1. Development and the Acts 2 Early Church Experience
Site of the first Life Group!

3. A = Accountability
B = Belonging
C = Care
D = Development

4. A = Accountability B = Belonging C = Care D = Development
In some ways, these pagan, drunken, vulgar fellows enjoy better community than we do.
A = Accountability
B = Belonging
C = Care
D = Development

5. A = Accountability B = Belonging C = Care D = Development
However, their community does not measure up to the biblical standard.
A = Accountability
B = Belonging
C = Care
D = Development

6. Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership.

7. Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership.
Genesis 1:26: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…’”
Romans 8:29: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

8. Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership.
Romans 12:1-2: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

9. God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually.

10. God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually.
Growth leads to flowering…
Good roots lead to growth…
Our roots are our
biblical community!

11. Community with Believers Influence with Non-believers
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually.
Love of God
Community with Believers
Influence with Non-believers

12. Community with Believers Influence with Non-believers
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually.
Love of God
Community with Believers
Influence with Non-believers
Worship Service
Quiet Time
Life Group
Service Team
Prayer Outreach
Christ’s Witness

13. Community with Believers Influence with Non-believers
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually.
Love of God
Community with Believers
Influence with Non-believers
Worship Service
Quiet Time
Life Group
Service Team
Prayer Outreach
Christ’s Witness
intimate relationships… and thus the prayer support, encouragement, & accountability needed to consistently participate in the other five steps.

14. God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually.
Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

15. The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.

16. The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
Galatians 5:22-25: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

17. The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity. B love joy
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
B love joy
C- peace patience
B kindness goodness
B+ faithfulness gentleness
self-control
Why aren’t all the grades “A”?

18. The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
How well do your morals match up with Christ’s?
How obedient are you to God’s revelation?

19. The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
How well do your priorities match up with Christ’s?
Your Ratio compared to Christ’s Ratio:
# hours of entertainment ÷ # hours serving others

20. The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
How well do your morals match up with Christ’s?
How obedient are you to God’s revelation?
How well do your priorities match up with Christ’s?
Are you truly following Christ in the positive commands of scripture?

21. The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
1 Corinthians 11:1: “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.”

22. The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
Development
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity.
Ephesians 4:11-16: “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 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.”

23. Spiritual Leaders Multiply.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity [Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 4:11-16].
Spiritual Leaders Multiply.

24. Spiritual Leaders Multiply.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity [Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 4:11-16].
Spiritual Leaders Multiply.
Start
10 Groups
100 people
in community
4 Years Later
40 Groups
400 people
in community
2 Years Later
20 Groups
200 people
in community
6 Years Later
80 Groups
800 people
in community

25. Spiritual Leaders Multiply.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity [Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 4:11-16].
Spiritual Leaders Multiply.
Church Multiplication:
Grace Baptist
New Church
Plants
Group Multiplication:
One Life Group
New Life Group
Plants

26. Spiritual Leaders Multiply.
Development
Spiritual Leaders Multiply.
Bob
Will
Keith
Jason

27. Spiritual Leaders Multiply.
Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity [Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 4:11-16].
Spiritual Leaders Multiply.
Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”

28. Development
God wants every believer to grow into spiritual maturity and spiritual leadership [Romans 8:29; 12:1-2].
God uses other believers to help us grow spiritually [Hebrews 10:24-25; all the “one another” verses].
The Bible defines spiritual leadership and maturity [Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 4:11-16].
Spiritual Leaders Multiply [Matthew 28:19-20].

29. The Early Church in Acts 2:41-47
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

30. The Early Church in Acts 2:41-47
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

31. The Early Church in Acts 2:41-47
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day ...

32. The Early Church in Acts 2:41-47
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

33. The Early Church in Acts 2:41-47
Connecting to God
devoted to biblical teaching
devoted to prayer
awe and reverence for God
experienced God’s work
worshipped daily
praised God
Connecting to Each Other
devoted to fellowship
prayed for each other
devoted to sharing meals
together daily & hospitable
shared their possessions
gave generously to the needy
Connecting to the outside community
people were added to their fellowship day by day.

34. The Early Church in Acts 2:41-47
Worship: devoted to prayer; awe and reverence for God; experienced God’s work; daily worship; praised God
Fellowship: devoted to each other; prayed for each other; shared meals; hospitable and together daily
Service: shared possessions; gave generously to the needy
Growth: continually devoted to biblical teaching
Evangelism: people were added to their fellowship day by day

35. Development and the Acts 2 Early Church Experience
Site of the first Life Group!

36. Development and the Acts 2 Early Church Experience
1. God wants us to grow spiritually, to be more like Christ.
2. Growth is necessary for the church to be effective in ministry.
3. Growth occurs fully only when we are in biblical community.
4. True biblical community is modeled for us by the early church of Acts and described to us by New Testament teachings.
5. True biblical community means doing life together.
Sunday morning worship together
Life Group, where we covenant with one another to do all the one another commands
Beyond meetings to be truly intimate with each other in life

37. Development and the Acts 2 Early Church Experience
Applications:
Accept these biblical truths.
Commit to obeying the scriptural commands about living in biblical community.
Try out a life group, and open the door to blessings you have never imagined.