• Worship is how we come into God’s presence.
• God wants us to make a joyful noise when we worship.
• God wants us to worship him in new songs, with lots of instruments and loud shouts!
• God wants us to worship him in other ways too.
• God shows us himself in his Sanctuary.
• Most of all, worship is about praising God.
• Christians worship in small, medium, and large groups.

We confess our sin and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38

There were four new habits the new church participated in regularly. Acts 2:42

1. They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching.
2. They were in fellowship with the Apostles.
3. They broke bread with the Apostles.
4. They prayed with the Apostles.

The new church adopted new living habits. Acts 2:46

1. They spent a lot of time together, day by day.
2. They broke bread together in each other’s homes.
3. They were glad and generous.

Their attitude toward life changed as well.  Acts 2: 47

1. They were continually praising God.
2. They had the goodwill of the people in their hearts.

The result was rapid growth for first-Century Church. Acts 2: 47

And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Christians gather together in small, medium, and large groups.

Who are you in the world today?
Secular: God has nothing to do with your decision-making process.
“Soft-secular” (Mike Slaughter): You may be a Christian, but your needs and desires will come first.

Post-modern: There is no real Absolute Truth, but there are many “truths” to explore.
Christian:You are totally committed to Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Disciplines:Prayer and Meditation, Fasting, Worship, Almsgiving, Hospitality,Spiritual Guidance, Meditating on God’s Word

The Early Wesleyan Class Meetings

General Rule of Discipleship: To witness to Jesus Christ in the world,and to follow his teachings through acts of compassion, justice,worship, and devotion, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

They agreed to do certain acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion throughout each week.

The main reason for these small groups to meet weekly together was to hold each other accountable for practicing discipleship.

Through this system, the “People called the Methodists” grew by tens of thousands during the 18th Century, and into millions by the 20th Century.

Today, United Methodists call this system Covenant Discipleship.  Other models work too; small groups, cell groups, home churches, etc.

Christians learn in small, medium, and large groups.

"People who accept the high calling of Christ must be equally willing to accept this high [accountability] standard.  We cannot approach ministry with the idea that ‘I am a volunteer, so you should be thankful for anything that I am willing to give.’  Christ does not call volunteers, He calls servants."

"We have never been allowed to lose sight of the fact that the main purpose to be served by the clinic is the care of the sick."

Everyone has spiritual gifts to do mission and ministry

(I Corinthians 12: 4 – 11)   Utterance of wisdom,utterance of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy,discernment of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues
(I Corinthians 12: 27 – 28)  Apostleship, teaching, deeds of power, forms of assistance, forms of leadership

Service to others is what Christian discipleship is all about

(Matthew 25: 34 – 36)     Jesus says to the righteous,

Christians serve others in small, medium, and large groups.

Directions to individuals (Miracles, Healings, Exorcisms, Teaching)

Directions Through Parables

Directions To The Disciples

Directions After the Resurrection

Christians spread the Gospel in small, medium, and large groups.