Acts 2:42-47

 

These verses show the daily life of the church when the apostles were leading it. They grew larger daily. But as they grew larger, they also grew smaller, breaking into groups. 

 

5 reasons we do connection groups

  1. To build authentic relationships (v. 42). … They met together daily and fellowshipped and ate together. They formed close relationships with each other. They shared their lives with one another. They did life together. Today, we often answer with platitudes, saying we're doing fine instead of opening up and spilling the truths of our lives. That keeps us from growing as close as we would if we would open up. The Gospel should reconcile us to one another, not just to God. The Gospel brings people from all walks of life together and we should grow together and support each other in our successes and in our struggles. 
  2. To learn the Bible together (v. 42-43, 46). … Connection groups are where we can go deeper into the Bible and experience the Bible from different perspectives. We all view stories from our own lense, and when we gather in a group we can share that lense with others. Sometimes the perspective of another person helps us better understand a passage or gain new insight from it. We can ask questions and finf answers together. None of us have all the answers, but we can find more oif them as we study together. 
  3. To care for one another (v. 44-45). … Meeting needs is a core purpose of connection groups. When a need arises, the connection group should step up and meet it. Sometimes a member falls ill and needs assistance at home, the connection group should help provide some of that. Sometimes it's a family member of someone in the group who needs help, and the group steps up. 
  4. To make a greater impact (v. 46-47). … The church was growing daily, partly because people saw how they served together and how they lived together. When connection groups serve together, other people see it and are impacted by it more than they would be if just one person was out there swerving. 
  5. To encourage spiritual growth (v. 46-47). … We can't become who God designed us to be on our own. We need people to speak into our lives, to keep us focused when we lose track, to show us how to be parents, to show us how to be a spouse, to inspire us, to comfort us. We can't do these things on our own, but together we can grow to be the people God designed us to be. 

 

5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Connection Groups

  1. Find a group. … Every connection is a little bit different. If you tried one and didn't fit, try another one. 
  2. Show up consistently. … Connecting requires consistency. 
  3. Participate in discussion. … You don't need to be a Bible expert to speak up or ask a question. Someone there needs to hear what you have to say. 
  4. Meet a need. … Help out one of the members and form a stronger bond. 
  5. Give it time. … It takes time to build strong and lasting connections. 

 

For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message

  • Life Together – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
  • The Gospel Comes with a House Key – Rosaria Butterfield
  • Sticky Church – Larry Osborne
  • Transformational Groups: Creating a New Scorecard for Groups – Ed Stetzer & Eric Geiger
  • Community: Taking Your Small Group off Life Support – Brad House