CONNECT
1. If new people have joined your group, take time to introduce yourselves to each other.
2. Who helped you learn what you’re good at?
3. Describe a time you thought nothing could stop you.

PRAY
Spend a few minutes quieting your hearts and turning your attention toward God. Allow time for people to voice their prayers (open to anyone who wants to chime in), using these prayer prompts as a guide:

God, I thank You for…
God, we pray for Brookwood that…
God, we pray for our community that…
God, we pray that during our time together You would…

Add your own words of prayer and praise.

Gospel doctrine creates gospel culture. The way we live daily shapes the culture around us.
– Raymond C. Ortlund Jr.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY
Memorizing Scripture enables us to carry within us the life-giving, life-shaping words of God at all times in all places. Here’s a verse to memorize based on this week’s teaching:

In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
Acts 19:20 (NIV)

STUDY AND DISCUSSION
▶️ Don’t worry about getting to all the questions. That’s not the point. Be thoughtful and prayerful. Let the Holy Spirit guide your reflection and discussion.

▶️ If your group has eight or more people, it might be helpful to break into circles of four or five for greater participation and deeper discussion. When you come back together, invite each group to share a few takeaways from their conversation.

SOME BACKGROUND
Ephesus was a center of power: magic power, political power, religious power. And Paul's ministry demonstrated that the power of the name of the Lord Jesus is stronger than all of them. It is possible that the sons of Sceva were Jews who, living in pagan territory for a long time, had developed a kind of mixed economy of Jewish and pagan religion, ritual and magic. The gospel does indeed provide power, but it is not “magic.” Magic attempts to gain that power without paying the price of humble submission to the God whose power it is. (N.T. Wright, a For Everyone Study Guide)

1. When Paul meets the disciples in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7), what stands out to you about their experience of faith before and after receiving the Holy Spirit?

2. Why do you think Paul asks them specifically about whether they received the Holy Spirit?

3. What do you think Luke wants readers to notice about the difference between John’s baptism and baptism in Jesus?

4. Paul taught daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus for two years (19:9-10). What does this say about how discipleship and teaching happened in the early church?

5. What do you learn about the power of God from the miracles mentioned in Acts 19:11-12?

6. The sons of Sceva tried to use Jesus’ name without truly knowing Him (19:13-16). What does this story reveal about the difference between genuine faith and imitation?

7. What are some modern examples of people using spiritual language without a genuine relationship with God?

8. In Acts 19:18-20, people publicly confess and burn their magic scrolls. Why do you think their repentance was so public and costly?

9. What might be the modern equivalent of burning the scrolls today?

10. Why do you think the value of the scrolls (50,000 pieces of silver) is mentioned? What point might Luke be making?

11. What does this scene teach about the relationship between belief and lifestyle change?

12. What distractions or idols compete for people’s loyalty in our culture right now?

13. What evidence do you see of the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 19:1-22?

14. Describe a time you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in your own life.

15. If the Gospel spread through our community the way it did in Ephesus, what changes might we see?

THE BIG TAKEAWAY
After this week’s lesson, what’s one thought, question or takeaway you’re sitting with right now? Pause and ask God what He wants you to know or think about. Allow time for Him to speak, being sensitive to thoughts that come to mind. Growing often comes by simply making yourself available to God.

PRAY
Invite someone to close your time in prayer.

App and the Daily Devotional
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

Why Jesus?
If you’ve never experienced God’s forgiveness and grace, we’d love the opportunity to talk with you about a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200.

Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.