5.24.26 Huddle
Opening Discussion
How would your day and life look differently if you saw yourself as a missionary to Evansville?
What’s keeping you from living that way now?
Read and Discuss
Act 12:1-10
About that time King Herod violently attacked some who belonged to the church, 2 and he executed James, John’s brother, with the sword. 3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4 After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him.
6 When Herod was about to bring him out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while the sentries in front of the door guarded the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him up and said, “Quick, get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists.8 “Get dressed,” the angel told him, “and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Wrap your cloak around you,” he told him, “and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed, and he did not know that what the angel did was really happening, but he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 After they passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went outside and passed one street, and suddenly the angel left him.
Why did Herod kill James and arrest Peter?
Why were the Jews pleased at the death of James?
The church prayed fervently to God on Peter’s behalf. What are some things the church prays fervently for today?
When was the last time you prayed fervently?
What was a result of the prayers of the church?
How have you seen prayer answered in your life recently?
Act 12:11-17
11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected.” 12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had assembled and were praying. 13 He knocked at the door of the outer gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. 14 She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the outer gate.
15 “You’re out of your mind!” they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true, and they said, “It’s his angel.” 16 Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.
17 Motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Tell these things to James and the brothers,” he said, and he left and went to another place.
Why did it take Peter a little while to realize the Lord had answered their prayers?
Why are we still surprised when the Lord answers our prayers?
Why did the people that were praying for Peter have a hard time believing that their prayers were answered?
In our mission to live daily living out what Jesus has called us to do, what role should prayer play in that mission?
What are some ways you rely on prayer each day?
What are some ways you may have neglected the importance of prayer?
Discipleship Questions
How can you make prayer a priority in your daily journey with Jesus?
What are ways you can bring others along to pray fervently with you this week?
What are you currently praying fervently for right now?
Memorize it!
Acts 12:5
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was praying fervently to God for him.
Prayer TACOS
Thanksgiving: What is a prayer the Lord has answered recently? Thank Him for listening and answering our prayers.
Amazement: The God of the universe who holds all things together, who created all things, who spoke us into existence, cares enough about us to listen when we talk to Him. Spend some time worshipping Him for that.
Confession: Have you prayed about something, and then God answers it and you haven’t said “thanks?” Or you just dismissed it as a coincidence? Confess those times when you have doubted God’s power.
Others: Who is someone who needs you to pray fervently for them? Set a time on your watch this week to make a conscious effort to stop and pray for them?
Self: What do you need from the Lord today? This week? Pray and ask Him to show up in those things in a way that it’s obviously Him working.