The Message of the Movement 22 Apr 18

(Message 3) Church is unfriendly, boring, archaic, and I can’t locate the bathroom when I need it. That sums up what a lot of people think about church. Church shouldn’t be out of touch or, worse, offensive. But sometimes the truth – our message – should be. See why that is as we Rethink Church. #rethinkchurch

10 Reasons Guests Don’t Return To Your Church: (list link)

The stand and greet time in the worship service was unfriendly and awkward.
Unfriendly church members.
Unsafe and unclean children’s areas.
No place to get information on the church.
Bad church websites.
Poor signage.
Insider church language.
Boring or bad church services.
Members telling guests they were in the wrong pew or chair.
Dirty facilities.

The Message:

Can’t be silenced
Can’t be compromised
Can’t be forced

Scripture used: Acts 4:7-22; Mark 9:47-48; John 14:6

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Describe a time when you felt right about breaking the rules. In retrospect, how did it really turn out? Why?
Read Acts 3 for background. Read Acts 4:1-7. Why did the religious leaders object to Peter and John preaching?
Read Acts 4:8-12. If you were one of the authorities, what would be your reaction to Peter’s bold statements? How do people today react to such bold and clear statements?
Read John 14:6 and reread Acts 4:12. Why does there have to be only one way to heaven? Couldn’t God allow many ways if He wanted?
Read Acts 4:13. What was it about Peter and John that made people think they had been with Jesus? Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. Have you ever had a “Peter and John moment” when your display of courage and wisdom could only be attributed to something outside of yourself?
Read Acts 4:14-22. Have you ever felt so compelled to share the gospel that you could not help speaking about it? What happened?
Read Acts 4:23-31. What impresses you most about the believers’ prayer? How did their prayer reflect faith in a Sovereign God in the face of real persecution? Have you ever been persecuted or misunderstood for sharing your faith? What was your reaction in the moment? How has that experience shaped your witness today?

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Day 1: Acts 4:1-22

Day 2: Acts 4:23-31

Day 3: Acts 4:32-37

Day 4: Acts 5:1-16

Day 5: Acts 2:42-47

Day 6: Acts 6:1-7

Day 7: Acts 6:8-15

DIGGING DEEPER VERSES:

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

v.1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.

v.2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

v.3 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,

v.4 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you

v.5 So that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.you.

ABC’s

Author: 1 Corinthians 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of 1 Corinthians as the apostle Paul.

Background: The letter was written to believers in Christ to address several moral issues within the church and other issues. 1 Corinthians 1:2 “I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.”

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Context: *The Corinthian church was plagued by divisions. The believers in Corinth were dividing into groups loyal to certain spiritual leaders (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:1-6). Paul exhorted the Corinthian believers to be united because of devotion to Christ (1 Corinthians 3:21-23). Many in the church were essentially approving of an immoral relationship (1 Corinthians 5:1-2). Paul commanded them to expel the wicked man from the church (1 Corinthians 5:13). The Corinthian believers were taking each other to court (1 Corinthians 6:1-2). Paul taught the Corinthians that it would be better to be taken advantage of than to damage their Christian testimony (1 Corinthians 6:3-8). *from gotquestions.org

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1, 2, 3’s

Step 1 – Observation: What does the passage say?

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Step Two – Interpretation: What does it mean?