The Spirit’s Family Practices

They can be nuclear or extended, immediate or distant.

Some are blended; some are step; some are foster.

We know we should build them and focus on them.

For some they provide the perfect sense of identity and security, while others wonder how they ended up in theirs.

But there is little in all the world that is so potentially wonderful and so perpetually challenging as family.

Immediately after the cosmos-changing giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the book of Acts shows us that the Spirit has come not only to save individual souls but also our entire society by giving us power to be family just as God intends.

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SEE IT // BE IT

(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)

Date: September 4, 2016 // Title: The Spirit’s Family Practices

Scripture: Acts 2:37-47

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
Last week Jon led us to see how Pentecost marks an unprecedented turn in the human story. This week we saw how that unprecedented turn resulted in the church functioning together as a family. Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost had caused a tremendous stirring and repentance among the people and 3,000 had been added to the church’s movement in one day. It was a tremendous moment. But here in Acts 2:42–47 we see how such a great moment translates into a movement—a movement of family. While today the word “family” may bring to mind both helpful and unhelpful images for many of us, it was in the practices of family that the New Testament church found its center and function. Four practices brought and knitted this family together: (1) They devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teaching; (2) They devoted themselves to fellowship; (3) They broke bread together; and (4) They prayed together. This week Jon challenged all of us to put family into practice at every level of our lives.

THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
Pentecost reminds us that it is God’s Spirit that guides and empowers God’s people.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): What does Peter call people to do at the end of his message in Acts 2:37–41? What does the word “repent” mean? How is baptism a part of repentance? How many people responded to Peter’s call? What do you think that response must have been like for the disciples? What does this moment signify? (The beginning of the church). How does Acts 2:42 show us the practices of the church? What metaphor did Jon say was helpful?
Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Which parts of Acts 2:42–47 have you experienced before? Which parts have you not experienced before? How have you experienced the church as a family—both good and bad? Which of the four practices that Jon mentioned is easiest for you? Which is hardest for you?
Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): What would it look like for the church to function as a family? How would that change your normal perception of church? What advantages does this idea bring? What disadvantages does this idea bring?
BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Family Prayer 10 minutes
Last week we spent some time identifying places where we need guidance and power in our lives. Some groups took the IN Challenge and actually wrote those things down and used those things to pray for one another as prayer partners this past week. If your group did that, have each person report on how the things you prayed for each other about turned out this week. If your group didn’t do the IN Challenge last week, take some time to devote yourselves to prayer for one another by asking where each person might need guidance or power and praying for them.
Change IN // Family Perspective 10 minutes
Use a whiteboard or poster board to record your reflections on the following exercise. Draw a line down the center of the whiteboard and write the word “family” on one side of the board. Write the word “business” or “institution” on the other side of the board. Take some time to come up with ten words that you would use to describe “family.” Do the same with the word “business” or “institution.” After you have identified these ten descriptions of each word, talk about the difference between seeing the church as a business/institution and seeing the church as a family. Compare and contrast these ideas and talk about what is helpful or unhelpful about both of these images.
Change OUT // Family Practice 5 minutes
Take the family practice OUT this week by finding one way to pray for, share a word with, eat with or just hang out with someone this week with gospel intent. Use one of the four practices that Jon mentioned to be the church this week OUT in your world. Share one person you are going to do this with this week with your group. Pray for and encourage each other as you try to put this into practice.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.