By Michael C. Mack

Why is it difficult for some people to move from an old way to a new way of doing things? 

Read Acts 15:1-12. 

Divide your group into two camps: the circumcision group (Galatians 2:12) or “party of the Pharisees” (Acts 15:5), a.k.a. the Judaizers, and the salvation through grace group, represented by Paul, Barnabas, and Peter. Each group should present the main theological and practical points of their position. 

Read Luke 5:36-38. How would you use these words from Jesus to make the point if you were part of the grace group? 

At this point Peter and Paul were in harmony in regard to this foundational doctrine of grace. Why would that have been important for the rest of the church? for us today? 

What burden (yoke, Acts 15:10) do we put on our own or others’ necks today when it comes to faith? 

Why is it difficult to move to a relationship from religion (even a relationship plus religion)? 

What does it mean to you that you are accepted by God just as you are? On a scale of 1-5, how well do you accept people just as they are? How can your group pray for you?

Michael Mack leads church training events and consults with churches through his ministry, Small Group Leadership (www.smallgroupleadership.com).