NT260 • Set 21
Discussion & Heart Check Questions
Small group discussion questions and accountability tools designed to help disciples grow in their love for God, connect with others, serve others, and share the gospel.
These questions were created to accompany the NT260 Discipleship Journal, but they can also be used by any small group, discipleship group, family, Sunday School class, one-on-one discipleship relationship, or individual studying Acts 12–16.
This Set’s Big Idea
Jesus continues building His church through the power and direction of the Holy Spirit.
As you read, watch how the gospel keeps moving forward even through persecution, opposition, disagreement, and unexpected changes in direction. Peter is miraculously rescued from prison, Herod’s power comes to an end, Paul and Barnabas are sent into missionary work, the early church wrestles with how Gentiles become part of God’s people, and Paul begins carrying the gospel into Macedonia.
How to Use These Questions
These questions are a guide, not a script. You do not need to answer every question. The goal is to help your group engage Scripture, encourage one another, and take a clear next step of obedience.
Before meeting, encourage everyone to complete this week’s readings and record at least one observation and one application using PETS or another preferred Bible study method.
Suggested Small Group Meeting Flow
Use this as a flexible guide for a 1–1.5 hour weekly gathering. Adjust as needed for your group.
Connect, catch up, and celebrate how God worked during the week.
Pray and invite the Holy Spirit to teach through His Word.
Share PETS observations and applications from the week’s readings.
Work through selected discussion questions together.
Use Heart Check questions for honest accountability and encouragement.
Share prayer requests and close by praying for one another.
Leader Tips
- You do not need to answer every question.
- Select the questions that best fit your group.
- Keep the conversation centered on Jesus, the gospel, and practical obedience.
- Encourage everyone to participate, but never pressure anyone to speak.
- Make room for both interpretation and personal application.
- Acts 12 places James’s death beside Peter’s miraculous rescue. Help the group resist simplistic conclusions about suffering. God’s sovereignty does not mean every faithful believer receives the same earthly outcome.
- Acts 15 addresses a foundational gospel issue. Keep the discussion centered on the apostles’ clear conclusion that salvation comes through the grace of the Lord Jesus rather than turning the conversation into unnecessary side debates.
- Paul and Barnabas also experience a painful personal disagreement in Acts 15. Their separation should not be celebrated, but neither does it stop God’s mission. Help the group see both the seriousness of conflict and the continuing grace of God.
- Throughout Acts 12–16, God repeatedly redirects circumstances and plans. Encourage the group to distinguish dependence on the Holy Spirit from simply labeling every personal preference as God’s leading.
- Leave enough time for accountability, encouragement, and prayer.
This Set’s Readings
- Acts 12 — Peter Is Delivered, Herod Falls, and God’s Word Keeps Spreading
- Acts 13 — The Holy Spirit Sends Paul and Barnabas to Carry the Gospel Outward
- Acts 14 — The Gospel Advances Through Opposition, Suffering, and Faithful Perseverance
- Acts 15 — The Church Defends Salvation by Grace and Works Through Serious Disagreement
- Acts 16 — The Holy Spirit Redirects the Mission and Opens Hearts in Macedonia
NT260 • Set 21
Small Group Discussion Questions
Icebreaker
- Think of a time when your plans changed unexpectedly but something good eventually came from the change. What happened?
Digging Into the Text
- Looking across Acts 12–16, what repeated examples do you see of the gospel continuing to move forward despite obstacles?
- Acts 12 places James’s death beside Peter’s miraculous rescue. What does this teach us about the danger of assuming faithfulness to God always produces the outcome we want?
- While Peter is imprisoned, the church prays earnestly for him. What does their response reveal about where believers should turn when circumstances are beyond their control?
- The church is praying for Peter but is amazed when he actually appears at the door. What encouragement do you find in the fact that God worked even though their faith was not perfect?
- How does Luke contrast Herod’s apparent power at the beginning of Acts 12 with his condition at the end of the chapter?
- Acts 12:24 says, “Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread.” Why is that statement such an important conclusion to the chapter?
- At the beginning of Acts 13, the church at Antioch is worshiping, fasting, and praying when the Holy Spirit sends Barnabas and Saul. What does this scene teach us about the relationship between worship, prayer, and mission?
- Paul traces Israel’s story before proclaiming Jesus in Acts 13. Why is it important that he presents the gospel as the fulfillment of what God had already been doing?
- Paul announces that forgiveness and being made right with God are available through Jesus. Why is that message central to everything that follows in these chapters?
- Some hear the gospel with joy while others respond with jealousy and opposition. What do these different responses reveal about the human heart?
- How does the movement from Acts 12 into Acts 13 mark an important transition in the story of Acts?
- In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas experience people trying to worship them and later people trying to kill them. What does this dramatic change teach us about building our identity on human approval?
- When the crowd mistakes Paul and Barnabas for gods, they immediately redirect attention toward the living God. Where are believers today tempted to receive attention or credit that should ultimately point toward God?
- After being stoned and left for dead, Paul continues the mission and later tells believers that entering God’s kingdom involves hardship. How does this challenge comfortable ideas about following Jesus?
- Paul and Barnabas return to strengthen churches where they had already faced opposition. What does this teach us about discipleship beyond simply helping someone make an initial decision to follow Christ?
- In Acts 15, some believers insist that Gentile Christians must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. Why was this more than a minor disagreement about religious practice?
- Peter insists that Jews and Gentiles alike are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus. How does this protect the gospel from becoming “Jesus plus something else”?
- How does the Jerusalem Council uphold salvation by grace while also encouraging Jewish and Gentile believers to live wisely together?
- Acts 15 ends with Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreeing over John Mark. Why do you think Luke includes this painful conflict immediately after showing the church successfully resolve a major theological dispute?
- In Acts 16, Paul has plans for where to preach, but the Holy Spirit repeatedly redirects him. What can we learn from Paul’s willingness to keep moving without knowing the entire plan?
- Lydia, the enslaved girl, and the Philippian jailer come from very different situations. What do their stories together reveal about the kinds of people Jesus is drawing to Himself?
- Paul and Silas pray and sing to God after being beaten and imprisoned. What does their response reveal about the source of Christian joy and confidence?
- When the jailer asks, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas direct him to faith in the Lord Jesus. How does this scene reinforce what the church affirmed in Acts 15?
- Across Acts 12–16, how does God use persecution, rejection, suffering, disagreement, imprisonment, and changed plans without allowing any of them to stop His mission?
- If you had to summarize the message of Acts 12–16 in one sentence, what would you say?
Leader Note
Acts 12–16 shows the gospel moving forward through circumstances that repeatedly look as though they should stop it. James is killed. Peter is imprisoned. Paul and Barnabas face rejection and violence. The church confronts a serious theological dispute. Paul and Barnabas separate after a painful disagreement. Paul’s missionary plans are redirected. Paul and Silas are beaten and imprisoned.
Yet none of those moments becomes the end of the mission. Jesus continues building His church through the Holy Spirit. The Word spreads, missionaries are sent, churches are strengthened, Gentiles are welcomed through faith in Christ, new regions hear the gospel, and people from remarkably different backgrounds come to Jesus.
Be careful not to reduce these chapters to lessons such as “pray harder,” “never give up,” or “be more courageous.” Those applications may be helpful, but Luke is showing something larger: the risen Jesus is continuing His mission. The church participates through prayer, dependence, obedience, perseverance, unity around the gospel, and faithful witness.
Encourage your group to continually ask, “How is Jesus continuing His mission through the Holy Spirit?” before asking, “What should I do?” Then help them see where Christ may be inviting them to trust, obey, persevere, reconcile, serve, or speak this week.
Love God
- Which event from Acts 12–16 most increased your confidence in God’s sovereignty, grace, or faithfulness this week? Why?
- The church responded to Peter’s imprisonment with earnest prayer. When circumstances feel beyond your control, is prayer usually your first response or your last resort?
- Paul and Silas worshiped while suffering in prison. What tends to determine your worship most—God’s character or your circumstances?
- Paul had to release his own plans when the Holy Spirit redirected him. Is there a plan, expectation, or desired outcome you are having difficulty surrendering to God?
- Where is God asking you to trust Him with your next step instead of demanding to see the entire path?
Connect with Others
- Acts 15 shows believers working through a serious disagreement together. How well do you listen, seek truth, and extend grace when Christians disagree?
- Paul and Barnabas experienced a painful conflict over John Mark. Is there a strained relationship where disappointment or disagreement has begun to harden your heart?
- Lydia opened her home to Paul and his companions. How could hospitality help you strengthen a relationship with someone this week?
- Paul and Barnabas returned to strengthen believers who were facing hardship. Who in your church, group, or family could use intentional encouragement right now?
- Acts 15 protects unity without pretending every disagreement is unimportant. How can we pursue both truth and grace in our relationships?
Serve Others
- Paul and Barnabas returned to strengthen new believers instead of simply moving on. Who could you intentionally help take a next step with Jesus this week?
- Lydia used her home and resources to serve the mission. What resource, ability, influence, or opportunity has God entrusted to you that could bless someone else?
- Where have you noticed a need recently but hesitated to respond because helping would be inconvenient?
- What is one practical act of service you can complete this week without needing recognition or repayment?
Share the Gospel
- Paul and Barnabas continually moved toward people who needed to hear the gospel, even when doing so brought rejection. Where might fear of people’s reactions be keeping you silent?
- Acts 15 and Acts 16 make clear that salvation comes through the grace of Jesus and faith in Him. Could you clearly explain that good news to someone who asked?
- God opened Lydia’s heart and then used an unexpected crisis to bring the Philippian jailer face-to-face with the gospel. How can remembering that God is already at work give us confidence in sharing Jesus?
- Where has God already given you a relationship or conversation that could become an opportunity to speak about Jesus?
- Who is one person in your life who is far from God that you will intentionally pray for and move toward this week?
Closing Challenge
Jesus continues building His church through the power and direction of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 12–16 takes us from a praying church and an imprisoned apostle to missionaries crossing new boundaries with the gospel. Along the way we see suffering, unexpected redirection, theological conflict, broken plans, perseverance, conversion, and grace. Through it all, Jesus keeps moving His mission forward.
Where is Jesus inviting you to take your next step this week—from control to dependence, hesitation to obedience, comfort to mission, discouragement to perseverance, conflict to grace, or silence to faithful witness?
Scripture to Remember
Acts 12:24
“Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.”
This short verse captures the movement of Acts 12–16. Herod cannot stop the gospel. Opposition cannot stop it. Suffering cannot stop it. Disagreement cannot stop it. Closed doors cannot stop it. Jesus continues building His church and carrying His message outward through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This week: Read Acts 12:24 each morning. Write it somewhere you will see it, repeat it throughout the week, and pray for confidence that Jesus is still at work even when circumstances seem discouraging.
This Week’s Practice
Pray, Notice, Move
Throughout Acts 12–16, believers pray, follow the Spirit’s direction, notice where God is working, and move toward people with the gospel. Their plans are not always predictable, but they remain available to Jesus.
This week, choose one person who may be far from God or in need of encouragement. Pray for that person by name each day, ask the Holy Spirit to help you notice an open door, and take at least one intentional step toward them before the week ends.
At the end of the week, ask yourself, “Where did I notice God working, and how did I respond?”
Prayer Focus
Following the Spirit’s Direction
Pray that God would make you dependent in prayer, grounded in the grace of Jesus, sensitive to the direction of the Holy Spirit, faithful through hardship, gracious in disagreement, and ready to participate in His mission.
- Thank God that no human opposition can stop His purposes.
- Ask God to deepen your dependence on Him through prayer.
- Pray for wisdom to recognize the Holy Spirit’s direction and courage to follow when He redirects your plans.
- Ask God to keep you grounded in salvation by grace through Jesus rather than religious performance.
- Pray for humility, truth, and grace when disagreements arise among believers.
- Ask God for perseverance when obedience becomes difficult or costly.
- Pray by name for someone who needs to hear and receive the gospel.
Closing Prayer: Father, thank You that Your purposes are not stopped by opposition, suffering, changing plans, or human weakness. Teach us to depend on You in prayer and to follow the leading of Your Spirit. Keep us grounded in the grace of Jesus, give us wisdom and humility with one another, and make us faithful when obedience becomes difficult. Open hearts to the gospel and use our ordinary lives to help others know and follow Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.
NT260 • Set 21
Weekly Heart Check
These questions help move the conversation from information to transformation. Heart Check is not about pretending to have had a perfect week. It is an opportunity to practice honesty, grace, confidentiality, encouragement, and prayer.
Listen without rushing to fix one another. Celebrate growth, confess struggles without shame, and help each other take a faithful next step. This week, pay special attention to whether you are trying to control your own direction or becoming increasingly available to the Holy Spirit as Jesus continues His work through His people.
Love God Heart Check
- How consistent were you in spending time in Scripture this week? What helped or distracted you?
- What did Acts 12–16 reveal to you about God’s power, grace, faithfulness, or mission?
- How has prayer shaped the way you responded to something beyond your control this week?
- Are you holding tightly to a plan, expectation, or outcome that you need to surrender to God?
- What is one act of obedience you sense God asking you to take next?
Connect with Others Heart Check
- How are your closest relationships right now? Is there tension, distance, or hurt that needs attention?
- Have you been patient and gracious with believers who see something differently than you do?
- Is there someone you need to forgive, apologize to, listen to, or pursue reconciliation with?
- Have you been honest with another believer about what is really happening in your heart?
- Like Paul and Barnabas, have disappointment or disagreement begun to shape the way you view someone?
Serve Others Heart Check
- How did you use your time, gifts, influence, possessions, or resources to help someone else this week?
- Did you notice a need but avoid responding because serving would have been inconvenient?
- Are you willing to serve faithfully even when no one notices or thanks you?
- Who could you intentionally strengthen or encourage this week?
Share the Gospel Heart Check
- Who did you pray for this week who is far from God?
- Did you intentionally move toward that person or someone else who may need the hope of Jesus?
- Did God give you an opportunity to speak about Jesus, faith, forgiveness, or hope? What happened?
- If you stayed silent when you sensed an opportunity, what held you back?
- Who is one person you will pray for and intentionally engage during the coming week?
Courage & Dependence
- Where did fear influence a decision you made this week?
- When something did not go according to plan, did you respond primarily with frustration, prayer, trust, or some mixture of all three?
- Is there a closed door you are still trying to force open rather than trusting God to redirect you?
- Where might faithfulness to Jesus require courage or perseverance from you right now?
- What would becoming more available to the Holy Spirit look like in that situation?
Honest Accountability
- What has been most difficult for you spiritually or emotionally this week?
- Is there anything you have been hiding that needs to be brought into the light before God and a trusted believer?
- Are pride, fear, jealousy, discouragement, the desire for approval, or the need for control influencing you more than you want to admit?
- Where are you resisting something you already know Jesus is asking you to do?
- Do you need to repent, trust, reconcile, serve, speak, persevere, or surrender in a specific area?
- How can this group pray for you specifically this week?
Leader Reminder: Keep bringing the group back to Jesus and the gospel. Acts 12–16 is not a story about unusually impressive Christians who always knew what to do. It is the story of the risen Christ continuing His mission through ordinary, dependent, sometimes struggling people. Accountability should help people experience grace, restoration, and growth—not shame. Celebrate where God is working, gently address where obedience is needed, and help each person move from admiring faithfulness in Acts to practicing faithfulness in everyday life.
Continue Studying Set 21
Return to the Set 21 Study Resources for commentary and additional tools covering Acts 12–16.
NT260 Set 21 Study Resources →NT260 Discipleship Journal
Read It. Discuss It. Live It.
These Discussion & Heart Check Questions help groups move from reading Scripture to discussing it, applying it, and living it. The NT260 Discipleship Journal provides the weekly rhythm to help you walk through the New Testament with greater consistency, understanding, and obedience.
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