Connect

Many of us believe that church is something we “oughta do”. Some of us believe it’s something that we should do “every so often”. As a result, church has/can become something that we just “show up to occasionally”. However, as we look at scripture (Acts 2) we quickly see that God designed the Church to play an entirely different role in our lives. Church is not intended to be a place we go, but rather a movement we join. We must decide what we believe to be true about church. Are we going to be content to sit in a row, or are we going to choose to sit in a circle ?

I’m curious about your experience in church.  Would you be willing to respond to these questions below?  Your insights would be really helpful to us at NVC to create steps for people to move from rows to circles.

1. How has your “church” background shaped your current perspective/view of what church is?
2. Do “circles” or “rows” best describe your background with church?
3. Why do you think people have difficulty choosing to participate in community?
4. Read Acts 2:42-47. What do you believe God’s purpose was in establishing the church?
5. What do you observe about the relationships of these Christians?
6. Are their areas of your life that are prohibiting you from becoming a “lifer”" in community groups?
7. How has your life/relationship with God changed/grown from choosing to be in a community group?

It is crucial that we believe that community (based on what we see in Acts) is God’s best plan for us to courageously apply what we already know about following Him. We must believe that this is our best chance at living the life God has for us! Thus, it is equally as important that we determine to be a “lifer” in regards to participating in community groups. We must adjust and prepare our life for the opportunity for community. Therefore, there may be things in our lives that we need to “stop doing” to ensure we have this capacity.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

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