ELSINORE FIRST ASSEMBLY

Good morning friends welcome to Elsinore First Assembly! We are so happy you have elected to drop by this morning. At Elsinore First Assembly you will always find a friendly face and a warm handshake. We pray that during the service you will sense God's presence and His touch upon your life.

This morning our Lead Pastor, Fred Rodriguez, will be speaking on "FAR MORE COMMUNITY". This message, based on God's Word, will explain the importance of "Connect Groups" and encourage each of us to become involved with a "Connect Group" here at Elsinore First Assembly. Below, please find the notes for today's message.

FAR MORE… COMMUNITY IN 2017 / “CONNECT GROUPS!”
Elsinore First Assembly / Pastor Fred Rodriguez
Sunday, July 9, 2017

Statistically speaking in the next 2-3 years:
· ___ of your marriages will have broken up and the shame will cause you to leave the church,
· ___ of you will have a conflict with someone in the church and you will leave the church,
· ___ will have a tragedy and lose faith and leave,
· ___ will have a moral failing and leave,
· ___ will lose interest and drift away,
· ___ of you will be attending church, and
· ___ of you will attend this church.

Small Groups Modeled in the _________ ___________________________

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. [44] Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, [45] and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. [46] So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47 / NKJ)

“A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you. [35] By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 / NKJ)

Small Groups Modeled in __________________________

Wesley called small groups “classes”. They were more accountability groups than Bible Study groups…

China – “House Churches” – caused explosive growth in the church after the missionaries were kicked out during the war…

Latin America – “Base Communities” paved the way for the fantastic growth of the Pentecostal and charismatic church in the south.

WHAT IS A SMALL GROUP?

Small Groups Enable Us to Discover and Grow In Our __________________________ ______________

“Communion is strength; solitude is weakness. Alone, the fine old beech yields to the blast and lies prone on the meadow. In the forest, supporting each other, the trees laugh at the hurricane. The sheep of Jesus flock together. The social element is the genius of Christianity.” (C.H. Spurgeon)

The ___________________ Of “Connect Groups”

“And daily in the temple, an in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” (Acts 5:42 / NKJ)

WHAT IS SO POWERFUL ABOUT SMALL/CONNECT GROUPS?

I. Small/Connect Groups Are A Powerful Way To Grow _______________________

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” (Acts 2:42-43 / NIV)

Connect Groups give us is everything we need to grow spiritually: ___________, ______________________, ______________________ and ___________________ _________________________.

“For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. [9] This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. [10] For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.” (I Timothy 4:8-10 / NKJ)

II. A Connect Group is a powerful way to grow ___________________ (Acts 2:44-47)

We can’t get to really _______________ other believers unless we are in a small group with them

Other believers can’t get to __________ us better unless we are in a small group

Because all the believers were connected to a small group everyone’s ________ were being met.

a. The need for ____________________________ (Galatians 6:1)

b. The need for ____________________________ (Hebrews 10:25)

c. The need for ministry ____________________________ (1 Corinthians 12:7)

III. Small groups are a powerful way to _________ __________________________ (Acts 2:47)