What's the Point of Church (Part 3): Mystery

TO START: Over the next five weeks in our What's the Point of Church? series, we're exploring this question: What is the purpose of God's family in the life of a believer? Jesus promised that He would build His church, and the book of Acts gives us a picture of five things the Spirit of Jesus builds his church for the sake of revealing & releasing the Kingdom of God. 

In our third week, we looked at how the early church lived and operated in a life of awe, wonders, and signs to God's mysterious presence.The church Jesus is building is a church that meets and ministers through God's mysterious presence.

ICEBREAKER: How’d the week of using the Daily Scripture Reading Guide go?

TO READ: Acts 2:38-47 & Ephesians 2:19-22

TO DISCUSS:

(1.) If someone put you in front of a room and let people ask you endless questions about one topic, what topic could you confidently talk about for hours?

(2.) As you reread Acts 2:42–47, what moments of awe, wonder, or miraculous signs come to mind from the rest of Acts? If nothing comes to mind, what about from the life of Jesus?

(3.) Read 1 Peter 2:4–5. If someone asked you how you’ve seen the Church live out this picture of a spiritual house and holy priesthood, what examples or stories would you share?

(4.) In Sunday’s message, we talked about how God’s mysterious presence works through the Church in practices like baptism, communion, prayer, and gathering together. Where have you personally experienced the Lord meeting you through one of these expressions?

TO PRAY:

To close this week, consider this question together as you pause before God in prayer together, “

“As you consider the invitation to boldly approach God and represent Him to others as a priest would, where do you feel most challenged or invited to grow?”...Give a minute or so to reflect silently in prayer as a group and then invite folks to share with the group, then pray for one another to find the courage, desire and clarity to stretch ourselves to boldly approach God to become priests of his Word and his Presence.