Experiments in Christian Living
Lab Manual
- Pay attention this week to how you address needs that present themselves to you.
- Say "yes" to a need this week you might otherwise not even notice.
- Pray for your lab partner's awareness and wisdom as they also pray for you as you both conduct this experiment.
- At the end of the week share your experience with your lab partner. What happened? What happened in you? What does 3:6 mean to you now?
- The theory we are “testing” this week is this: conviction always leads to material change. Can you think of some personal experiences with this? What changed? Talk these over with your lab partner.
- This passage describes a community of conviction. How does the experience of Acts 2 compare with your own experience and understanding of church? (Take your time with this.)
- How would you respond to someone who says, “I can worship God anywhere. Who needs church?”
- It’s clear that the Holy Spirit intends to move us toward our fellow believers. So pray with your lab partner and ask the Lord to bring to mind one name. This week check in with that person and see what happens. We suggest a phone call, a visit, even an email that says something like, “This week your name came to mind. I’m just checking in. How are you?”
- Memorize Acts 2:42 and recite this to your partner next week.
- Point a rubber band between your finger and your thumb. Place a small folded up piece of paper on the rubber band and stretch it back as far as you are comfortable. Be careful not to point in anyone’s direction. Hold the paper in the rubber band and think about this: That reflecting on God’s presence and promises in your past is like this stretched rubber band. What does remembering and reflecting on God’s presence and promises in the past do? Let go of the rubber band and watch the little piece of paper fly! Now consider this: That the God who was with you in the past will also be with you in the future.
- How do you see this truth (God’s promise in the past propels us forward to the future) being realized in Acts 2:14-36?
- How does Peter make the case that “these people are not drunk?” (2:15)
Share with your lab partner a life experience that Scripture has helped you to come to terms with. - Commit 2:21 to memory.
- Read Acts 2: 1-13 again. Reflect on this. When have you felt God’s presence in a powerful way moving through community? Maybe it was a time in worship, or while you were on a mission project, or at a retreat. Talk about that experience with your lab partner.
- As you go through your week, try and notice how many different languages you hear spoken around you. Include different kinds of English you find difficult to understand (maybe your kids or grandkids, or your parents or grandparents, for example). How many languages do you speak (include different kinds of English)? If you speak more than one, what did it require of you to learn that language? What are the benefits? What does it mean that the Holy Spirit “taught” 120 ordinary people all sorts of different languages? Discuss this with your lab partner.
- First things first. Share with your lab partner what you hope to get out of this lab experience. What questions do you have about experiencing your Christian faith? Write these down on this lab sheet and keep them.
- Gather up your questions and email them to dick@wpcwestlake.org (Pastor Thompson’s email address).
- Read Acts 1:12-14.
- Prayer seems crucial to waiting for the promise. Pray for each other's hopes.
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Westminster Presbyterian Church |