Exploring the Ministry of the Church

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . .  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need . . .  And the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved.” —Acts 2:42, 46-47

The Mission of the Christian Community

1. THE LEARNING COMMUNITY:  They Committed Themselves To Growing Spiritually and Being    TRAINED     For Ministry 

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching . . .” (Acts 2:42)

Key Principle: Focus on learning and growing in God’s Word.

Key Passage:  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”   —2 Timothy 3:16

2. THE RELATING COMMUNITY:  They Committed Themselves To Building    RELATIONSHIPS        With Other Believers

“. . . and to the fellowship,”  (Acts 2:42;  see also Acts 2:45)

Key Principle:  Giving ourselves to God in worship and growing in relationship with one another.

Key Passage:  “Our attitude toward others should include compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love.  Our response to God should be to live within the unity of the Spirit.”  — Colossians 3:12-17

3. THE WORSHIPING COMMUNITY:  They Committed Themselves To  CELEBRATE     Their Relationship With Christ

“ . . . praising God”  (Acts 2:46)

Key Principle:  We are to worship the Lord as we celebrate His wonderful work of salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His marvelous resurrection.

Key Passage: “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”  —Acts 2:46

4. THE PRAYING COMMUNITY:  They Committed Themselves To PRAYERFULLY        Seek God’s Wisdom, Healing and Guidance.

“ . . .  and to prayer.”  (Acts 2:42)

Key Principle:  Prayer is the power for Godly living and effective ministry!

Key Passage: “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” —Acts 4:31

5. THE RECONCILING COMMUNITY:  They Committed Themselves To      CARING    For The Needs of Others and Winning The Lost. 

“ . . . they gave to anyone as he had need. . . And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:45, 47)

Key Principle:  The Church is called to carry on the ministry of Jesus Christ to a lost and hurting world.  God will do the rest.

Key Passage:  “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation . . .  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”  —2 Corinthians 5:18, 20