Review:
When Wicked People Are Ruling the Nation:
- Wicked Leaders bring hard Times. (Acts 12:1-4)
- Hard Times bring hard Prayer. (Acts 12:5)
- Hard Prayer sees God Move. (Acts 12:6-19)
- God Moves and His Kingdom Advances. (Acts 12:20-25)
Psalm 2:1-4 - Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
Psalm 37:12-13 - The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him,
but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.
Psalm 59:7-8 - There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips—
for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?”
But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.
Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
Hint: Highlight blanks above for answers!
Small Group Questions (Whole Group):
Read Acts 12:1-25
Why did God let James die, but delivered Peter? How would you have explained that had James" mother asked you? Is it even OK to ask "why" in cases like this?
What was Herod’s crime against God (Acts 12:23)? How does someone commit that crime? Does this still happen today?
Imagine a coworker opens up to you, saying how worried they are concerning who is going to be the next president. "If (whatever candidate) gets in there, we are in big trouble." In light of what we read in Acts 12, what would you say to this person in response?
Breakout Questions:
Pray for one another.