Church DNA
Mission Statement
Missions
October 20, 2013 • Jon Paul Dennison
Study Questions: 1. To be an “apsotle” means to be “sent out” or to be a messenger. In what ways do you believe you have been “sent out?” 2. In what ways did some of the New Testament apostles come up against resistance? In what ways did they handle it? 3. Do you believe in general local churches are as missional as they were called to be? And to expound on this rhetorical question, what are some of the greatest obstacles to missions? 4. Discuss some of the ways your Small Group can be “sent out” to the surrounding neighborhood. How and when can you “go!”? Additional Scripture References: Luke 10:1, Acts 1:26, Acts 2:47, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:42, 1 Timothy 2:7, Acts 9:15, Galatians 1:19, James 1:27
Discipleship
October 13, 2013 • Michael McCracken
Study Questions: 1. What does it mean to be a “learner” of Jesus? How do you know if you are one? 2. Is it possible to be a Christian but not a disciple of Jesus? Why or why not? 3. Read and meditate 2 Timothy 2:2. How would that play itself out today in our church?…in your life? 4. How are going to decorate your trunk for trunk or treat?? Additional Scripture References: Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23; 1 Corinthians 14:20; 2 Timothy 2:7; Matthew 11; Luke 9:23-27; Hebrews 5:7-14; 2 Timothy 2:2; 4:6
Worship
October 6, 2013 • Michael McCracken
Study Questions: 1. How does “community” lend itself to worship? 2. Is “worship” primarily a corporate issue or an individual issue? Thoughts on this? 3. Read and meditate on Romans 12:1. Why is it necessary that Paul would insert the phrase “by the mercies of God”? How is it possible to be a “living sacrifice”?…or to live sacrificially? 4. How will the small groups in our church exemplify the concept of “living sacrifice” both to the church body as well as to the world outside? Additional Scripture References: Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:19-25; Isaiah 30:15-17; John 4:23-24; Matthew 6:24; 1 Timothy 6:9-10; Colossians 3:5; Hebrews 13:5; Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:25-29
Community
September 29, 2013 • Michael McCracken
Study Questions: 1. What does the relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit teach us about community? 2. Read and meditate on Acts 2:42-47. Is this what the “Church” looks like today? Why or why not? What concept(s) within this text is/are most difficult for the church to carry out today? 3. In 1 Peter 2:5 what does he mean when he says we are being built up us a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices? 4. As a small group, how will you proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light? In other words, how will the neighbors of your host home ever know the true reason why you bombard their street with so many cars on a weekly basis? Additional Scripture References: Proverbs 8:27-30; John 1:1-3; John 10:30; Matthew 3:16-17; Genesis 2:18; Genesis 17:1-8; Hebrews 8:6-13; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-37; Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 10:24; Revelation 12:10-12; Genesis 3:8-13; John 3:19-21; Ephesians 4:25-32; 1 Peter 2:1-10; Galatians 5:1
The Very Words Of God
September 22, 2013 • Michael McCracken
The only conviction of the reliability of scripture that will lead to an actual taking up of one’s cross and denying one’s self is a conviction that miraculously comes from the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ! Study Questions: 1. What does it practically mean that scripture is the final authority in the testing of all claims about what is true and right? 2. What kind of “reward” is David speaking of in verse 11? 3. What keeps people from viewing scripture as “more to be desired than gold…”? 4. What would the expected fruit be from a small group that was dedicated to the study of and the meditation upon the Word of God? Additional Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-15; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 1 John 5:7-11; John 7:16-18; John 9:25; Psalm 1:3; John 6:67-68; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Luke 16:30-31; James 1:21; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:15; Isaiah 6:5; Psalm 119:37; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Christ - The Reward
September 15, 2013 • Michael McCracken
So when we say that it is our desire that Christ be ultimate in the affections of the church, we mean that it is our desire that Christ would be seen as the most valuable possession, gift, relationship, reward possible for His people. Study Questions: 1. How is the concept of “faith” and the concept of “laying aside every weight and sin” connected? What is meant by the fact that it “clings so closely? 2. How is faith related to running the “race with endurance”? What does it mean that the race has been “set before us”? 3. In the context of Hebrews 12 what does it look like to “look to Jesus”? 4. How does all of this translate to ARCC and specifically small groups at ARCC? Additional Scripture References: Hebrews 11