Oakwood Community Church

Three characteristics of a flourishing Christian community:

1. Devoted Community

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

“About 20 years ago, a church member was considered active in the church if he or she attended three times a week. Today, a church member is considered active in the church if he or she attends three times a month.” – Thom Rainer

1. Devoted Community
a. To the teaching of God’s Word

“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Romans 10:17

“You will be 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.”
Psalm 1:3

1. Devoted Community
b. To the fellowship

“Our fellowship stirs one another up to love and good deeds... we must not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.”
Hebrews 10:24-25

1. Devoted Community
b. To the fellowship

“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desires; he breaks out against all sound judgment.”
Proverbs 18:1

1.Devoted Community
c. To the breaking of bread

“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.”
Acts 2:46

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word [Jesus Himself] that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4

“Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”
John 6:56

1. Devoted Community
d. To praying together

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

“Corporate prayer is a greater miracle than individual prayer because it forces each Christian to pray for things beyond themselves, which is sadly often all we really care about praying for.”
- John Piper

"If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
Matthew 18:19-20

“...earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”
Acts 12:5

“Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.”
Joel 1:14

“Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. The Lord answered and said to his people, ‘Behold, I am sending you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.” Joel 2:18

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”
Proverbs 21:1

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14

“And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.”
Acts 2:43

Three characteristics of a flourishing Christian community:

2. Unified Community

“And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”
Acts 2:44-45

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9

Three characteristics of a flourishing Christian community:

3. Growing Community

“And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:47

“But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.”
Acts 4:4

“And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.”
Acts 5:14