With the Family

Scriptures: Acts 2:42-47, 1 Timothy 3:14-15, Ephesians 1:5, 1 Corinthians 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9, Galatians 6:2, Romans 12:10

Does your church have Sunday School, small groups or home groups? Why? In this message, Dr. Merritt details why small groups are so important--indeed vital--to a healthy church. Using the example of the First Century church in Acts 2, we learn that these believers not only did life together, but did it in homes, in small gatherings similar to our small groups today. They were more than friends or acquaintances, they treated one another as family. Just as we have a physical family, we have a spiritual family in the church. We are not buildings, or organizations or an institution or a club. Church is not a place to go. Church is a family to which you belong.

"Your relationship to God is personal, but God never intended it to be private. It makes no sense for a true Christ follower not to want to belong to a church and be involved in a church. Being a follower of Christ is more than just being committed to Christ. It is also being committed to other Christ-followers." --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: church, family, community, small groups, home groups, Sunday School, classes, membership, together, life, love, care, concern, friendship, experience, maturity, sharing, unity, burdens, problems, communication, affirmation, connection