THE CHURCH OF ACTS – A CHURCH OF SMALL GROUPS

1. Sharing God’s love in Community THE CHURCH OF ACTS – A CHURCH OF SMALL GROUPS Penge Baptist Church 6th October 2013

2. The church of Acts • They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 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, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

3. Jesus’ dream of oneness fulfilled! • “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” (John 17:20-21)

4. The five core purposes…. • Community • Discipleship • Ministry • Evangelism • Worship • ….and their fulfilment in a church of small groups

5. A church of small groups in Acts • A church • Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. • Of small groups • They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.

6. Small groups and community • They devoted themselves…to the fellowship.…all the believers were together….they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts

11. Small groups and discipleship • They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. • “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom….” (Colossians 3:16).

12. Small groups and ministry • Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles…they gave to anyone as he had need… • “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:16)

17. Small groups and evangelism • …enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

20. Small groups and worship • They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. • “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you…sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16).

23. A church of small groups – deepening our Christian lives • Our Sunday service • Ideal for corporate teaching of biblical truths, inspiring the people of God, motivating them to live for Christ, giving them a sense of belonging to the wider body of which Christ is the head, and coming together in corporate worship of him • Our small group meetings • “The small group is ideal for interacting together over scripture, until we understand it more clearly, for meaningful involvement in each other’s lives, for developing our God given gifts, for sharing our joys and struggles and receiving the “one another” ministries of the New Testament.”

25. Plans for small groups at Penge Baptist Church • Tuesday late afternoon/early evening, especially for those with children led by Siaa • Tuesday evening led by Falaux • Wednesday afternoon, especially for seniors, led by Claire • Thursday evening, led by Michael

26. Core aim – “growth through fellowship” • “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:23-24

27. Sharing God’s love in Community THE CHURCH OF ACTS – A CHURCH OF SMALL GROUPS Penge Baptist Church 6th October 2013