The Movement of God in His People – Acts 5–7
God Hears From Us
Begin with a time of prayer, here’s some ideas:
Adoration
Read Liturgical Prayers
Prayers Guided by Psalms
Extended time of silence
ACTS
We Hear From God: Acts 5:12-42, 6:1-7, 6:8-7:60
Over the last three weeks, we’ve explored how God grows His movement—not through outward success or religious performance, but through joyful obedience, empowered leadership, and redeemed relationship. These stories from Acts challenge us to examine what we think the church should be, how we measure success, and what it really means to follow Jesus.
Decide if there is one passage that your group wants to focus on or if you want to review the entire thing.
We Hear from Each Other
Below are some discussion questions based on Acts 5-7, if your group chooses to focus on one passage use the questions in the Leader Guide for that passage.
Where have you seen God at work in your life—not just through visible outcomes or miracles, but through quiet obedience, hard conversations, or moments of trust?
(Acts 5 highlights obedience as the real miracle, Acts 6 shows leaders trusting others, and Acts 7 reveals Stephen’s faith even in death.)What keeps us from stepping into the roles or responsibilities God may be calling us to within the church or in our community?
(The apostles delegate in Acts 6, Stephen speaks boldly in Acts 7, and the apostles obey even in fear in Acts 5.)How do we sometimes substitute religious performance or spiritual rules for real relationship with Jesus? What helps us come back to grace?
(Stephen’s speech in Acts 7 exposes this temptation, and the whole section challenges us to evaluate our heart posture.)How can we better empower one another to use our gifts, tell our stories, and walk together as a Spirit-led community?
(From the appointment of new leaders in Acts 6 to the shared witness in Acts 5 and Stephen’s legacy in Acts 7, the call is always communal.)
Leader’s Guide:
here is a brief summary of the past three weeks and some ideas for questions that you could ask.
Week 1: The Miracle of Obedience (Acts 5:12–42)
Summary
God delivered the apostles from prison—but the real miracle was their joyful obedience in the face of suffering. Even after being arrested and beaten, they continued to preach Christ. This shows us that God’s movement advances not through easy circumstances, but through transformed people.
Key Texts: Acts 5:20, 29, 41
Big Idea: The Miracle is not the Miracle. “What the gospel does is make the miraculous routine and the routine a miracle.” Eugene Peterson
Discussion Questions
What stood out to you most from this story of the apostles’ imprisonment and release?
What do you think is more miraculous: deliverance or obedience? Why?
Share a time when obedience to God felt risky or costly. How did God meet you in that?
How is God calling you into deeper obedience right now—especially in the ordinary?
Week 2: Empowered to Lead (Acts 6:1–7)
Summary
The early church faced division and leadership bottlenecks. Rather than trying to do everything themselves, the apostles empowered new leaders to serve. This moment of delegation unleashed spiritual multiplication. God’s church grows when everyone uses their gifts.
Key Texts: Acts 6:2–4, 6–7
Big Idea: Leaders don’t do everything—they empower others to do what only they can.
Discussion Questions
What problems in the early church made delegation necessary?
How do the apostles model healthy leadership? What stands out about their priorities?
Are you more likely to hold on to control—or to step away from responsibility?
What gifts has God given you to serve the church? Where might He be calling you to lead?
Week 3: Relationship Over Religion (Acts 6:8–7:60)
Summary
Stephen’s speech is more than a history lesson—it’s a heart diagnosis. He reveals how religion built on rules and tradition resists God’s Spirit. But a relationship built on grace leads to forgiveness and transformation, even in death. Stephen models the heart of Christ.
Key Texts: Acts 7:51–53, 7:55–60
Big Idea: Religion tries to earn God’s favor—relationship receives it by grace.
Discussion Questions
Stephen’s audience valued tradition and the temple. What do we cling to today that can subtly replace relationship with God?
How does defensiveness show up when we feel spiritually insecure or try to earn God’s approval?
What does it mean to live out a relationship with God instead of a religion of regulation?
What do Stephen’s final words reveal about his heart and his hope?
