Don Pearson // Northview Campus // April 12, 2026
SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE
THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Acts 1:1-9
REMINDERS
Family Connects
Don’t miss these opportunities to connect with Steve Welch and Stu Quackenbush about their new roles and the upcoming vote! You can see the times and locations here.
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See the events page on the website for more updates.
TOGETHER IN LIFE
What’s one of the oddest things a stranger ever said to you?
TOGETHER IN THE WORD
Read Acts 1:1-9 aloud together.
KEY QUESTION: How can we be Spirit-empowered witnesses of Jesus?
The book of Acts was written by Luke, who also wrote the book of Luke. Luke’s purpose in the book of Luke was to document the accounts of EYEWITNESSES (Luke 1:1-2). By the end of the book of Luke in Luke 24:46-48 he recorded Jesus’ words that, “You are WITNESSES of these things.”
Kingdom of God: After Jesus’ resurrection He appeared many times and spoke about things concerning the Kingdom of God. After all His teaching, the followers still wondered if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel?
What are your thoughts about the “Kingdom of God”? In what ways is our vision small? How can we focus our thoughts and actions on more than “small visions of relief”?
Power: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Don shared that it is a process to learn how to access the power of the Holy Spirit that is within us.
When you review this list, does one of these struggles stand out to you as something that you struggle with or have struggled with in the past?
How does the empowerment of the Holy Spirit help us as we lead our lives?
Witnesses: Read Acts 1:8. In this passage shared that we are to be his witnesses to three groups of people.
- Close by (Jerusalem and all Judea)
- Uncomfortable Places (Samaria)
- Throughout the World (Global)
As you think on this mission, what are barriers to carrying out your part that come to mind?
Are certain categories of people easier for you to be a witness to?
In Acts 8:1 we learned that persecution in Jerusalem was used to scatter the people to begin the spreading of the message.
Both Paul and Peter shared information about when and how to share the message.
Read 1 Peter 3:15 and Colossians 4:5-6.
What are the key messages in these passages?
Don shared some good conversation starters to help us as we share with others our faith.
TOGETHER IN PRAYER & ACTION
For the next 7 days, seek to pray for someone:
- Close
- One that is uncomfortable to share with
- One that is far away
Pray about how you can be a more effective witness to these and others and remember that you have been given power that is within you to carry out this mission!
