How To Turn Relational Battles Into Real-Life Breakthroughs

THE TEXT: Acts 15 – The Jerusalem Council and the separation of Paul and Barnabas.

THE APPLICATION: 5 things needed to turn potential relational battles into real-life breakthroughs for the Gospel.

• Both the right and the right are .

| Acts 15:8-11 | Matthew 7:21-23 | John 14:6 | Romans 10:8-9 | Mark 12:30-31 | 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 |

• Make sure everyone gets a , feels , and that the people do not . 

| Acts 15:5-6 | 1 John 5:14 | Psalm 34:6 | Matthew 9:12 | 1 Corinthians 14:26 |

• Be willing to the hard issues but be to leave with .

| Acts 15:24-25 | John 1:14 | Romans 12:18, 14:19 | 2 Timothy 2:24-26 | Proverbs 18:21, 17:27, 29:11 | Matthew 18:15-20 |

• Keep the language , , and focused. 

| Acts 15:31 | John 15:11 | Colossians 4:6 | Ephesians 4:25-29 | Proverbs 15:1 |

• Trust that Jesus is working on the when the don’t go .

| Acts 15:36-41 | 1 Corinthians 9:6 | 2 Timothy 4:11 |

Small Group Questions

Getting to know you.

Welcome to your first session of Fall 2024 Small Groups! We are so glad you set this time apart for spiritual growth and fellowship. Let’s take a few moments to get to know each other.

1. Have everyone share their name, something about themselves, and something they did over the summer.

2. A couple ice breakers:
   1. What is your favorite snack?

   2. Does anyone have a hidden/secret talent they’re willing to share?

Take a moment now to go through City Church’s “Small Group Top 10 List.” It can be found on the “Church Center App” by tapping groups, then resources.

What do you think?

What part of last Sunday’s service struck a chord with you?

The story of your life.

Tell about a relational battle in your life that has seen tremendous improvement, maybe that you would even call a breakthrough.

Digging deeper in God’s Word.

1. For today’s discussion, we will focus on Bible verses that help guide us to God’s breakthrough in the midst of potential relational battles. Perhaps the most powerful concept in all of the Scriptures on this topic is the way of love. Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 and answer the following questions.
   1. What does this passage tell us about God? Love? People and ourselves?

   2. If anyone is willing, have them share about a time when they felt loved through a conflict. What did the other person do that caused you to feel seen and loved? How did that experience change you?

2. Read the following verses out loud one at a time. Then share as many insights as possible from the text on turning potential relational battles into real-life breakthroughs.
   1. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8.

   2. 2 Timothy 2:22-26.

   3. Proverbs 15:1, 18:21, 17:27, 29:11.

Personal reflection and application.

1. One of the things we try to do at the end of small group is to share one thing someone else said that struck a chord with you. A little hack for next time: write them down as people share! It helps! So take a minute and have a few people share one thing someone else shared that blessed you.

2. Pray for one another (preferably men with men and women with women if possible). Larger groups may need to break into even smaller groups for the sake of time.