In today"s sermon, "The Purpose And Activity That Come From God", according to the section "Summary from last week (30)": Why is the church responsible for those who stand against Christianity, particularly those who used to go to church? How will they come back to the church?
Why are their sufferings and hardships predestined? What makes people hungry and thirsty for God's righteousness?
In the section "The Pharisee named Gamaliel's Suggestion": Who was Gamaliel and how did he try to appease and advise the Sanhedrin? What was his final advice and how did he say they would be able to tell if the "purpose" and "activity" of the apostles came from God?
How did his advice justify their own religious movement? What is the true Gospel principle and what made him spiritually blind to it?
Explain how success may not be God's will, while scattering may be. How does the "stone of Jesus" restore us into the true blessing of experiencing the real life of Christ?
In the section "The "Purpose" (councel) and "Activity" (work): When do people think their purpose and activity are right? How are your purpose and activity truly discovered and where alone are they found? How is all this predestined?
How do we realize and experience this amazing blessing? How can we find God's desired purpose and holy activity in our life? Compare the apostles purposes and actions to that of the religious leaders and how are they an illustration of the "wide" and "narrow" gates?
In the section "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, ... they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ"(vv.41-42): What does the Gospel label all worldly "purpose" and "activity" to be? Why does the Gospel continually lead us to the point of "nothingness"?
How do we know that we possess the life of Christ? What is the lifestyle of one who lives with the true "purpose" and "activity" of the Gospel?
In the "Conclusion": How do we keep ourselves from judging and from being judged by the world?
In "Confrontation!", by Ray Stedman: How did God use Gamaliel's position and character to accomplish His divine will? Read Romans 9 and Exodus 10 to see how Pharoah and Gamaliel were used by God to set His people free.
How does Pastor Cha's sermon add further insight to these accounts? How do these accounts affect your understanding of predestination and free will?
How was the outcome of the situation at Stanford University similar to that in Acts 5? How does this support Stedman's statement that the book of Acts is still being written today? What do you think about that statement?
According to Matthew 5:11-12, why is suffering and rejoicing in that suffering such an important part of the Gospel? What are the four factors, mentioned in the last paragraph of this sermon, that are as present with us today as they were in that early day?
How can we help answer Ray Stedman's closing prayer to begin to change the world around us, again?
In today's daily devotion, entitled "Amazing Guide": how does it relate to the two sermons and the songs entitled: "He Leadeth Me" and "Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus!"? How does God's faithfulness relate to your faith? (see Joshua 1:5 and II Timothy 2:13)