The Power of God (JICC)
Weekly Reading
Monday: Exodus 17
Tuesday: Exodus 18, Matthew 25
Wednesday: Exodus 19
Thursday: Exodus 20
Friday: Matthew 26
Saturday: Psalm 21-23, Proverbs 5
Sunday: 1 Samuel 9-17
Tuesday: Exodus 18, Matthew 25
Wednesday: Exodus 19
Thursday: Exodus 20
Friday: Matthew 26
Saturday: Psalm 21-23, Proverbs 5
Sunday: 1 Samuel 9-17
Sermon Notes
Key Passage: Acts 19:8-21
δύναμις (dunamis) is a broad “power” word that ranges from inherent ability/capacity to power put on display—especially God’s power at work
(120 occurrences of δύναμις in the NT.)
Encouragement towards a Spirit-empowered life & potential barriers:
1. Get in the game
(Barrier: too much theory, not enough practice)
2. Give grace to grow -- to yourself and each others
(Barrier: Low resilience for failure and disappointment)
3. Open your hands in repentance
(Barrier: unrepentant sin)
4. Fix your eyes on Jesus
(Barrier: eyes on the gifts or signs instead of the giver)
δύναμις (dunamis) is a broad “power” word that ranges from inherent ability/capacity to power put on display—especially God’s power at work
(120 occurrences of δύναμις in the NT.)
- Acts 19:11 - Paul was doing extraordinary extraordinary, unusual, or special miracles [dunamis]
- Romans 15:19 - by the power [dunamis] of signs and wonders
- Luke 4: 14 And Jesus returned in the power [dunamis] of the Spirit to Galilee
- Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power [dunamis] 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.”
Encouragement towards a Spirit-empowered life & potential barriers:
1. Get in the game
(Barrier: too much theory, not enough practice)
2. Give grace to grow -- to yourself and each others
(Barrier: Low resilience for failure and disappointment)
3. Open your hands in repentance
(Barrier: unrepentant sin)
4. Fix your eyes on Jesus
(Barrier: eyes on the gifts or signs instead of the giver)
Discussion Questions
3DQ - 3 discipleship questions to ask each other: What is God saying to you? What are you going to do about it? How can I help?
1. Be reminded of your “only God” moments. Take a moment around the group/table to share stories of God coming through in your life in powerful ways.
2. Of the encouragements (and barriers) to the spirit empowered life. Which one do you think you most needed to hear the most and why?
3. How can we pray for signs and wonders with real faith while keeping our focus on Christ, not the experience?
4. Read all of Romans 1 multiple times as you prepare for next week’s teaching. How does Paul describe them? What are the elements of the gospel story presented in his opening of the letter? Write down questions that you have about the text as you read.
1. Be reminded of your “only God” moments. Take a moment around the group/table to share stories of God coming through in your life in powerful ways.
2. Of the encouragements (and barriers) to the spirit empowered life. Which one do you think you most needed to hear the most and why?
3. How can we pray for signs and wonders with real faith while keeping our focus on Christ, not the experience?
4. Read all of Romans 1 multiple times as you prepare for next week’s teaching. How does Paul describe them? What are the elements of the gospel story presented in his opening of the letter? Write down questions that you have about the text as you read.
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