Doing church together... outward focused, with gladness

'Acts - The Church in Action' - some notes from 'Week 4' of a month-long series on the book of Acts... today's message from Pastor Nicholas Tsakis...

The same power, message and authority that Jesus brought was present in the disciples, through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was so important to what we read in Acts.

We cannot deny that Jesus lived. Many people were touched and changed by His ministry. But He made it clear He would need to leave their physical presence.

✔ SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION POINT: How would you have felt if you lived in Jesus' time and were faced with Him leaving you? Who came to guide and comfort the believers in Jesus' place? How did the Holy Spirit make the early believers form into a great church?

The power of God is still as relevant and real as ever. And the Holy Spirit is, importantly, not subordinate to Jesus - but 'another of the same kind'.

✔ SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION POINT: Read Acts 2:38-47. Talk about what it meant for the early believers to be 'together'. How do we develop, nurture and maintain togetherness in our own small groups and in our church?

The church worked well together in meekness and love, not weakness and arrogance. They shared an exciting sense of wonder and anticipation.

We, too, can enjoy a God-centred life within a warm sense of community and belonging.

✔ SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION POINT: Talk about how an effective church had an outward focus. How do we, practically, have such an outward focus, with gladness?