Forefront Church // Weekly Gel Group Study This study CAN be used individually, but we believe it’s best served by studying TOGETHER as a group. The early church gathered together and studied the teaching of Jesus and at Forefront we strive to follow that example. If you’re looking for a gel group, please email [email protected] and we will get back to you on the best group to find community and Bible study.

Series: The Code This Week’s Theme: Godʼs Word Brings Change

The Intro: Much like the infamous Konami Code (old code for Nintendo game ""), there are millions of things that creep into our heads that we cannot get rid of. From the lyrics to Tiny Dancer to those commercials with that stupid Gecko- we cannot seem to shake them out of our heads. What if we learned to put more than just movie quotes and song lyrics inside our little brains? What if we remembered things that matter? Well, in this series, "The Komani Code" we'll take a look at how The Bible (God's Word) brings revolution, combats sin, provides guidance, and brings life change.

Group Ice Breaker: If you could change one thing about you, what would it be and why?

Notes: We experience so many life changes, and have so many influences in our lives as we grow up. God should be the greatest influence in our lives. All the self help books and books on self improvement are nothing compared to the life changing influence of Godʼs scripture. The transforming power of God is awesome, and is a huge part of our life story, and is not meant to be saved for ourselves but should be shared with the world.

Passages For Study: Acts 2:37-41, Acts 8:9-13, Acts 8:26-39 (scriptures located at the end of the study) Letʼs Talk It Out Together:

1. Describe a time in your life when you were “cut to the heart” by Godʼs word? What affect did it have on your life?

2. What does repentance mean to you? How should repentance affect your relationship with God?

3. What things do people tend to follow today in place of God?

4. What happened in your life that brought you to God and how might that help the people you come in contact with each day?

5. What resources and tools are available to us to help us to understand Godʼs word? How well do you use the resources?

6. Read Acts 8:26-39. Why did God send Philip to the Ethiopian? Who and how has God used the people in your life to help Guide and change your life?

7. Who can you share your “God Story” with this week to show how God has changed you?

******************************************************************************** If you have questions about how to strengthen your faith or questions about the Bible, contact your Gel Group Leader or email us [email protected]

Acts 2:37-41 “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off— for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Acts 8:9-13 “9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.” Acts 8:26-39 “26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road— that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.