G2 - Growth Groups | "Why Growth Groups?"
Agape Church
In this new, short and pointed series we will dig into our word to discover the methodology of the New Testament Church's exponential Success, Function, Health & Growth! It wasn't just for the there and then...but also for US, here & now! **Be sure to Like this new tech advancement for the ministry to get all notifications of upcoming events! Let's Go!!!
Locations & Times
Agape Church
351 Lewis Ln, Havre De Grace, MD 21078, USA
Sunday 11:11 AM
If you want slides go to :: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TT6hJuf4ENrl13zpuPNrFpZOyV9qdosb/view?usp=drive_link
Acts 5:42 NLT- 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
“G2 (Growth Groups) :: Why Growth Groups?”
Jesus taught us to prepare for the BIRTH of His Church…and How to EFFECTIVELY BELONG to His Church!
Our or G2's (Growth Groups) will be structured around the PURPOSES & the HABITS that will lead to & produce YOUR Spiritual Growth!
The big idea behind this shift to G2 (Growth Groups) are 2 reasons…
- Large group centric Worship & Celebration
- Small(er) [G2 Growth] group Fellowship
- Large group centric Worship & Celebration
- Small(er) [G2 Growth] group Fellowship
Acts 5:42 MSG - 42 Every day they were in the Temple [courts] and homes, teaching, and preaching Christ Jesus, not letting up for a minute.
For Agape, the thought is to grow LARGE....we must function & get "smaller" (into G2s)...
...by getting into FORMED & FUNCTIONAL FELLOWSHIPS!
...by getting into FORMED & FUNCTIONAL FELLOWSHIPS!
Growth Groups WILL NOT JUST BE A PROGRAM here at Agape!...
They will be the cellular structure that makes up this “body” [One House] going forward!
They will be the cellular structure that makes up this “body” [One House] going forward!
Growth Groups should be leading the church growth both directly and indirectly.
“Sheep to beget Sheep and Fire to beget Fire!” <give rise to; bring about>
“Sheep to beget Sheep and Fire to beget Fire!” <give rise to; bring about>
The church must grow larger and smaller at the same time…through
- Larger group Worship/Celebration [“Temple Courts”]
- Smaller through G2 Fellowships [“House to House”]...Acts 5:42
- Larger group Worship/Celebration [“Temple Courts”]
- Smaller through G2 Fellowships [“House to House”]...Acts 5:42
Acts 1:15 - 15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)
Acts 2:41 on the 1st day…, “41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
*Mega Church...day one!
*Mega Church...day one!
Acts 2:47 - 47 “…praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
*...even if that's one person a day for a year...that's still 365 ppl!
*...even if that's one person a day for a year...that's still 365 ppl!
Acts 4:4 - 4 But a lot of people who had heard the message believed it. So, by now there were about 5,000 followers of the Lord.
*That number is actually 2-3 times that w/ women and children being counted!
*That number is actually 2-3 times that w/ women and children being counted!
Acts 5:14 - 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
*…a multitude (can’t be counted)!
*…a multitude (can’t be counted)!
Acts 5:28a – 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
*that's over 100+K in a city with a population of 250K ppl!
*that's over 100+K in a city with a population of 250K ppl!
Acts 6:1a – 1 …Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying,
*we've now gone from Addition to Multiplication!
*we've now gone from Addition to Multiplication!
Acts 6:7 - 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 21:20 – 20 Everyone who heard this praised God and said to Paul:
My friend, you can see how many tens of thousands of our people have become followers! And all of them are eager to obey the Law of Moses.
My friend, you can see how many tens of thousands of our people have become followers! And all of them are eager to obey the Law of Moses.
What makes these stats more amazing is...
1. It was Illegal to be a Christian during that time.
2. There were NO CHURCH Buildings…!
1. It was Illegal to be a Christian during that time.
2. There were NO CHURCH Buildings…!
Acts 5:42 TPT - 42 And nothing stopped them! They kept preaching every day in the temple courts and went from house to house, preaching the gospel of Jesus, God’s Anointed One!
Dualistic Biblical strategy of…
- LARGE GROUP WORSHIP/CELEBRATION &
- SMALL GROWTH GROUP (G2) FELLOWSHIP
- LARGE GROUP WORSHIP/CELEBRATION &
- SMALL GROWTH GROUP (G2) FELLOWSHIP
A Biblical…Successful…Healthy Church is
BOTH strong in One House Worship & strong in Growth Groups Fellowship!
Success = One House [Temple Courts] “Come & See”
+
House-to-House [G2] “Go & Tell”
BOTH strong in One House Worship & strong in Growth Groups Fellowship!
Success = One House [Temple Courts] “Come & See”
+
House-to-House [G2] “Go & Tell”
In both Romans 16:5 ; 1 Corinthians 16:19-24, Apostle Paul greets “the Churches in the HOUSE."
The Points of today::
CONNECT ::
SUPPORT ::
GROW ::
CONNECT ::
SUPPORT ::
GROW ::
CONNECT ::
1 Peter 1:22 NLT- 22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. [Having brotherly] Love [toward] each other deeply with all your [pure] heart.
1 Peter 1:22 NLT- 22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. [Having brotherly] Love [toward] each other deeply with all your [pure] heart.
“Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health."
- Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General
- Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General
CONNECT for the purposes of SUPPORTING one another in a mental, social and spiritual capacity.
Hebrews 10:25 TPT – 25 This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing. In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day [of the Lord’s coming] dawning.
SUPPORT ::– Genesis 2:18a NKJV - 18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone;
SUPPORT :: of a Growth Group will act as your “Safety Net” and KEEP you in it when you have trouble Staying on Your “Walk with the Lord!”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT - 9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
GROW :: Ephesians 4:16 TPT – 16 For His “body” [house] has been formed in His image and is closely joined together and constantly connected as one. And every member has been given divine gifts to contribute to the growth of all; and as these gifts operate effectively throughout the whole body [house], we are built up and made perfect in love.
About Agape Church
Agape Church is a Bible-based, evangelistic, Spirit-filled & empowered church founded in 2016 by Pastors Vincent & Yvonne Austin. Today we meet as one church in many locations through weekly worship and Growth Groups. Our vision is to LOVE LIKE HIM! In the endeavor to see people come to KNOW the Love of Jesus Christ, SHOW their Faith, and GROW in their Purpose. All while being healed, set free, discipled, equipped, empowered, and serving to advance the God's church and kingdom in the earth.
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https://www.lovelikehim.todayG2 - Agape Growth Groups
CONNECT :: SUPPORT :: GROW
If you’re interested in being a part of one of our upcoming growth groups for the Spring Semester, tap the below link to choose your group today!
https://forms.gle/Uaz69GR4rMSRfT577