David Platt, Radical

Beginning at the End of Ourselves (Ch 3)

Acts 12:6-11

     6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

     10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for[d] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

1. Which story in chapter 3 encouraged you the most? Explain.

2. Discuss Pratt’s observation: “…we are tempted at every turn to trust in our own power instead. So the challenge for us is to live in such a way that we radically depend on and desperate for the power that only God can provide.” (p. 45) How does Acts 12:6-11 illustrate this principle?

3. What kind of “risky” lifestyle was Peter participating in prior to his imprisonment? 

4. What’s the relationship between the Spirit and God’s call for us to be His witnesses? (Acts 1:8)  

5. How does Pratt compare and contrast the American dream with the gospel? (pp. 45-47) To what extent has the American dream influenced Pathway and you personally?

6. Pratt longs for a scene (e.g. Acts 1:14; 4:13; 12:6-11) “where the church radically trusts in God’s great power to provide unlikely people with unlimited, unforeseen, uninhibited resources to make his name known as great. I want to be part of that dream.” (p. 53) How do we begin to cultivate this mindset?

7. Read Luke 11:10-13 and discuss Pratt’s words: “This is the great promise of God in prayer. We ask God for gifts in prayer, and he gives us the Giver.” (p. 58). “He delights in giving us himself. He puts his very power in us so we might have all that we need to accomplish his purposes in the world.” (pp. 58-59)

8. Pratt calls for radical dependence on God’s power: “Instead of dependence on ourselves, we express radical dependence for the power of the Spirit….Would you say that the church you are a part of is characterized by this sense of desperation?” (p. 60) What’s your response to Pratt’s question?