Summit Ridge Sermon Podcast

READ Acts 6:8-8:3
THINK
1. As you think about this message, think, “how does God want my beliefs and or actions to change? What is one thing I can do to bring about this change?
2. Think about the last argument you had were you were wrong. Who was it with? When did you realize you were wrong? What were you focused that caused you not to see the truth? What helped you to see that you were wrong and the other person was right? Why is it so hard to accept truths in these situations?
3. Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin to explain why he spoke against Moses and God. Why was this a serious crime?
4. Luke says Stephen’s face looked like an angel before he gave his testimony. Why does Luke mention this?
5. Stephen gives a very detailed testimony. What does he want he religious leaders to see or recognize through his testimony?
6. Why don’t the religious leaders recognize the truth about Jesus Christ through Stephen’s testimony? What were they focused on?
7. Who have you shared the truth of Jesus Christ with only to have that person or persons reject it? Why did they reject it? What were they focused on?
8. What were you focused on before you accepted the truth about Jesus Christ?
How did your focus change? What helped you to see the truth about Jesus Christ?
PRAY
Jesus- Thank you for leading me to see the truth of who you really are. You are my Lord and my Savior. Please help me to keep my focus on you. Help me not to get tripped up on things that I may think are crucial to my relationship and worship of you. Help me to always see you clearly. In your name I pray. Amen.
LIVE
Think about those person or persons who have rejected God’s truth. Pray for them everyday this week that their focus may be turned so they can see Jesus for who he really is and accept him in their lives.

READ Acts 6:1-7
THINK
1. As you think about this message, think, “how does God want my beliefs and or actions to change? What is one thing I can do to bring about this change?
2. Life is not fair. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not. If you agree with it, why isn’t life fair?
3. In the first internal struggle of the early Greek-speaking widows were being overlooked by the Aramaic-speaking Jews. Why do you think this was happening?
4. Why was it important for the 12 Apostles to address this issue? What does it say about the value of fairness in the early church?
5. The Apostles have the people choose seven Greek-speaking men? Why do the apostles say the people should choose these men? Why seven? And why Greek speaking?
6. How would choosing these seven men ensure that the Greek-speaking widows would be treated fairly?
7. Think about your family, or your work environment. What makes fairness so difficult to achieve in these places?
8. How have you tried to be fair? What was the result? Did it work? If so, why? Did it not work? If not, why not?
9. Although life isn’t fair, the church should be. What do you think fairness looks like in the church?
10. Does your church value fairness? In what ways does it or does it not value fairness?
PRAY
Jesus- Thank you that you are just and right. I pray that you would help me to be fair to those around me. I also pray that you would help my church to value fairness, and in doing so, may I be a person who not only values fairness, but practices it with those in my church. In your name I pray. Amen.
LIVE
What is one thing you can do this week to instill the value of fairness in your family, your workplace, or your church? Go and do it!

READ Acts 5:12-42
THINK
1. As you think about this message, think “how does God want my beliefs and or actions to change? What is one thing I can do to bring about this change?
2. Think about a time you joined a cause or a movement. Why did you join it? Is the cause still going? Are you still part of it? Why or why not?
3. The Apostle’s met in the Temple, however people did not join them. Why? What were they afraid of?
4. Why did the people respect the Apostle’s and early believers even though they didn’t join them?
5. Have you ever respected a group or a cause yet didn’t join them? Why? Was it because of fear? If so, what were you afraid of?
6. Why did the religious leaders want to stop the Apostle’s from preaching the Gospel?
7. Who convinced the religious leaders to let the Apostle’s go free? Why is this significant?
8. Has there ever been a time when you thought the church is dead. Christianity is dying? Why did you think this? Do you still believe this? Why?
9. Why can’t the Gospel be stopped? What does this mean for the Christians and the Church? What does this mean for you?
PRAY
Jesus- Your Gospel can’t be stopped, because you can’t be stopped. It is alive and well because you are alive. Thank you for this hope. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this movement. To be a part of your church that will never die. In your name I pray. Amen.
LIVE
What is one way and one person you can share the Gospel to this week? Who and where is God calling you to serve? Go and do it!

Listen to weekly sermons from Summit Ridge Community Church in Tucson, Arizona. We exist to make disciples who serve Christ by serving people.

READ Acts 3-4:22
THINK
1. As you think about this message, think “how does God want my beliefs and or actions to change? What is one thing I can do to bring about this change?
2. Think about an opportunity that has come along in your life. What did you do in that moment? Do you regret the action you took? Why or why not?
3. Why does Peter heal the lame man even though the man didn’t ask to be healed?
4. Read vs. 16, who healed the man?
5. Why did the Temple guard arrest Peter and John?
6. Why were the religious leaders so threatened by Peter and John?
7. Why are Peter and John told to no longer say anything about Jesus or to speak his name. What is Peter and John’s response to this?
8. In what way have you been told to be silent about something you have seen and heard? What did you do?
9. What opportunities has God given you to share about Jesus Christ? How have you taken advantage of those opportunities?
10. How have you responded when someone has asked you about your faith in Jesus Christ?
PRAY
Jesus- I pray that you would give me opportunities to share who you are to other people. I pray that I would be able to recognize these opportunities, and have the courage to speak, to tell, to share your Gospel. In your name I pray. Amen.
LIVE
Is there an opportunity that God is opening up to you to share Jesus Christ with a family member, a co-worker, or a neighbor? Pray again to have the courage to speak when these opportunities come.

Listen to weekly sermons from Summit Ridge Community Church in Tucson, Arizona. We exist to make disciples who serve Christ by serving people.

Listen to weekly sermons from Summit Ridge Community Church in Tucson, Arizona. We exist to make disciples who serve Christ by serving people.

We are God’s
For the LORD's portion is His people, Jacob his allotted inheritance. God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.” Genesis 9:1
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:1-2
See also Genesis 13:14 -16 and 17:20-21
Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Genesis 32:28
The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. Deuteronomy 7:7
See also Exodus 33:1-3
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19
See also John 10:14 and 2 Timothy 2:19
He will not forget those who are His
“In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.” 2 Samuel 22:7
See also Genesis 16:13
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will
quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Listen to weekly sermons from Summit Ridge Community Church in Tucson, Arizona. We exist to make disciples who serve Christ by serving people.

A follower of Jesus Christ not only GRABS ON to His Word,
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. 4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ Luke 8: 1-10
60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
John 6:60-64,66
but HOLDS ON to His Word.
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:11-15
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13