Simon Says Follow The Leader: Partakers Not spectators

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42 (ESV)

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

Fellowship, Noun or Verb?  ______!

KOINONIA: __________________________________________________

…he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 2 Peter 1:4 (ESV)

The Fellowship was initiated by its ___________ not its _____________.

WHY IS THE CHURCH SO IMPORTANT?

1. THE CHURCH IS _______________________________________________.

All honor to God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; for it is his boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family. 1 Peter 1:3a (TLB)

That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:15b (NCV)

Don’t y’all know that y’all are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in y’all?
1 Corinthians 3:16 (YALL)

Spectator:  I will Attend.

Partaker:  ______________________________________________________.

Examples:  Introduce myself to one new person, text someone I missed, invite someone to lunch after this week, adopt someone into your family.

2. IT’S THE REASON _____________________________________________.

Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own…⁵ His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family… Ephesians 1:4-5 (TLB)

Spectator:  I will treat church like a buffet.

Partaker:  ______________________________________________________.

Examples:  Plug into a small group, ask off work if needed, schedule classes or other events around ministry, plan time with God every day.

3. GOD IS USING HIS CHURCH _____________________________________.

Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. ⁹ I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. ¹⁰ God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:8-11 (NLT)

Spectator:  I will sit back and watch others serve.

Partaker:  ______________________________________________________.

Examples:  Sign up to serve, pray out loud in group, speak up and offer to read, offer to do something that others don’t want to do, ask what is needed.

4. JESUS DIED FOR THE CHURCH.

Christ loved the church and gave himself for it…²⁷ He died so that he could give the church to himself like a bride in all her beauty. He died so that the church could be pure and without fault… Ephesians 5:25, 27 (NCV)

Spectator:  I desire forgiveness & mercy.

Partaker:  ______________________________________________________.

Examples:  Initiate conversation with someone I’ve avoided, offer to forgive the person who hurt me, ask for forgiveness from someone I wounded.

5. GOD’S CHURCH WILL __________________________________________.

But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.” Daniel 7:18 (NLT)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)

Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NLT)

Spectator:  I look for & receive blessings.

Partaker:  ______________________________________________________.

Examples:  Start at least tithing (10%) every week, pay for someone’s meal, tip your server no matter what, help pay for gas, look for needs & meet them.

6. IT IS THE ONLY GROUP ON EARTH _______________________________.

“…I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18 (ASV)

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

Spectator:  I will stand on the sidelines & cheer.

Partaker:  ______________________________________________________.

Examples:  Invite at least one lost friend to church every week, pray daily for our church & individuals, ask to tag along with someone who is good at this.