this is first family: growing

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Acts 2:42–4742And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42–4742And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Context for Acts 2

“And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.”–Acts 2:2

Individual

FamilyChurch

“devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching”

“breaking bread in their homes”

“attending the temple together”

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Principles of Spiritual Growth

• The Holy Spirit is ultimately responsible for our spiritual growth

• We have an individual responsibility to strive, persist, and discipline ourselves

• We have a responsibility in our homes to train our children and lead them towards godliness

• We shouldn’t go it alone – we need to be disciplined in our fellowship with believers

BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 5:18

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

How to Be Filled with the Sprit

• A Dedicated Life (Romans 1:1-2)• An Undefeated Life (Ephesians 4:30)• A Dependent Life (Galatians 5:16-18)• An Obedient Life (John 14:15)

The Lord Gives the Growth

1 Corinthians 3:5–9 5What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

DISCIPLINE YOURSELF FOR GODLINESS

Individual

FamilyChurch

“devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching”

“breaking bread in their homes”

“attending the temple together”

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:42 (NASB)

42They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

1 Timothy 4:7–8 (NASB95)

• 7But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

at war with the flesh

1 Corinthians 9:24–2724Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24–2724Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

INVEST IN FAMILY FAITH

Individual

FamilyChurch

“devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching”

“breaking bread in their homes”

“attending the temple together”

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Filled with the Holy Spirit

4“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:4–9

CONNECT WITH A FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS

Individual

FamilyChurch

“devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching”

“breaking bread in their homes”

“attending the temple together”

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Filled with the Holy Spirit

“Unhindered” Teaching Components

• The Compass• The Extra Point Podcast• The Weekend Message• The Notes• Lighthouse Group Guide• FFC Website

• Weekly• Individual• Family• Church Wide

• Weekly• Individual• Family• Church Wide

• Weekly• Individual• Family• Church Wide

• Weekly• Individual• Family• Church Wide

“Unhindered” Teaching Components

• The Compass• The Extra Point Podcast• The Weekend Message• The Notes• Lighthouse Group Guide• FFC Website

GROWING AT FIRST FAMILY CHURCH

Keys to Spiritual Growth

1. Be Filled with the Spirit2. Discipline Yourself for Godliness3. Invest in Family Faith4. Connect with a Fellowship of

Believers

Lifelong Journey

Psalm 11Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.