Resurgence Community - Week 3

Formed Together: Built Together, Sent Together
Acts 4:31–35

Spirit-filled courage is not produced in isolation, but in a community that prays, stands, and goes together.

I. The Myth of the Lone Hero
- Cultural narrative: The "Self-Made" individual.
- Biblical narrative: The Body of Christ.
- Key Truth: If you’ve rolled away from the fire, you will eventually lose your glow.

II. The Shaking of the Room (Acts 4:31)
- “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken...”
- Boldness isn’t a personality trait; it is a Community Byproduct.
 - We often ask God for boldness so we can find community, but God gives community boldness so we can change the world.

III. Radical Unity as a Mission Strategy (Acts 4:32-33)
- Unity leads to Power.
- Vision Challenger: The "Ball Hog." Courage multiplies when leadership releases.
- Impact doesn't happen through individual perfection; it happens through collective obedience.

IV. The Vision: From Greenhouse to Launchpad
- Our Core Vision: Equipping believers to discover their calling and live it out together.
- You cannot fully discover your calling in a vacuum. You need the friction of other believers to sharpen your iron.

The Process:
1. Engagement invites us in.
2. Community forms us together.
3. Spirit-Filled Courage sends us out.

V. The Commission: Nicaragua & Pennsylvania
- Community is not the destination; it is the Launchpad.
- We are built together so that we can be Sent Together.

This Summer’s Fronts:
- International: Nicaragua
- Domestic: Pennsylvania

My Next Step Today:

[ ] Pray for the "shaking" of 4points Church and boldness for our summer teams.
[ ] Connect to a Group this week to begin discovering my calling.

“A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” — Ecclesiastes 4:12

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Formed Together: Week 3 Discussion Guide
Acts 4:31–35

1. The "Embers" Check
- In the message, we talked about how a single coal on a sidewalk goes cold in minutes, but it stays white-hot when it's in the pile of embers.
- Looking back at your life, can you think of a time when you "drifted" away from community? What happened to the "temperature" of your faith during that time?

2. Courage is Contagious
- Acts 4:31 shows us that boldness was a result of the believers being gathered together and praying.
- Who is someone in your life (or in this group) whose courage strengthens you? When you see them standing firm in their faith, how does it change your own perspective?

3. Discovering Your Calling
- Our vision is "Equipping believers to discover their calling and live it out together." We believe you can’t fully see your own calling in isolation.
- What are some gifts or strengths you see in the people sitting in this circle right now? (Spend a few minutes calling out the "gold" you see in one another).
- How can this group help you "sharpen" those gifts this year?

4. From Greenhouse to Launchpad
- We said that community is not the destination; it’s the launchpad. It’s where we are formed so that we can be sent.
- As you think about the upcoming mission trips to Nicaragua and Pennsylvania, what is your initial reaction? (Excitement? Fear? Hesitation?)
- Even if you aren't going on those specific trips, what is the "mission field" (work, school, neighborhood) that God has sent you to this week?

5. The "Threefold Cord" Prayer
- Ecclesiastes 4:12 says a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
- What is one specific area where you feel "sidelined" or "weak" right now?
- Action: Pray for one another in pairs or as a group, specifically asking for the Holy Spirit to fill you with boldness for the week ahead.

3 Day Devotional

Day 1: The Danger of the Drift
Read: Proverbs 18:1; 1 Peter 5:8
Reflect: In the wild, a predator doesn't attack the herd; it waits for a straggler to drift. Spiritually, the same is true. Isolation isn't a personality trait—it’s a strategic error. When we pull away from the body of Christ, we aren’t just "taking a break"; we are moving away from our protection and our purpose. A single coal on a sidewalk loses its heat in minutes, but in the pile of embers, it stays white-hot.
Journal: In what areas of my life have I been "drifting" into isolation lately? Who are the 2 or 3 people I can call today to "move back into the embers"?
Prayer: “Lord, forgive me for thinking I can handle the weight of life on my own. Help me to recognize the 'stick drift' in my heart that pulls me away from Your people. Thank You for the gift of the Body. Amen.”

Day 2: Calling is a Team Sport
Read: Proverbs 27:17; Mark 3:14
Reflect: Our vision at 4points is to equip believers to discover their calling and live it out together. We often treat "calling" like a private secret we have to find by ourselves. But the Bible says iron sharpens iron. You have gifts in you that you cannot see yet, but your brothers and sisters in Christ can. You were never meant to sharpen your own tools; you need the "friction" of community to become the man or woman God called you to be.
Journal: What is a gift or passion God has put in me that I’m currently not using? How can I invite others to help me "sharpen" my faith this week?
Prayer: “Father, thank You for the people You have placed in my life to sharpen me. Give me the humility to listen to their encouragement and their correction. Help me to see my calling through the eyes of the community. Amen.”

Day 3: From Greenhouse to Launchpad
Read: Acts 4:31–35; Matthew 5:14–16
Reflect: Community is the "greenhouse" where faith matures, but it is not the destination. We are formed together so that we can be sent together. Whether it is a mission trip to Nicaragua, an outreach in Pennsylvania, or simply being "the light" in your workplace, your small group is meant to be a launchpad. Boldness isn't something you wait to feel; it’s something that happens when the Body of Christ moves together in obedience.
Journal: If I knew I had the full support of my church family, what "bold step" would I take for the Gospel this week? Am I viewing my community as a comfortable circle or as a mission launchpad?
Prayer: “Lord, shake my heart today just as You shook the room in Acts 4. Don't let me stay comfortable in my circles. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can speak Your Word with boldness in my city and beyond. Amen.”