1. there were ______ essentials the early church organized itself around. four

1. There were ______ essentials the early church organized itself around.

1. There were ______ essentials the early church organized itself around.

fourfour

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

1.1. Apostles’ Teaching: Apostles’ Teaching: Sermons/Bible StudySermons/Bible Study

1.1. Apostles’ Teaching: Apostles’ Teaching: Sermons/Bible StudySermons/Bible Study

1.1. Apostles’ Teaching: Apostles’ Teaching: Sermons/Bible StudySermons/Bible Study

2.2. Fellowship: Meeting in Fellowship: Meeting in Homes and Sharing Your Homes and Sharing Your Life With BelieversLife With Believers

1.1. Apostles’ Teaching: Apostles’ Teaching: Sermons/Bible StudySermons/Bible Study

2.2. Fellowship: Meeting in Fellowship: Meeting in Homes and Sharing Your Homes and Sharing Your Life With BelieversLife With Believers

1.1. Apostles’ Teaching: Apostles’ Teaching: Sermons/Bible StudySermons/Bible Study

2.2. Fellowship: Meeting in Fellowship: Meeting in Homes and Sharing Your Homes and Sharing Your Life With BelieversLife With Believers

3.3. Breaking of Bread: Breaking of Bread: CommunionCommunion

1.1. Apostles’ Teaching: Apostles’ Teaching: Sermons/Bible StudySermons/Bible Study

2.2. Fellowship: Meeting in Fellowship: Meeting in Homes and Sharing Your Homes and Sharing Your Life With BelieversLife With Believers

3.3. Breaking of Bread: Breaking of Bread: CommunionCommunion

1.1. Apostles’ Teaching: Apostles’ Teaching: Sermons/Bible StudySermons/Bible Study

2.2. Fellowship: Meeting in Fellowship: Meeting in Homes and Sharing Your Life Homes and Sharing Your Life With BelieversWith Believers

3.3. Breaking of Bread: Breaking of Bread: CommunionCommunion

4.4. Prayer: Taking part in Public Prayer: Taking part in Public and Private Prayer Timeand Private Prayer Time

1.1. Apostles’ Teaching: Apostles’ Teaching: Sermons/Bible StudySermons/Bible Study

2.2. Fellowship: Meeting in Fellowship: Meeting in Homes and Sharing Your Life Homes and Sharing Your Life With BelieversWith Believers

3.3. Breaking of Bread: Breaking of Bread: CommunionCommunion

4.4. Prayer: Taking part in Public Prayer: Taking part in Public and Private Prayer Timeand Private Prayer Time

Which of the above Which of the above activities are included in activities are included in

your life on a weekly your life on a weekly basis? basis?

Which activities are not Which activities are not included in your life on a included in your life on a

weekly basis?weekly basis?

Which of the above Which of the above activities are included in activities are included in

your life on a weekly your life on a weekly basis? basis?

Which activities are not Which activities are not included in your life on a included in your life on a

weekly basis?weekly basis?

2. The early believers were organized around _______ meetings and for larger gatherings they met in the temple courts.

2. The early believers were organized around _______ meetings and for larger gatherings they met in the temple courts.

house

house

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. Acts 2:46

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. Acts 2:46

a.a. Lydia’s house at Philippi Lydia’s house at Philippi (Macedonia)(Macedonia)

a.a. Lydia’s house at Philippi Lydia’s house at Philippi (Macedonia)(Macedonia)

House churches are located all around the Mediterranean Rim: House churches are located all around the Mediterranean Rim:

When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us… After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left. Acts 16:15, 40

When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us… After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left. Acts 16:15, 40

a.a. Lydia’s house at Philippi Lydia’s house at Philippi (Macedonia)(Macedonia)

b.b. Priscilla and Aquila’s house Priscilla and Aquila’s house at Ephesus (Asia)at Ephesus (Asia)

a.a. Lydia’s house at Philippi Lydia’s house at Philippi (Macedonia)(Macedonia)

b.b. Priscilla and Aquila’s house Priscilla and Aquila’s house at Ephesus (Asia)at Ephesus (Asia)

House churches are located all around the Mediterranean Rim: House churches are located all around the Mediterranean Rim:

Greet Priscilla and Aquila… Greet also the church that meets at their house. Romans 16:3, 5

Greet Priscilla and Aquila… Greet also the church that meets at their house. Romans 16:3, 5

a.a. Lydia’s house at Philippi Lydia’s house at Philippi (Macedonia)(Macedonia)

b.b. Priscilla and Aquila’s house Priscilla and Aquila’s house at Ephesus (Asia)at Ephesus (Asia)

c.c. Philemon’s house at Colosse Philemon’s house at Colosse or Laodicea (Asia)or Laodicea (Asia)

a.a. Lydia’s house at Philippi Lydia’s house at Philippi (Macedonia)(Macedonia)

b.b. Priscilla and Aquila’s house Priscilla and Aquila’s house at Ephesus (Asia)at Ephesus (Asia)

c.c. Philemon’s house at Colosse Philemon’s house at Colosse or Laodicea (Asia)or Laodicea (Asia)

House churches are located all around the Mediterranean Rim: House churches are located all around the Mediterranean Rim:

“… To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker … and to the church that meets in your home” Philemon 1:1-2

“… To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker … and to the church that meets in your home” Philemon 1:1-2

a.a. Lydia’s house at Philippi Lydia’s house at Philippi (Macedonia)(Macedonia)

b.b. Priscilla and Aquila’s house at Priscilla and Aquila’s house at Ephesus (Asia)Ephesus (Asia)

c.c. Philemon’s house at Colosse or Philemon’s house at Colosse or Laodicea (Asia)Laodicea (Asia)

d.d. Nympha’s house at Laodicea Nympha’s house at Laodicea (Asia)(Asia)

a.a. Lydia’s house at Philippi Lydia’s house at Philippi (Macedonia)(Macedonia)

b.b. Priscilla and Aquila’s house at Priscilla and Aquila’s house at Ephesus (Asia)Ephesus (Asia)

c.c. Philemon’s house at Colosse or Philemon’s house at Colosse or Laodicea (Asia)Laodicea (Asia)

d.d. Nympha’s house at Laodicea Nympha’s house at Laodicea (Asia)(Asia)

House churches are located all around the Mediterranean Rim: House churches are located all around the Mediterranean Rim:

Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. Colossians 4:15

Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. Colossians 4:15

3. The _______ of God was freely displayed in the early Adventist’s small groups.

3. The _______ of God was freely displayed in the early Adventist’s small groups.

powerpower

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

• Who led the groups?

• What did the groups do when they met?

• Was there singing and music?

• Who led the groups?

• What did the groups do when they met?

• Was there singing and music?

• Should we in the 21st century meet in small groups like the 1st century believers?

• Are you willing to open your heart to the possibility of participating in a small group?

• What prayer request would help you make time to participate in small groups?

• Should we in the 21st century meet in small groups like the 1st century believers?

• Are you willing to open your heart to the possibility of participating in a small group?

• What prayer request would help you make time to participate in small groups?