1. GOD DOESN’T DWELL IN TEMPLES Acts 17:24 – The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.

2. THE CHURCH IS CHRIST’S BODY/FAMILY/TEMPLE Ephesians 1:22-23 – And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him (Jesus Christ) to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body… Ephesians 2:19-22 – Consequently, you are … members of his household… 21 In him (Christ) the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 4:15-16 – Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

3. WE NEED TO MEET TO CONNECT Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another— and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

4. GOD’S FAMILY NEEDS PLACES TO CONNECT Acts 2:42 – 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… Acts 5:42 – Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. Acts 19:8-9 – Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months… So Paul …had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. Philemon 2 – Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home 15 NT references to churches meeting in homes

5. THE CHURCH MEETING AS A LARGE GROUP Acts 5:42 – Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

6. FELLOWSHIP CIRCLES IN A CHURCH FAMILY CELEBRATION CONGREGATION CORE Close Friends Horizontal focus on one another Upward focus on God

7. THE REACHING AND WELCOMING CHURCH Reaching more in the community Acts 4:4 – But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. Acts 5:14 – Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. Acts 6:7 – So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly Welcoming more who visit when the church meets James 2:2 – Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes… 1 Corinthians 14:23 – So if the whole church comes together … and inquirers or unbelievers come in,…