ever after? Can Captain Jack survive in Davy Jones’ Locker? How does Bruce Willis save the world again?
At the end of the book of Luke we are left staring into the sky with the disciples after Jesus ascends to heaven. What will they do now? We had already seen them in action while Jesus was with them. They often misunderstood him and his ministry. Often they lacked faith, compassion, humility, and even courage. But some amazing changes take place in “part two” of their lives. In Acts, the sequel to Luke, the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised finally appeared to them. And when they allowed the Holy Spirit to work through them, people from all over began to hear about the wonderful things God had done! They courageously told the truth about Jesus and lived in ways that challenged the very framework of their society.
The same Holy Spirit that gave the earliest Christ-followers the strength and vision to declare God’s truth is the same Holy Spirit that is with Christ-followers today. The Holy Spirit is the catalyst for the spreading of the Gospel across the world. A catalyst is “a substance that initiates or accelerates an action or reaction; something that causes an important event to happen.”
1. Who or what has been a catalyst for change in your life? (i.e., a move, a marriage, the birth of a child, an illness, etc.)
2. Imagine you are one of the disciples and you had been waiting for the Holy Spirit. What would you be thinking and feeling?
Read Acts 2:1, 4-5, 7-11 (NLT)
On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place… And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. Godly Jews from many nations were living in Jerusalem at that time…They were beside themselves with wonder. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in the languages of the lands where we were born? Here we are—Parthinans, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phyrgia, Pamphyilla, Egypt, and the areas of Libya toward Cyrene, visitors from Rome, Cretans, and Arabians. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”
3. What do you think the author meant when it says they were “filled with the Holy Spirit”? Put yourself in the disciples’ shoes. What do you think being filled with the Holy Spirit felt like?
4. Why do you think God allowed His Spirit to speak in such a way that everyone that day could understand?
Some of the places in the list above might sound like locations on Mars, but it’s important to hear them all because it shows that the disciples were speaking about Jesus to people from all over the Roman Empire—from Asia, Africa, and Europe. The Holy Spirit picked the right moment, the right people, and the right gifts to make the huge impact that Jesus had promised, “When the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.” (Acts 1:8)
5. Why do you think God chose to speak through each of the believers rather than using one, solitary voice from heaven?
6. You get to pick – If God gave you the words to talk to a group of people about him, and if you had to fill a room with these people, who would be in the room? The Macedonians, the Phyrgians, or the Elamites? Just kidding. Family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc…
7. Do you think God can give you the words to speak to these people like the believers in Acts? Why or why not?
Fifteen hundred years after our story from Acts took place, a woman in Spain named Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) wrote:
“Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through which is to look out Christ’s compassion to the world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good, yours are the hands with which he is to bless.”
8. How does the imagery of this quote connect with you?
9. Share a time in your life when the Holy Spirit used your hands, feet, or eyes to be those of Christ.
What’s Next?
Be the catalyst by showing someone Christ in one of the following ways.
• Using THE BOX to invite someone to church for the Christmas Series beginning in December
• Adopt a Sibley Family this Christmas
• Join us in collecting gifts for the Christmas Store at the Other Way Ministries by donating an unwrapped gift with the price tag
• Serve in Keystone’s Children’s Ministry or Hospitality Team over the holiday season and at our extra holiday services
• Make a cash donation to Keystone so we can continue to provide an inviting environment for people to grow spiritually
Catalyst Session two
Who, US?
Big Idea God can change the world through our church.
Ice Breaker On game day, picture tens of thousands of fans coming into town, wearing your Alma matter’s school colors, to tailgate and watch the game. The stadium is packed, fans are ready to get caught up in the excitement with everyone else. We wouldn’t normally stand for four hours, yelling ridiculous cheers, but we’ve been taught that’s just what you do in the student section.
Talk about a time when you were part of a crowd. Did it make the experience better? Did you do something that you wouldn’t have normally done?
PART I
Introduction
Peter had a fairly ordinary life before he became such a strong leader in the church. He had a fishing business with his brother Andrew and he lived with his family in the little town of Capernaum. But all that changed one fateful day when Jesus showed up on the beach; Peter left his boat and his nets and he began to follow Jesus on a journey that changed his life forever. He watched and listened to Jesus for three years, witnessing healings, feedings, and even a resurrection. He walked on water with Jesus, and was the first to confess that Jesus was the Son of God. Granted, he made mistakes, but Jesus forgave him. And when the battered but hopeful group of believers gathered after Jesus’ ascension, Peter took the lead. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter proclaimed in front of thousands of people a dangerous statement: “There's no longer room for doubt—God made him Master and Messiah, this Jesus whom you killed on a cross.” (Acts 2:36).
This was dangerous on two fronts. On one front, the Roman Empire viewed Caesar as the sole Lord and Messiah who protected and saved his people. To the Romans this statement was a matter of treason (think of it like denouncing the right to power of any modern day dictator). On the other front, the religious Jewish leaders didn’t like Jesus anyway. They were jealous of him and were offended by his teachings. So to the Jews this statement was a matter of blasphemy. From both fronts, this statement could earn execution for Peter. In a matter of three years, Peter’s life went from ordinary to extraordinary.
1. What do you think gave Peter the courage to say this statement?
Despite the danger of this statement, 3,000 people believed what Peter said and asked what they should do next. Peter replied,
“Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites." He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, "Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!" That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. (Acts 2:38-41).
2. What would you think if 3,000 people got together and started doing something brand new in your community?
Read Acts 2:44-47
All the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
3. What do you think attracted new believers to join a community like this?
4. Looking back at Acts 2:44-47, what are some of the characteristics of the lifestyle of the believers? Is this a lifestyle that can be reproduced in our society? Why or why not?
5. What kind of life should we live to be as attractive and inclusive as those early believers? What changes would that mean for your life?
Remember the introduction about football and doing things you wouldn’t normally do? Well, being a Christ-follower means that we are called to do some pretty radical and counter-cultural things, like sharing with others in such a way that embarrasses any charity or government aid program. We don’t have to be exactly like the believers in Acts 2, they are just one biblical example we have, but the underlying principles should be the same.
6. What makes you the most nervous about being part of that kind of community and what makes you the most excited?
We are part of a growing community of believers held together by the Holy Spirit. We not only need to tell more people about Jesus and invite them to experience him in church, but we also must make room for them in our community, expressing love towards them in the same way that God does towards us.
7. Are you comfortable inviting people to church or telling them about your faith? Why or why not?
8. What would help you with that
What’s NEXT?
The church in Acts was doing some amazing things:
- Sold what they owned to share with those in need. (Consider Adopting a Sibley Family or Purchasing gifts for The Christmas Store)
- Worshiped together often. (ATTEND Elevate December 7, 5:30pm)
- Invited people into their homes and ate together. (Use THE BOX to invite a friend to Keystone this Christmas)
- Lived a joyful life, praising God.
What’s one practical thing you can do this week to connect new people to your church or small group? Use the list above to help make your decision.
