Unstoppable Witness (Acts 5)

Message Listening Guide

Guiding Question: How much pressure would it take to make you stop talking about Jesus?

1. Opposition and Obedience (5:17–26)
The high priest and Sadducees imprison the apostles to silence them, but an angel of the Lord releases them and commands them to go right back to the temple—to the very place they were stopped—and keep telling people about “this life.”
Sometimes God’s call leads us into danger, not away from it.

2. Counsel and Conviction (5:27–39)
The apostles stand again before the same council that condemned Jesus. Their Spirit-empowered boldness provokes anger, but Gamaliel’s wisdom prevails: if this movement is merely human, it will collapse; but if it is from God, no power on earth can stop it.
The endurance of the church through history bears witness to the truth and power of the gospel.

3. Joy and Resolve (5:40–42)
After being flogged and warned to keep silent, the apostles rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus—and they continue teaching daily in the temple and from house to house.
Through the Spirit, joy can flourish even in suffering, because Jesus is worth it.

The Point: You can’t participate in God’s movement by standing still.

Connection Group Conversation Guide

Pray: Update your prayer requests and begin your time together in prayer.

Get-to-Know-You Question: Share your name with the group and the answer to the question: what’s a favorite halloween costume you’ve made, or seen?

Opening Question: Have you ever sensed God leading you into a situation that felt risky, uncomfortable, or even unsafe? How did you respond?

Review: In Sunday’s message, we looked at Acts 5:17–42, where the apostles were imprisoned for preaching about Jesus but miraculously released by an angel. Even under threat of death, they chose to obey God rather than men. Gamaliel reminded the council that what is truly from God cannot be stopped, and the endurance of the church still proves that today. The apostles’ joy in suffering calls us to the same Spirit-empowered boldness—to keep moving with God’s unstoppable movement, whatever it costs. 

Discuss: Share about a time you wanted to speak up about your faith but didn’t. What do you think held you back?

Read: Have someone read Acts 5:17-21

Discuss: Why do you think God sent the angel to free the apostles—only to send them right back into danger?

Discuss: In the council, Gamaliel cautions that if this movement is of God, it will not be stopped. Do you think that the perseverance of the church over the last 2,000 years helps to prove the truthfulness of our message? Why or why not?

Discuss: Of the three applications from Sunday’s message—1) Be Bold, 2) Find Joy, 3) Trust God—which one feels most relevant to you right now, and why?

Discuss: Where might you be “standing still” when God is asking you to move?

Pray: Close in prayer