(Optional) Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. He wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator also between God and man, the man Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (Philippians 2:11b; 1 Timothy 2:4-6a)
Caring for each other
Minister to one another’s needs in prayer, biblical counsel and encouragement.
Ask each person to tell one highlight and explain one challenge they experienced this week.
Ask, “What do you want Jesus to do for you this week?” Pray for each other’s needs.
Celebrating Faithfulness
Encourage loving accountability to obey Jesus
Ask, “What happened as you trusted God with your goals and I will statements?”
+ Motivation and Encouragement
Choose a way to cast vision for who they can become in Christ or what God can do through them by:
a scripture that reminds them of the Father’s Heart and of the end vision.
reflecting on the changes in their life since they started following Christ
reminding them of what God wants to do through them
Share BIG vision “A church for every village and community, and the gospel for every person.”
LOOKING UP
Context
Ask the group to tell the story from last week.
Read
Read or watch Acts 2:42-47 two times as others listen.
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
What caught your attention or what did you like best? Why?
What is new or has developed at this point in the story?
What is being modeled about a Spirit-dependent life, making disciples or leadership?
How can we live differently now that we know this story?
Additional questions you can use:
How are Jesus’ followers continuing His work of making disciples and church planting?
How is the gospel impacting people and society?
What barriers or obstacles were overcome and how were they overcome?
Read, Tell and Correct
Read the story again. Have someone tell the story and ask the group to correct if necessary.
+ Summary
This story shows us what the community of believers did when they met together. In Acts 5:11,
11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
this new community is called church, therefore, these verses provide the basic characteristics of what a local church should practice. A church is characterized by baptized believers who commit to meet together regularly for worship, fellowship, teaching of the Word, prayer, the Lord’s supper, ministry, witness, giving and appointed servant leaders. We see them practicing the same qualities Jesus modeled in his ministry: Holy Spirit dependence, prayer, obedience to the Kingdom plan, ministry of the Word, worship of the Father, and intentional relationships in a missional community.
Practice giving and communion here or in the Preparing for Mission section
LOOKING FORWARD
+ Preparing for Mission
Practice needed skills or previous topics to help prepare to minister to others:
Prayer, Care, Share
Gospel
Foundational Bible Studies.
Going on the Mission
Identify people or places you will take the initiative to minister to this week.
Write “I will by when” statements and share with your small group.
Praying For the Mission
Commit everyone's goals to the Lord. Ask the Lord to help us be faithful and use us to start a movement of disciple-makers.
