The Church Defined: Part 1 - This Not That

February 23rd, 2025

MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
February 23, 2025

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

I said this, you heard that, February 26th
If you've ever said the wrong thing (or said the right thing the wrong way), you know how quickly your mouth can make a big mess. But it doesn't have to be that way. This 6-session study explores how your wiring affects what you say, how you listen, and how others hear you. And you'll see how advice from the apostle Paul thousands of years ago may have held the secret all along. This class will start on Wednesday night February 26th. The cost is $25 and that covers your book. To register or get more information simply write class on your connection card.

RightNow Media
If you have ever wanted to grow in your walk with Jesus but weren’t sure where to start then we have a great resource for you. RightNow Media has over 25,000 biblically-based videos for small groups, families, students, leadership development, and much more. Our subscription allows us to share this resource with you free of charge. You can download the app on Roku and Apple TV as well as access their website at rightnowmedia.com. To sign up simply write “RightNow Media'' as well as your email address on your connection card and we will send you a link.

Child Dedications, March 16th
The partnership between parents and the Church is vital to families! A few times each year we encourage our families with younger children to commit to this partnership publicly through a special child dedication service. Our next child dedication service will take place in March. There is a parent meeting on March 2nd during the 9:00am service at the North Campus and at 11:15 at the East Campus. Child Dedications will take place after the last service on March 16th at both campuses. For more information or to sign up, go to onelifeknox.com/chidldedications or mark the Child Dedications box on your Connection Card.

Baptism
If you’ve given your life to Jesus but haven’t gone public with your story through baptism then it’s time to take that step! Mark the baptism box on your Connection Card and we’ll help you get started.

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GIVE BACK
Give Jesus your best! Make a one-time tithe or offering or to set up a recurring tithe or offering: Click Here To Give Online.
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Bottom Line: The church is not an institution or an event.

Matthew 16:18 NLT

Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

Ekklesia: a called out assembly.

The church is a gathering...

Acts of the Apostles 2:1 NLT

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.

Acts of the Apostles 20:7 NLT

On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.

Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47 NLT

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

The church is a gathering...

...with a shared mission...

Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35 NLT

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

The church is a gathering with a shared mission...

...under submission to spiritual authority.

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START TALKING

When have you thought you knew what something meant so you acted on that, but come to find out it meant something completely different so you had to change how you used it or understood it? Maybe it was a word you used, a product, or a formula that was wrong and it caused all kinds of problems because of it.

START THINKING
Read Acts 2:1, Acts 2:46, and Hebrews 10:25.

What are similarities that you notice about each of these verses and their description of the first churches? What seems to be the priority from these? What do you notice is not included in these descriptions?

Read Acts 2:45-46.

What are the two ways and places that the believers met? Why do you think both were important to the mission and to their own spiritual growth and development?

START SHARING

When have you experienced the difference between acting as if church is simply an event to attend or experience versus an assembly of called out ones who fellowship, have joy, are generous, meets needs of each other and the community?

Read Acts 2:47. What was the primary mission of this church, and what should be our primary mission? What have experienced are other missions that often distract us as individuals within the church or can (and have) distracted entire church's from pursuing this highest calling?

Read 1 Peter 5:1-5. This passage is instruction for us to do what we see the ecclesia doing in the book of acts - submitting to the plurality of spiritual authority in the church. In Acts we see it in the way they were generous and in the way they "devoted themselves" to the apostles' teaching. In 1 Peter we see it as each us being under the elders' care, following their example, and being humble toward each other, submitted to our leadership.

Read 1 Timothy 5:17-18. What does this teach are the responsibilities of church leadership?

Now, after reading those passages about church leadership, what does it mean to be submitted to that leadership? Why do you think this is a difficult thing for many people to do?

START DOING

Thinking through the three pieces to our definition of a church - a gathering of those who are called out with a shared mission under submission to spiritual authority - what do you need to do next (or what can you do) to be fully committed to and make a priority of each of the following:

1. The gathering of called out ones - both large group and micro church.

2. Sharing in the mission of seeing people far from God discover Jesus and how their one life can make a difference, with joy and generosity - both our resources and our time.

3. Under submission to spiritual authority.

START PRAYING
This topic of truly being the church is a heavy one! And it should be, because it's what Jesus gave His life for! So pray for each other in the micro church to fully embrace each of the three steps of the definition of church that you shared above. Pray that we would each prioritize gathering together for worship on Sundays and throughout the week as a micro church. Pray that we each share in the mission with joy and generosity of all that we have - both our resources and time. And pray that we each submit to each other the plurality of church leadership with humility and honor. Pray that as a result, we, too, will see added to our number daily those who are being saved.
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CONNECTION CARDS
Be sure to fill out the online Connection Card to let us know next steps, prayer requests, or other information you'd like to share, click here.
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MULTIPLICATION
Share spiritual/missional conversations you've had where you live, work, and play:
- Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
- What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
- How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
- How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
- Who in your life do you think could be disciple-able or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
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WHAT'S NEXT?
- Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?/giveback/giveback
- Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?

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