Jay Strack - Out of the Shadows and Into the World: The Book of Acts

out of the
shadows
and into the
world

out of the
shadows
and into the
world

scott dawson & jay strack

2011 by Jay Strack

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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Quotations noted The Voice are taken from The Voice Bible. 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version. 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Portions of this guide marked Adapted from the Impact Bible have been adapted from the Impact Student Leadership Bible by Jay Strack (Thomas Nelson, 2008).

ISBN 978-1-4016-7524-0

Printed in the United States of America

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contents

OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND INTO THE WORLD STUDY GUIDE

This study comes within the context of your life journey. Its a journey that begins the moment you were conceived, and it will continue throughout your existence. There are certain things your soul longs for on this journey and, whether youve realized it or not, your life is shaped by your search for themworth, significance, acceptance, love, peace, and beauty are needs felt by all.

Nearly everyone has a burning desire to discover a reason for their existence. We feel an all-consuming need at our very core to discover meaning and purpose in life. Our search may take us down many roads. Wherever our life choices take us, we all continually seek the way to have our deepest needs met.

The need to know our purpose and the persistent yearning to have our souls genuine needs met was placed within us by our Creator God. He wants us to seek for the only thing that will ever truly satisfy our souls the Person of Jesus Christ.

Only through Him will we ultimately discover our souls contentment. Our souls cannot discover rest, until we rest in Him.

We are a people wired to worship. We cant help that. All of us treasure something or someone above anything else in our lives. We give our devotion to somebody or something. So the question isnt do we worship, the question is what are we worshiping.

Each person knows the inner hunger to find real answers to the very genuine questions we all share. As we walk together through these few sessions, we will begin to discover truths about our world and about ourselves. We can support and encourage each other along the way as we travel together on this journey toward understanding our search for identity and meaning.

OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND INTO THE WORLD GROUP EXPERIENCE

Our search for meaning in life can be a lonely quest. We make wrong turns and often end up lost. By joining together with others as you pursue the truth behind your desire to find meaning and significance, you join with fellow travelers who are trying to navigate the same road. By using this study guide within a group you can offer encouragement to one another which cannot be overrated.

While walking this road together, youll encounter real-life situations and emotions that will challenge you; and by exploring and sharing your hopes, dreams, insights, successes, and failures with one another you will grow in your journey with Christ.

In order to create an environment where each person is free to be authentic and open, its important to agree on some small group ground rules from the start. First, create a safe zone for your group. This means that nothing said in the group can be repeated outside the group. Each persons story is his or her own and should only be told by that person. Treating one another with respect and compassion will create a true sense of community which will grow from session to session. In this environment of respect, you should value and protect each others emotional, spiritual, and physical space; no one should devalue a fellow group member in any way, and no one can be touched by another person without permission.

The purpose of your small group is to invite open and honest sharing from your life, but there are some circumstances that call for limited sharing. Steer clear of sharing anything that will put another person in jeopardy, could lead to legal problems, could reflect poorly on someone else, or that you dont have clearance or prior permission to speak about.

Everyone should feel free to share without receiving criticism, advice, or condemnation. You will be on a journey of discovery, telling your own stories and encouraging others to do the same. When someone shares, be sure to thank them for sharing or ask a follow-up question to clarify something they said. Sharing is not an invitation for lecture, correction, or judgment. Your group should be a safe place for alla place where each person is encouraged to participate as they are able. Avoid letting one person dominate the conversation. Instead, operate according to 1 Corinthians 13:47, giving to each other true love, kindness, and patience; bearing, believing, hoping, and enduring all things.

So as we agree to be real with ourselves, each other, and God, lets begin. Lets help one another come to the place where we can all learn to say No to the things that have held us back in the past and Yes to Gods purpose for our lives.

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE IN A GROUP

If you are using this guide in a group, your group may not always get through all of the questions in each session. That is just fine. There may be certain questions that hit home with your particular group and will take up the majority of time for that session. The point is not to get through all the questions. Just use these questions as a way to dig deep into each life within your group. It might help to record any extra notes or thoughts you may have in conjunction with this guide.

LESSON 1
out of the shadows
Luke 24

PURPOSE

In the very last chapter of his gospel, Luke wants us to know that God came into history through the Person of Jesus Christ, in order that we might see and investigate the God who performs the supernatural as He reaches out to His creation.

BACKSTORY

Luke wants us to know that in order to save the world Jesus chose not to save Himself from the pain and suffering of the cross. Jesus lived the only perfect life, impacting us two thousand years later. He invested His life into His twelve disciples and other followers by teaching, equipping, and mentoring them. Luke ends his gospel with an account of those who were eyewitnesses to the miracles of Christ. They hid behind locked doors, burdened with fear, doubts, and uncertainties after the world turned on Jesus. As they remembered the words of Christ, these believers emerged from the shadows and found confidence. (Adapted from the Impact Bible)