Our series this month is Messages from the Movies. Each week we are going to use a contemporary movie to illustrate a concept, look at the theme from Scripture, delve into the idea and try to get a deeper understanding of it's meaning and then apply the principle to our life.

Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Directed by Peter Jackson
3 movie series based on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien
The movie chronicles the quest to save the mythical "Middle Earth" from the dark lord Sauron. The central plot deals with destroying a powerful, evil ring and defeat its creator, the dark lord Sauron. His desire is to enslave the inhabitants of Middle Earth and to remove all that is good from the world. Much of the storyline follows Sauron's plan to regain the ring from a hobbit named Frodo Baggins who now possesses it.
A group of nine step forward to fight the power and evil of Sauron and develop a plan to destroy the ring.
Tolkien referred to this group of nine as The Company of the Ring.
Company: "a person who shares bread, suggesting a co-traveler on the road or a group with a shared purpose or mission."
This group is a classic study of people who have to learn to work together. Their purpose was to protect and provide support for Frodo, who alone could throw the ring into the fires of Mount Doom for its destruction.

In reading these books or watching the movies, a person can find the same type of characters and truths in the pages of God's Word.
Today we'll use Tolkien's phrase, The Company of the Ring, to make us think about how the Bible teaches and illustrates the importance of teamwork. This looks like banding together to accomplish a mission greater than our own life.
One of the strongest examples of this is the Church...those who have trusted Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Church has many similarities to Tolkien's Company.

Our text for this morning is Acts 2:40-47.

1. The church CAME out of a dark and evil world.
Acts 2:40
John 12:31
2 Corinthians 4:4
Ephesians 2:2

The church comes from the Greek word Ekklesia, which refers to a civic body of citizens called out of the general population for a specific purpose. In the New Testament it means a group of people called by God for His specific purposes. In 2 Corinthians 5 we are told that God has re-purposed our lives and that we are His ambassadors. We represent Him as we go through life and help others to develop a faith relationship with God's Son, Jesus.

2. The church CONSISTS of many but committed to be one.
Acts 2:41-45
As you read through these verses you see a number of actions the believers in the early church took and what the church should look like:
- people CAME to faith (v.41)
- people CHOSE to mature (v.42)
- people CAUGHT the nature of the church (v.43)
- people CHANGED their priorities (v. 44-45)

Their mindset changed from ME to WE. Every person found a role in which they could contribute to the whole.

3. The church CONTINUALLY developed their relationships.
Acts 2:46
In this verse we see the importance of banding together to encourage and support one another. "You (a group or team) are only as strong as the weakest link."

4. The church CHANGED their world with a missional mindset.
Acts 2:47
As you progress through the three movies, you see the company bond together and develop a determination that drives them to accomplish their mission. In verse 47 we see the same thing. Their relationship with God and concern for one another impacts the lives of those who they encounter daily.
The church's genuine faith, authentic lifestyles, concern for others, and passionate commitment to see others develop a saving relationship with Jesus will bring about a change in the world!

Here are two thoughts about what you can do with today's message:

1. Trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
2. Take a good look at your life and ask if you are connected to this church (or another) in the ways that have been described. Not just attending but connecting...having spiritual (not just social) relationships with people.

Here at Grace Church we have several ways to do this:
- Mentoring
- Grace U Classes
- H.O.M.E. Groups
- Serving Teams