Filled With Jealousy or Filled With Joy | Acts 9:36-42

• Discussion Questions

  1. Where in this passage do you sense Jesus extending an invitation rather than issuing a command — and what part of that invitation are you not sure you want to accept?

  2. The Sanhedrin protected influence, authority, and centrality. Without naming the obvious answer, what is the small kingdom you have been protecting this year — and what would it cost you to admit it out loud?

  3. The text says jealousy turns another person's blessing into a threat. Whose recent blessing — a friend, coworker, sibling, another church, someone on a screen — have you found hardest to genuinely celebrate? What does your reaction reveal about what you are afraid of losing?

  4. Peter said, “We must obey God rather than men.” Where in your own life is that collision actually happening right now? What have you been waiting for someone else to do before you act?

  5. The apostles rejoiced after being beaten. Be honest: where does that response feel less like good news and more like something you wish weren't in the Bible? What is your resistance protecting?

  6. Jealousy hardens; the gospel softens. Looking back over the last few months, which direction have you actually been moving — and who would notice first if that began to change?

• Teen Discussion Questions

  1. The Sanhedrin's real problem wasn't theology — it was that the apostles had something they didn't and couldn't control. When was the last time someone your age had something you wanted — followers, attention, a friend group, a relationship, a body, a win — and you felt that tightening in your chest? What were you actually afraid of?

  2. Be honest: is there someone you secretly enjoy seeing fail or fall a little? You don't have to name them. What does it tell you about yourself that their stumble feels good?

  3. The apostles kept speaking the name of Jesus even after they got hit for it. Where in your week — school, group chat, team, family — does following Jesus actually cost you something small? What do you usually do in that moment?

  4. The rulers heard about resurrection and got angrier. The apostles heard threats and got more joyful. Which group do you act more like when life pushes back on you — and what would it look like to move even one step in the other direction?

  5. The sermon said jealousy reveals a throne we're terrified of losing. If you had to name yours — image, performance, being liked, being noticed, being right — what would it be? What would it feel like to stop guarding it for one week?

  6. Pick one person this week whose blessing has been hard for you to celebrate. What would it actually look like to tell them, “I'm glad for you” — and mean it?

• Kids Discussion Question

  1. In the story, the leaders got really upset because the apostles were doing something amazing that they couldn't do. Have you ever felt grumpy or sad inside when something good happened to someone else? Can you tell us about it?

  2. Jealousy is when we get upset that someone else has something good. What kinds of things do kids your age sometimes feel jealous about?

  3. The apostles got in big trouble for talking about Jesus — but the Bible says they walked out happy! Why do you think they were happy when they got in trouble?

  4. Peter said, “We have to obey God instead of people.” Can you think of a time when doing the right thing was really hard? What helped you do it — or what made you not do it?

  5. The story says the apostles were so full of joy that they kept telling everyone about Jesus. Who is one person you could tell about Jesus this week, and what would you say?

  6. Sometimes when a friend or a brother or sister gets something nice, our hearts can feel grumpy instead of happy. What is one way you could practice being glad for someone else this week — even out loud?