In the Street--Lesson 9--The Power of Encouragement--Acts 9 & 15

Discussion Questions:

1.  Who in your life could use some encouragement this week?  What specific things will you commit yourself to do to help them feel valued and cared for, and that they have purpose?

2.  What struggles do you have with paying attention to the things going on around you and not merely going through the motions?  What kinds of things help you to be present in each moment you encounter?

3.  What kinds of things did Barnabas do for Paul and then John Mark that you could do for people in your life?  Are there things you do for the Kingdom of God that you could take someone under your wing and mentor them?

4.  What role has encouragement played in times when you have failed or quit or been broken?  Who is someone you can thank and appreciate for their role of encouraging you?

5.  How much greater would the Kingdom of God be if more people saw their main role as being an encourager of others?  How good are you are accepting the encouragement of others?  How does your inability to accept encouragement hurt what God wants to accomplish?

6.  How are you at believing in others?  What role does competition play in your relationships?  How does competition hurt encouragement?  How does the grace of God go against competition?

7.  When has someone had to use the “get off the couch” type of encouragement to help you grow?  What does a person need to have in order to talk to you this way?

8.  Why is it difficult, if not impossible, to be an encourager without community?  How have you seen encouragement build better community?

9.  Why did people feel so comfortable around Jesus?  How can we grow in this area as a welcoming and encouraging place for people to find encouragement of all types?

10.  What kind of legacy are you hoping to leave behind after you are gone?  How have you seen encouragement play a role in building a legacy?