Forward 3 – Our Community Matters to God Acts 2:41–47 Pr Chris Kam | 15/16 Jan 2022 ============================= ## Big Idea: Don’t just go to Church. Do life in the Church. ## (Acts 2:41) Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. ## 1. Learning Church (They looked ____________ ) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching … * (1 Peter 2:2,3) 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. * 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ## 2. Loving Church (They looked ____________ ) * 42 They devoted themselves to … fellowship “Fellowship” - “koinonia” in Greek is from the adjective “koinos”, which means “common”. # a. Inward The Bible uses the phrase: …our fellowship “koinonia” is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit. (1 John 1:3, 2 Cor 13:14) – something common we share, receive, and participate together in God. # b. Outward * 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Common – “koinos” # 3. Worshipping Church (They looked ____________ ) * 42 They devoted themselves … to the breaking of bread and to prayer. * 46 … They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts … * 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts… * 46 … glad and sincere hearts … # 4. Growing Church (They looked ____________ ) * 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. ## Three important principles: # a. Jesus did it Himself – “… The Lord added to their number …” # b. Jesus added them to the church – “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” # c. Jesus did it every day - “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” We are not a big church, but a small church with many people. Join a Cell Group! https://dumc.my/connect/join-cell-group/ Application Questions: ====================== 1. Which of the four aspects of the church (learning/loving/worshipping/growing) do you observe in both the formal weekend celebrations and your informal Cell Group? Give examples. What benefits do the formal and informal aspects of church bring? 2. Share your personal experiences of your Cell Group and how this has blessed you. You may wish to thank certain members of your group for serving you. Share specific examples. 3. How has the Lord impressed you to be more involved in your Cell Group? What spiritual gifts do you have that can edify the members of your group? (Here’s a free spiritual gift test to find out your potential spiritual gifts: freeshapetest.com) 4. How has your CG been outwardly focussed to the least and the lost? Remind each other of the challenge given by our Senior Pastor in the first sermon of the year, to ask the Lord for the name of a pre-believer you would pray and care for, so that an opportunity can be presented to you one day to share the gospel with him/her.