Respond Guide is a flexible guide for our church to use all week long, in personal study, with family, and in community groups. Its questions are designed for everyone and can be used multiple times, often leading to different conversations and fresh insight in each setting. The same guide can shape three distinct experiences as God meets you personally, in your home, and in biblical community.

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Summary

Pastor Kevin delivered a powerful message from Acts 13:13-52 about God speaking through His word, works, and people. The sermon follows Paul and Barnabas as they travel 500 miles from Antioch in Syria to Pisidian Antioch, where Paul proclaims the Gospel in the synagogue. Kevin emphasized the crucial difference between merely hearing God's voice and truly listening - responding with joy, honor, belief, and action. He shared personal stories from a recent hiking trip in Yosemite, including encounters with an acorn woodpecker and a man named Ken, to illustrate how God orchestrates divine appointments for Gospel conversations. The message challenged the congregation to be people who not only hear but listen to God's voice, warning against being like the scoffers who refuse to believe even when everything is explained to them.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You this morning with grateful hearts, knowing that You are always speaking to us through Your word, Your works, and Your people. As we gather together in this small group, we ask that You would open our hearts and minds to hear what You want to teach us today. Help us to be people who not only hear Your voice but truly listen and respond with obedience. Remove any distractions or hardness of heart that might prevent us from receiving what You have for us. We surrender this time to You and ask for Your Holy Spirit to guide our discussion. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Ice Breaker

What's the most interesting or unusual sound you've heard while spending time in nature? What made it memorable to you?

Key Verses

1. Acts 13:16
2. Acts 13:26
3. Acts 13:38-39
4. Acts 13:40-41
5. Acts 13:48-49

Questions

1. Paul and Barnabas traveled over 500 miles and hiked through mountain passes to share the Gospel. What does their commitment to the mission teach us about the value of the Gospel message?
2. In Acts 13:48, we see that the Gentiles 'rejoiced,' 'honored the word,' 'believed,' and 'spread the word.' How do these four responses demonstrate what it means to truly listen to God rather than just hear Him?
3. Kevin shared about hearing the acorn woodpecker's 'secret knock' in Yosemite. Can you think of a time when God seemed to get your attention in an unexpected or personal way?
4. Paul boldly proclaimed the Gospel when given an open door in the synagogue. What open doors for Gospel conversations might God be placing in your life right now?
5. The sermon mentioned that some people heard the Gospel but didn't listen (like Ken on the hiking trail), while others heard and believed. Why do you think people respond so differently to the same message?
6. Kevin warned against being like the 'scoffers' who wouldn't believe even if everything was explained to them. What are some barriers that prevent people from truly listening to God's voice?
7. The message emphasized that 'no one will hear if those who are listening don't open their mouths.' How does this challenge you personally in your witness to others?
8. John Mark left the mission early in this chapter but later returned to faithful service. How does his story encourage us when we see people drift away from following Christ?

Life Application

This week, ask God to show you one specific person in your life who needs to hear the Gospel. Pray for an open door to share with them, and when that opportunity comes, be bold like Paul to speak about Jesus. Also, take time each day to listen - not just hear - what God might be saying to you through His word, and respond with obedience to whatever He reveals.

Key Takeaways

1. God speaks through His word, His works, and His people - we must be listening, not just hearing
2. True listening to God involves four responses: rejoicing, honoring His word, believing, and spreading the message
3. God orchestrates divine appointments and open doors for Gospel conversations if we're paying attention
4. We don't know who will believe or when, but we're called to faithfully share the Gospel regardless
5. The difference between hearing and listening determines whether we experience God's impossible works in our lives

Ending Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for speaking to us today through Your word and through this time of fellowship. We confess that too often we hear but don't truly listen to Your voice. Help us to be people who respond to You with joy, honor, belief, and action. Give us boldness to share the Gospel with those You place in our paths, and help us to trust You with the results. We pray for those in our lives who have heard but are not yet listening - do the impossible work of salvation in their hearts. May we leave here today more committed to living on mission for Your glory. In Your precious name we pray, Amen.