[group warmer]

1.        How did you feel about going to church when you were a kid?

2.        What do you like best about your church?

As a result of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the fellowship of believers described in this passage had grown by about 3,000.  This story shows the importance of fellowship.

[we read] Acts 2:42-47

1.        Why do you think these people got together?

a.  They loved to eat

b. They were excited about their new life and wanted to talk about it with each other?

c.  They had a lot of needs.

d. They had a lot to learn.

e.  They were anticipating Christ’s soon return.

f.   Other: ________________________

2.        What word best describes the atmosphere in this passage?

Chaotic; Fun; Caring; Warm; Noisy; Life-changing; Close; Exciting; Unpredictable; Other: ___________________

3.        What made the early church so appealing to others?

There spiritual vitality; Their love for each other; Their openness to others; Miracles; Great preaching; Other: ____________________

[i apply]

1.        If you had been invited to be part of this community, what would have been your reaction?  Too much like a cult to me; Too “touchy-feely” for me; I might give it a try; Where do I sign up? Other: ________________

2.        What is the closest you have come to experiencing the kind of close fellowship described here in Acts?

On a sports team; in my family; in the military; in a sorority or fraternity; in a support group; at a job where I worked; with some friends in high school; in a church-related group; I’ve never had this experience; Other: _________________

[i respond]

1.        What keeps the church from experiencing this kind of fellowship now?

We don’t have time; we don’t know each other; we don’t want to know each other’s needs; too many differences; Other:__________________

2.        What aspect of life in the early church do you most desire for your church or this group?

[we pray]

What needs do you have right now? How can this group pray for you?