This small group discussion guide draws directly from Jeremy Wood's sermon “Born of fire” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Small Group Discussion Guide
"Fire Falls on the Unified" — Pentecost Sunday
Based on Acts 2:1-4 and Romans 6:1-14
A Note to Facilitators: This guide is designed to work for groups of all sizes and spiritual backgrounds. You don't need to be a Bible expert to lead a great discussion — your job is simply to create space for honest conversation and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. Feel free to skip questions that don't fit your group, and never feel pressure to cover everything. A deep conversation on one question is worth more than rushing through all of them.
OVERVIEW
On Pentecost Sunday — the day the Church was born — Pastor Scott walked us through Acts 2 and Romans 6 to show us that the fire of the Holy Spirit doesn't fall on polished or perfect people. It falls on surrendered, unified, and praying people. Before the wind blew, before the tongues of fire appeared, before 3,000 people were saved in a single afternoon, 120 ordinary people got into a room together, stayed, and prayed in one accord. The message is clear: unity attracts heaven. And unity is made possible when we truly believe what Romans 6 tells us — that our old self died with Christ, and we are now alive to God, free from sin's dominion, and clothed in His righteousness.
BEFORE YOUR GROUP MEETS
Suggested Reading for Facilitators:
- Acts 2:1–47 (the full Pentecost account for context)
- Romans 6:1–14 (the core passage for the week)
- John 14:15–27 (Jesus promises the Holy Spirit)
Pray specifically: Ask God to create a safe, honest atmosphere in your group where people feel free to share where they really are — not where they think they should be.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
Print or have group members look these up. Full text is provided here for convenience.
Acts 2:1–4 (NKJV)
"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Romans 6:2–4, 6, 11–14 (NKJV)
"Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life... knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin... Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey its lusts... but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace."
Mark 16:16 (NKJV)
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
SECTION 1 — ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
Choose one of the following to open your time:
Option A (lighter, fun):
"Think about a time when you were part of a group that was really in sync — a team, a family moment, a project, anything. What made that experience feel different from other group experiences?"
Option B (more reflective):
"What's one word that describes where you are spiritually right now — and why that word?"
[Leader Tip] The icebreaker sets the tone for the whole meeting. Keep it light and make sure everyone has a chance to share briefly. If someone gives a one-word answer, that's okay — don't push. The goal is simply to get everyone's voice in the room before the deeper questions begin.
SECTION 2 — OPENING THE CONVERSATION
(5–10 minutes)
Before diving into the questions, take a moment to re-read Acts 2:1–4 aloud together. Ask one person to read it slowly, then invite a brief response:
"As we just heard Acts 2:1–4, what's one word, image, or phrase that jumps out at you?"
Allow 2–3 people to respond briefly. This is a warm-up, not a deep discussion — just getting people oriented to the text.
SECTION 3 — DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes)
Work through as many of these as time allows. Questions are organized from observational (easier) to deeper application. You don't need to cover all of them — choose what fits your group best.
THEME 1: The Conditions for Fire — Unity
(Questions 1–3)
Question 1 (Observational — start here)
Pastor Scott pointed out that before anything dramatic happened in Acts 2 — before the wind, before the fire, before the 3,000 salvations — verse 1 sets up a very specific condition. Looking at Acts 2:1, what were those conditions, and why do you think Luke (the author of Acts) leads with them before describing the miraculous?
[Leader Tip] The answer you're drawing out is "one accord, one place" — meaning unity and physical togetherness, combined with prayer and waiting. If discussion stalls, ask: "What do you think 'one accord' actually means practically? Does it mean everyone agrees on everything?" This can open up a great conversation about what unity really is.
Question 2 (Interpretive/Personal)
Pastor Scott described the 120 people in that upper room as ordinary — fishermen, tax collectors, women, people who had doubted, people who had run away in fear, people who had gone back to their old jobs after the crucifixion. What does it mean to you personally that God chose these people to birth the Church? How does that change the way you see yourself in God's story?
Question 3 (Application)
Pastor Scott said something worth writing down: "The enemy fights unity because unity attracts heaven." What are some of the most common things that try to divide a church, a small group, or a family? Without naming names or specific situations, what patterns have you noticed — and what does it look like to fight for unity rather than just hope for it?
[Leader Tip] This question can get sensitive if people start naming specific conflicts or individuals. If that starts to happen, gently redirect: "Let's keep this focused on patterns rather than people — what are the kinds of things that tend to divide, not specific situations." This keeps the conversation healthy and forward-looking.
THEME 2: The Filling — More Than a Visit
(Questions 4–5)
Question 4 (Interpretive)
Pastor Scott made a distinction between the Holy Spirit as a visitor versus an occupant. He said, "A visitor comes and goes. An occupant moves in." How does that distinction change the way you think about your relationship with the Holy Spirit day-to-day — not just on Sunday mornings?
Optional follow-up if discussion stalls: "What would it look like practically for someone to live as though the Holy Spirit is an occupant rather than an occasional visitor?"
Question 5 (Personal)
Pastor Scott described the filling of the Holy Spirit not just as an emotional experience, but as "empowerment, transformation, and boldness — the presence of God taking up permanent residence inside ordinary people." Has there been a moment in your life when you experienced something like that — a sense of being filled, empowered, or changed from the inside? What was that like, and what came out of it?
[Leader Tip] Not everyone in your group will have a dramatic "filling" story, and that's completely okay. Normalize this by saying something like: "This might look very different for different people — it doesn't have to be a big dramatic moment. Sometimes it's a quiet but real shift." This makes space for introverts and newer believers to share authentically.
THEME 3: The Gospel — Dying and Rising with Christ
(Questions 6–8)
Question 6 (Interpretive — centered on Romans 6)
Romans 6:6 says our "old man was crucified with Christ" so that we would "no longer be slaves to sin." Pastor Scott used the image of a closet full of old clothes — things like bitterness, envy, and offense that we keep hanging on to even though we've been given a new wardrobe. What do you think it practically means to "take off the old man and put on the new"? What makes that harder than it sounds?
Question 7 (Personal — handle with care)
Pastor Scott shared vulnerably about being "sin-conscious" — so focused on the sin he didn't want to repeat that he ended up chained to it. Romans 6:11 calls us to "reckon ourselves dead to sin but alive to God." What's the difference between being aware of sin and being dominated by sin-consciousness? How does truly believing you are forgiven change the way you live?
[Leader Tip] This question can open up deep and vulnerable sharing about shame, guilt, and past mistakes. Create safety by affirming honesty: "There's no judgment here — we're all in process." If someone shares something heavy, resist the urge to immediately fix or advise. Sometimes the most powerful response is simply: "Thank you for trusting us with that."
Question 8 (Community)
Pastor Scott said, "You can't give something you don't have" — meaning that forgiving others, loving others, and pursuing unity all flow out of first receiving God's forgiveness for ourselves. Where in your relationships right now — marriage, family, friendships, church — do you most need to let the truth of Romans 6 free you to extend grace to someone else?
THEME 4: Baptism and New Life
(Questions 9–10)
Question 9 (Observational/Personal)
Several people were baptized on Pentecost Sunday, including some who had been baptized before but wanted to be baptized again with a deeper understanding of what it means. What does baptism represent to you personally? If you've been baptized, what do you remember about that experience — and does your understanding of it feel different now than it did then?
If group members haven't been baptized, adjust to: "What questions do you have about baptism, or what has kept you from taking that step?"
Question 10 (Application)
Acts 2:37 says the crowd was "cut to the heart" by Peter's message and asked, "What shall we do?" Peter's answer was: repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit. That same question — "What shall we do?" — is worth sitting with today. As you reflect on everything from Sunday's message, what is one thing you sense God is asking you to do in response?
SECTION 4 — PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are more reflective. You may want to give people 2 minutes of quiet to think before sharing, or invite people to share only as they feel comfortable.
1. The Unity Question:
Is there a relationship — in your family, at church, or in your small group — where division has crept in and you've been tolerating it rather than fighting for unity? What would one small step toward reconciliation or connection look like this week?
2. The Filling Question:
On a scale of 1–10, how much are you living like the Holy Spirit is an occupant of your life rather than an occasional visitor? What's one habit, practice, or decision that might shift that number?
3. The Identity Question:
Romans 6:11 calls us to reckon (actively count, consider, believe) ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. Is there an area of your life where you're still living as though you're a slave to something that Christ has already freed you from? What would it look like to "put on righteousness" in that area this week?
4. The Prayer Question:
Pastor Scott was passionate about the church getting back to prayer, saying "prayer is the only thing" that brought transformation in his own family story. What is one specific thing — a person, a situation, a need — that you want to commit to praying about every day this week?
SECTION 5 — THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
(Choose one — or all three if you're feeling bold)
📖 READ: Work through Romans 6:1–14 slowly this week. Read it once for understanding, once out loud as a personal declaration, and once as a prayer. Let it sink in.
🙏 PRAY: Set a specific time each day this week — even just 5 minutes — to pray. Start by saying: "Here I am, Lord. I'm ready. Send me. I am what You say I am."
🤝 REACH OUT: Pastor Scott asked on Sunday: "Did you reach out to the person whose name or face came to mind?" If you haven't — this week, send one text, make one call, or have one conversation with that person.
SECTION 6 — PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. Here are suggested topics — feel free to pray through all of them or choose the ones most relevant to your group.
Pray together for:
🔥 Unity in your church and small group — that the enemy's attempts to divide would be exposed and resisted, and that your community would be marked by genuine love and one-accord prayer.
🔥 A fresh filling of the Holy Spirit — not just on Sunday mornings, but as a daily reality in each person's life throughout the week.
🔥 Those who were baptized — that the truth of Romans 6 would take deep root in their lives and that they would walk in the newness of life they declared.
🔥 The Youth for Christ ministry — and the exciting news about the building opportunity; that God would provide the resources and that Oasis would be a faithful partner in reaching the next generation.
🔥 The person on your heart — the name or face that came to mind when Pastor Scott asked about discipleship. Pray for that person by name.
Suggested prayer format for groups who want structure:
Open with one person praying for the group. Then invite anyone who wants to pray briefly for one of the topics above. Close with a simple blessing over the week ahead.
SECTION 7 — OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
(For groups with extra time or that want to go further)
These questions are for groups that want to explore the theological depth of the sermon more fully. They work well for mature believers or groups with a study focus.
Deep Dive 1 — The Greek Word "Soozo"
Pastor Scott highlighted the Greek word soozo (σῴζω) in Mark 16:16, translated "saved," which carries the meaning: to be kept safe, healed, delivered, preserved, and made whole — right now, not just in the future. How does that fuller definition of "salvation" expand your understanding of what Jesus offers? In what areas of your life do you need soozo — not just forgiveness, but wholeness, healing, or deliverance?
Deep Dive 2 — Righteous Anger vs. Self-Righteous Anger
The morning devotional that Lisa read from Psalm 119:139 asked a pointed question: "Is our anger righteous because we desire to see God's laws obeyed — or are we really angry because our own unspoken rules have been broken?" Sit with that honestly. What's the difference between righteous anger and self-righteous anger? Can you think of a recent situation where you had to check which one you were experiencing?
Deep Dive 3 — Pentecost and the Church's DNA
Acts 2 is often called the "birthday of the Church." But Pastor Scott described the conditions that preceded it: surrender, unity, and prayer among ordinary people. If those are the founding conditions of the Church, how should they shape the DNA of every local church today? What would it look like for your church — and specifically your small group — to be more intentionally built around those three things?
QUICK REFERENCE — ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES
For groups that want to explore related passages during the week:
| Topic | Passage |
|---|---|
| Jesus promises the Holy Spirit | John 14:15–27 |
| The full Pentecost account | Acts 2:1–47 |
| Walking in the Spirit | Galatians 5:16–25 |
| Unity in the body | Ephesians 4:1–6 |
| New creation identity | 2 Corinthians 5:17 |
| The armor of righteousness | Romans 13:12–14 |
| Persistent prayer | Luke 18:1–8 |
FACILITATOR CHECKLIST
Before your group meets, make sure you've:
- Read through the full guide and chosen which questions fit your group
- Read Acts 2:1–4 and Romans 6:1–14 yourself
- Prayed for each person in your group by name
- Decided how you'll open and close your time
- Made note of any questions that might be sensitive for specific members
- Thought about who in your group might need extra encouragement to share
- Prepared a simple "This Week" challenge to send to the group after you meet
"They were all with one accord in one place... and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." — Acts 2:1, 4
May your group be a room where fire falls.
Guide prepared for Oasis Church Small Groups | Pentecost Sunday Series Questions? Contact your small group coordinator or pastoral team.