OneLife Church
The Church Defined: Part 1 - This Not That
Locations & Times
North Campus
3503 W Emory Rd, Powell, TN 37849, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Online Connection Card
Let us know that you were here, what your next step is that you are taking, or how we can pray for you and help you!
http://www.onelifeknox.com/connectGive Online
The Bible teaches us to give the first 10% of our income to the "storehouse." God says we can test Him by doing this and watching Him take care of us in return. This may sound like a stretch to you! Just take a step toward toward that goal. If you currently give nothing, start giving something. If you give something, try increasing it a step toward the 10% goal. Trust God! Give Him your first before anything else by setting up a recurring, automated donation online. You will then receive quarterly updates about how your giving is making a difference and how your donations are being used.
http://www.onelifeknox.com/giveBottom Line: The church is not an institution or an event.
Ekklesia: a called out assembly.
The church is a gathering...
The church is a gathering...
...with a shared mission...
...with a shared mission...
The church is a gathering with a shared mission...
...under submission to spiritual authority.
...under submission to spiritual authority.
START TALKING
When have you thought you knew what something meant so you acted on that, but come to find out it meant something completely different so you had to change how you used it or understood it? Maybe it was a word you used, a product, or a formula that was wrong and it caused all kinds of problems because of it.
When have you thought you knew what something meant so you acted on that, but come to find out it meant something completely different so you had to change how you used it or understood it? Maybe it was a word you used, a product, or a formula that was wrong and it caused all kinds of problems because of it.
START THINKING
Read Acts 2:1, Acts 2:46, and Hebrews 10:25. What are similarities that you notice about each of these verses and their description of the first churches? What seems to be the priority from these? What do you notice is not included in these descriptions?
Read Acts 2:45-46. What are the two ways and places that the believers met? Why do you think both were important to the mission and to their own spiritual growth and development?
Read Acts 2:1, Acts 2:46, and Hebrews 10:25. What are similarities that you notice about each of these verses and their description of the first churches? What seems to be the priority from these? What do you notice is not included in these descriptions?
Read Acts 2:45-46. What are the two ways and places that the believers met? Why do you think both were important to the mission and to their own spiritual growth and development?
START SHARING
When have you experienced the difference between acting as if church is simply an event to attend or experience versus an assembly of called out ones who fellowship, have joy, are generous, meets needs of each other and the community?
Read Acts 2:47. What was the primary mission of this church, and what should be our primary mission? What have experienced are other missions that often distract us as individuals within the church or can (and have) distracted entire church's from pursuing this highest calling?
Read 1 Peter 5:1-5. This passage is instruction for us to do what we see the ecclesia doing in the book of acts - submitting to the plurality of spiritual authority in the church. In Acts we see it in the way they were generous and in the way they "devoted themselves" to the apostles' teaching. In 1 Peter we see it as each us being under the elders' care, following their example, and being humble toward each other, submitted to our leadership.
Read 1 Timothy 5:17-18. What does this teach are the responsibilities of church leadership?
Now, after reading those passages about church leadership, what does it mean to be submitted to that leadership? Why do you think this is a difficult thing for many people to do?
When have you experienced the difference between acting as if church is simply an event to attend or experience versus an assembly of called out ones who fellowship, have joy, are generous, meets needs of each other and the community?
Read Acts 2:47. What was the primary mission of this church, and what should be our primary mission? What have experienced are other missions that often distract us as individuals within the church or can (and have) distracted entire church's from pursuing this highest calling?
Read 1 Peter 5:1-5. This passage is instruction for us to do what we see the ecclesia doing in the book of acts - submitting to the plurality of spiritual authority in the church. In Acts we see it in the way they were generous and in the way they "devoted themselves" to the apostles' teaching. In 1 Peter we see it as each us being under the elders' care, following their example, and being humble toward each other, submitted to our leadership.
Read 1 Timothy 5:17-18. What does this teach are the responsibilities of church leadership?
Now, after reading those passages about church leadership, what does it mean to be submitted to that leadership? Why do you think this is a difficult thing for many people to do?
START DOING
Thinking through the three pieces to our definition of a church - a gathering of those who are called out with a shared mission under submission to spiritual authority - what do you need to do next (or what can you do) to be fully committed to and make a priority of each of the following:
1. The gathering of called out ones - both large group and micro church.
2. Sharing in the mission of seeing people far from God discover Jesus and how their one life can make a difference, with joy and generosity - both our resources and our time.
3. Under submission to spiritual authority.
Thinking through the three pieces to our definition of a church - a gathering of those who are called out with a shared mission under submission to spiritual authority - what do you need to do next (or what can you do) to be fully committed to and make a priority of each of the following:
1. The gathering of called out ones - both large group and micro church.
2. Sharing in the mission of seeing people far from God discover Jesus and how their one life can make a difference, with joy and generosity - both our resources and our time.
3. Under submission to spiritual authority.
START PRAYING
This topic of truly being the church is a heavy one! And it should be, because it's what Jesus gave His life for! So pray for each other in the micro church to fully embrace each of the three steps of the definition of church that you shared above. Pray that we would each prioritize gathering together for worship on Sundays and throughout the week as a micro church. Pray that we each share in the mission with joy and generosity of all that we have - both our resources and time. And pray that we each submit to each other the plurality of church leadership with humility and honor. Pray that as a result, we, too, will see added to our number daily those who are being saved.
This topic of truly being the church is a heavy one! And it should be, because it's what Jesus gave His life for! So pray for each other in the micro church to fully embrace each of the three steps of the definition of church that you shared above. Pray that we would each prioritize gathering together for worship on Sundays and throughout the week as a micro church. Pray that we each share in the mission with joy and generosity of all that we have - both our resources and time. And pray that we each submit to each other the plurality of church leadership with humility and honor. Pray that as a result, we, too, will see added to our number daily those who are being saved.
Take a Next Step!
Don't just attend church for an hour a week. Take a step! What step should you take?
1. Follow Jesus! If you have followed Jesus...
2. Get baptized! If you are following Jesus, then that's all you need to be "ready" to take this step.
3. Volunteer! Don't simply be a consumer, but be part of making a difference in the lives of those who come to OneLife to experience Jesus. There are weekday and Sunday opportunities. Get info about what opportunities there are for you!
4. Join a micro church! You can't have true community sitting in rows with a large crowd. That's not the church - it's an event! Micro churches are small "churches" of 10-12 adults that meet in homes throughout the week to learn together, pray together, serve the community together, and care for each other together.
Get more information about any of the above, send us your prayer requests so we can pray with you, or ask any question we can help you with by filling out the online connection card!
http://www.onelifeknox.com/connect1. Follow Jesus! If you have followed Jesus...
2. Get baptized! If you are following Jesus, then that's all you need to be "ready" to take this step.
3. Volunteer! Don't simply be a consumer, but be part of making a difference in the lives of those who come to OneLife to experience Jesus. There are weekday and Sunday opportunities. Get info about what opportunities there are for you!
4. Join a micro church! You can't have true community sitting in rows with a large crowd. That's not the church - it's an event! Micro churches are small "churches" of 10-12 adults that meet in homes throughout the week to learn together, pray together, serve the community together, and care for each other together.
Get more information about any of the above, send us your prayer requests so we can pray with you, or ask any question we can help you with by filling out the online connection card!