Big Church (1) – Opening Day (Acts 1-2)

[audio:ec_012013.mp3]
Last week I made an announcement about our fund raising letter for our future building and encouraged you to send to your friends and family. I want to say again that although money is an important factor
it is not the only factor. I hope you are using this opportunity to share with your family and friends how
blessed we are to be doing this, how blessed we are to be part of God’s family. I also hope that you are
using this 40 Day Fast and Prayer time to seek God. I believe that when you pray for the church, you are
also building your relationship with God, and last week Adena gave us a very good message on how we all have different personalities but it is important that God hears our own individual voice.

Today I am starting a whole new series called Big Church. No, not because we are building a bigger
church as it will be evident throughout the series. But why is it often time we think of church we think
of a building first? Why do say things like “I like this church,” or “I go to church”? Is church a place full of robes and pews? Or is church meant to refer to something different? These are questions I want you
to think about throughout the series and as we open the Bible together my goals is that you will have a
better understanding of what it means to be the church.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of church?

2. What were your first/early experiences of attending church? Were those positive or negative
experiences in your faith journey?

3. Read Matthew 16:17-18. In your words, how do you define church? What is the mission of the
church?

4. After reading the first two chapters in Acts, what is the thing that sticks out to you the most about
church that first day?

5. If the church began as a movement, what can you do to be a part of that movement?