Part 1

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Connect group:

• Choose ONE NIGHT a week to hold your connect group.
• Ask each member of your connect group to bring their Bible.
• If you want, you can also take communion together.

WELCOME

Ice breaker:

Choose one of the following topics and talk about it:a) Tell us about a time when someone did a good deed for you. How did you feel after this person did it to you?

b) Tell us about a time when you did a good deed for someone. How did you feel after doing this deed?

Prayer: Open with prayer.

WORD

Read:

Our Core Text for Today:

1 Tim 1:12-16 (NIV)

I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength and counted me faithful, putting me into his service, even though I once blasphemed the name of Christ. I persecuted and mistreated his people. But God showed me mercy because I acted ignorantly and unbelievingly. How the grace of our Lord overflowed with faith and love in Christ Jesus!

This is a trustworthy message and one that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of all sinners. But God showed me mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display God’s great patience as an example for those who would believe and receive eternal life.

Talk in your Connect Group about the following:

Saul persecuted the new Christians with all his might. He did not lay his hands on these Christians himself but watched as many Christians were tortured and even murdered. He thought what he was doing was honoring God. With his conversion, he realized he had been working against God and not for God. God saved him because God saw great potential in him. God saw that he could do a great work for Him here on earth. God forgave him.

After Paul’s conversion, he had a deep understanding of forgiveness. Because God had forgiven him, he could now forgive others. The Ripple Effect began. God’s forgiveness for Paul produces forgiveness from Paul to all the people around him that needed forgiveness, and so a Ripple Effect begins that reaches the entire earth.

Reread today’s texts and talk about them:

• How would you feel if you were Saul and you experienced God’s grace?
• Think about the following statement: “Forgave to forgive.” God forgave us, who should you forgive and cause such a ripple effect?

WORSHIP

Make time to worship God today. Use the playlist on our Word and Life website under Connect Groups. Or bring your own worship songs.

WORKS

Now enjoy Communion together as a Connect Group:

Love for God, Love for People

Now, as a Connection Group, spend just 5 minutes in silence, and each member should answer the questions below individually. Create a peaceful atmosphere and allow the Lord to speak to each one individually.

• Ask the Lord to show you what you can be grateful for.
• Thank the Lord for His forgiveness and think of someone who might need your forgiveness?