Even Stephen - September 6 & 7

Read: Acts 6:1-7

Before being promoted you must be prepared

Questions

1. To what responsibility was Stephen promoted? What conflict was he brought into the middle of? How would you describe this conflict?

2. How had Stephen prepared to be promoted? What steps do you think were involved in his preparation?

3. To what responsibilities have you been promoted? To what responsibilities would you like to be promoted?

4. How can you prepare for these responsibilities? What steps of preparation do you need to take so that you can be promoted in this way?

5. What is difficult about the preparation process? How can you overcome these difficulties? How can this group help your preparation process?

Give each student a piece of paper and something to write with. Ask the students to think about the stage or platform that they would like to have someday and in what areas of life they would like to have more privilege and responsibility even right now. Get them to write their responses on the top of their sheets. Then get them to draw a line down the middle of their sheets. On the left side of this line, students should write the things that are standing in the way of them enjoying these privileges, responsibilities, and stages. On the right side, students should write ways they can prepare themselves so that they can one day be promoted in these ways. After your students write down their ideas, say a prayer in which you ask God to continue to help them in their preparation process.

Begin to take one step of preparation that you just listed this week. As you do, remember that this is a step toward Authentic Faith in your life.