The Expansive Inclusivity of God
Acts 8:26-40
Richard Dahlstrom, Senior Pastor, www.spiritsoulbody.org
Today’s text removes our cultural blinders and expands our view of God’s generosity and God’s vision for humanity. It’s presented in narrative form with consideration of the characters, the story, and the moral of the story.
The Characters
The Story
The “Moral of the Story”
- The Gospel is for outsiders
- Everyone is an outsider
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Discussion Questions
Before questions, attempt to give the group a bit of a summary of the main points of the sermon and then choose a few questions that fit your group’s needs and style. We don’t intend for you to use all of these. Three to five questions may be a good number.
In the image that was shared, which did you see the young or older woman?
Considering that not everyone reads the Bible and hears the same thing. Have one person read the Beatitudes in Mathew and another person in Luke.
What additional variations to you see between the two? (ex: “blessed are the poor” and “blessed are the poor in spirit.”)
Which version are you most accustomed to hearing shared and how might a different perspective affect the two accounts?
Discuss the three barriers the eunuch faces in the church (ethnicity, skin color, and sexuality). What might be today’s equivalents for those seeking to know God?
The wind of the Holy Spirit moves and there’s a sense here that’s utterly contrary to ‘building your own life’ and a sense of being ‘carried along’ by a force outside your own control.
Have you experienced this guidance of the Holy Spirit in your own life story?
What would it look like to surrender control and listen to how God might want to be building your story differently?
We see in this week’s sermon of how expansive God’s view of generosity is and how he “blows up” dividing walls. Discuss how Jesus + Nothing often becomes Jesus + (insert idol here) across church history and today.
Have you ever felt you were an outsider because the world told you that you were an outsider, or thought you were unseen among the people of God, because the people of God didn’t see you?
Who else do you think that applies to in our city? How about in our church community?
As the gospel scrambles our logic, this radical acceptance is very good news for the poor… for the marginalized… for the outsider… for those who feel unseen. Read aloud the following: The reality is that no matter how far organized religion misses the mark — God sees you, knows you, loves you, is for you, and invites you into God’s story of hope - with a place at the table just for you. Close in prayer over this reminder.