Summary: “Out of the frying pan, into the fire” is a phrase we sometimes use to talk about situations that seem to go from bad to worse. In the Book of Acts 27-28, the phrase would be something more like “out of the shipwreck, into an island full of snakes and sickness.”<br> But whether we are talking about frying pans or shipwrecks, our current global crisis from COVID-19 raises all sorts of questions. Will it get worse? How much worse? And what is God doing through all of it?<br> <br> DOWNLOADS<br> <br> <br> Family Talk Discussion Questions<br> Title: What to Do When Things Get Real // Acts 28:1-11<br> Quick Review:<br><br> Paul heard a promise from God in the middle of his storm. (“Don’t fear. You will speak to Caesar in Rome.”)<br><br> And he believed it. He clung to that promise, so he didn’t worry when his situation seemed wildly out of control.<br><br> In dire times, people are often more open to hearing a message of faith. In Acts 27, the desperate passengers<br><br> aboard Paul’s ill-fated voyage were eager to grasp Paul’s message of hope. Just as God promised, the raging sea<br><br> didn’t claim their lives. But now they found themselves on an inhabited island, rife with sickness and danger.<br><br> But Paul remained steadfast, and it changed the lives of everyone he met.<br> As a family, take time to discuss these questions and possible action steps you can take.<br> How has this disruption become “real” to you?<br><br> A few weeks ago this was just a story on TV. How has it become personal?<br><br> What are the biggest changes in your daily life?<br><br> How do the changes make you feel?<br> How are you responding?<br><br> When are you taking time to listen to God’s voice?<br><br> What Bible verses are an anchor for you in this storm?<br><br> How do they change your mindset or your actions?<br><br> How do you see other people responding?<br><br> How can you share your faith with someone else?<br><br> How will people see that you have an unexpected response?<br><br> What is one thing you can do this week to encourage (give courage to) a neighbor, friend, or family member?<br><br> How could your hope change someone else?<br>
