1. Groups in Common Change the World Acts 16:12-15 Dr. Charlie Self August 24, 2015

2. Family Connections For people to feel a part of a church family, they need 2 connections: – With God: the experience of His presence and a sense of personal purpose – With a few friends: knowing and being known

3. Groups In Common… …Connect us to the Lord through shared learning, living and serving …Connect us to others through shared interests …C.S. Lewis: “Friends look in the same direction.”

4. Acts 16:12-15 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

5. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. Acts 16:12-15

6. Lydia’s Home Group A few praying Jewish women become the first church in Europe!

7. “Back to the Future Moments” Lessons from History: – Groups in Common change the world – Bands of brothers and Sisters transform church an culture, ministry and missions, communities and nations – And positive and negative change happens through dedicated groups!

8. Where’s Waldo? 12 th century believers calling the church to holiness and missions

9. One conversation at a time John Wycliffe and Jan Huss: Making the Bible clear for every person

10. Evangelical Small Groups The Pietists: We need more than church services to grow The Moravians: Let’s pray and evangelize the world The Methodists: bands, classes and meetings

11. The Clapham Community William Wilberforce: ending slavery and 69 other social initiatives The Goal: Transformation!

12. Testimonies of Transformation Wall Street Revival in the 1850s The Azusa Street Revival: 1906-1909 Athletes and scholars, quilters and fishermen, men’s and women’s service groups, business groups, campus groups…all are used by the Lord for connecting people to God and each other…and reaching others!

13. Why GIC at ALAG? God weaves our destinies together – no one grows and succeeds alone (I Co. 12) We are moving in the “opposite spirit” of a culture drowning in loneliness (Ps. 147) Christ is in common when He is the center of all activities and interests (Co. 3:14-24)

14. Something wonderful