In today"s sermon, "Be A Great Man Approved By God, Not By The World", according to the section "Summary from last week (33)": What is the thanksgiving of the world like? What does God reveal and establish through our unfortunate events? Does God promote, or allow misfortune?
What is the cause of our misfortunes? What is the wickedest Life in God's eyes? How will the life and death of the saints be when they truly enjoy and boldly witness to the word of truth?
In the section "Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great. (v.9)": What is the meaning of the name Simon, or Simeon? How was the name Simeon cursed in the Old Testament? How is wanting to be "someone great" breaking the Law and also the same as the "original sin" in the garden?
How are God's people set free from this spiritual crime (boasting, pride, wanting to be great) and how do they now live? How is becoming "like a child" the same as the greatest in heaven, and what happens if you "hinder" them? (see Luke 18:16 and Matthew 18:3-6)
What happens as our sins are continuously revealed by God's grace? What happens when we mourn for our sins? What does it mean to flow "backward" from God's grace?
In the section "Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.(v.13)": Why do you think Simon Peter's rebuke of Simon was so harsh? How did the disciples (apostles) act similar to Simon at one time, and how do we still act like him? What is the only way for our salvation to be truly accomplished?
What did Peter tell Simon to do for having such a thought in his heart? How can we pray to God for forgiveness if our prayers are even wickeder than our hearts?
In the "Conclusion": What is the good news of the gospel? What is the great gift that God gave us to overcome the deception of Satan, and what can we now enjoy? What is the only way our spiritual problems can be solved? How can we be greater than John the Baptist?
In "The Gospel Versus Magic", by Ray Stedman: How are the words of Jesus, in Acts 1:8, beginning to be fulfilled after the death of Stephen? In Acts 8:1-5, how do we see God using opposition to advance His cause? How does God use Saul to do this, even before he becomes a Christian?
How did God force the ordinary believers of the early church to depend on the gifts of the Spirit, not the apostles? What are these gifts, and how are they being developed today, especially in our church and in your life? Do you think persecution might be necessary to see this happen on a large scale in our times? What does Stedman say is the first mark of the way God works in resurrection power?
What are the three marks that always accompany a genuine ministry of the Spirit, as seen in Acts 8:6-8? How is Simon the third manifestation of Satan's "bad seed" being sown within the church, according to Jesus' parable of the sower? What is the difference between counterfeit and genuine Christianity, as seen in II Corinthians 4:5?
How is the "magic" of Simon similar to that of Pharaoh's magicians, and also the faith healers and cult leaders of today (see I Timothy 2:5)? In what ways would Simon seem like a real Christian, and in what ways would he not? How is this still happening today? What does "unregenerate" mean, and how has it ruined more churches than anything else??
According to Stedman, why was it necessary for Peter and John to "lay hands" on the Samaritans, even though they had believed and were baptized? Why do you think God heals, and also gives the Spirit and gifts of the Spirit in different ways? How is all this a testimony to the "unity" of the church as a whole?
How does Simon show his blindness and ignorance of the Gospel at the end of this account? What does Peter say he must do in order to be forgiven of this wickedness? How does Stedman attest that Simon, elsewhere called Simon Magus, was one of the earliest and greatest opponents of the Gospel?
In today's daily devotion, entitled "Johnny's Race": What did Johnny tell a reporter had helped him finish the race? Have you had similar experiences where the encouragement of others helped you? Read Hebrews 3:13 and Hebrews 10:24, and relate them to today's sermons texts.