SCRIPTURE: Acts 15:6-16:3





REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Think about Kenny’s “archery target” illustration for finding the right church: have you ever been in a church that was too close to the center for you, where you struggled to be challenged? Have you ever been somewhere that was too far for you to ever feel comfortable?

Have you experienced growth from staying in a challenging community or relationship, and in what ways did it change you?

Consider Peter: he looks at the lives of the Gentiles they are discussing before he considers the intellectual arguments about their fate. What can we learn from this?

Consider James: he looks for verses in Scripture that speak to God’s heart over verses that seem to offer legal clarity. What can we learn from this?

Consider Paul and Timothy: they consider the anxieties of the communities they want to reach above what they know they have a right to do (or not do). What can we learn from this?

In your own words, what seems to be the key to building a community where people will feel safe enough to stay?