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Theme: A World Without Pyramids

1. The Pyramids Around Us: The sermon describes the ancient Roman world as a rigid social pyramid built on status, power, and lineage. In what practical ways do you see similar “pyramids” operating today in workplaces, communities, or even within churches?
2. Unlearning Cultural Biases: Peter struggled to let go of his cultural prejudice about Gentiles even after years of following Jesus. What deeply held cultural assumptions, stereotypes, or biases might the Holy Spirit be challenging you to release?
3. Religion vs. The Gospel: The sermon draws a sharp distinction between religion (obey and perform to earn acceptance) and the gospel (you are already accepted, now live from that reality). Which of these two postures most honestly describes your default approach to your faith?
4. Crossing Social Boundaries: Jesus consistently crossed social barriers to eat with children, women, outcasts, and foreigners. Who are the people in your daily context that society often overlooks or pushes to the margins, and what would it look like for you to build a bridge to them?
5. The Verdict is Settled: Using the story of Dr. Andrew Ollerton being told he passed his PhD exam before the interview even began, how might knowing with certainty that you are already loved and accepted by God change how you face daily stress, failure, or high-stakes anxiety?
6. Resisting Hierarchies: Paul declared that in Christ there is no distinction of Jew or Gentile, slave or free (Colossians 3:11, Galatians 3:28). What responsibility does our local church family have to actively resist social hierarchies and live out a “celebratory egalitarianism”?
7. Social Transformation: The Holy Spirit’s role is not just personal comfort, but a force that transforms society from the inside out. What does it look like for our church family to practically bring that kind of Spirit-led dignity into our local area?
8. Public Breaks with the Past: In Acts 19:19, new believers burned their sorcery scrolls in a costly, public break from their old way of life. What habits, attitudes, or cultural allegiances might God be calling you to decisively leave behind?