Blackwood Pathway: Gather

Introduction

Blackwood Mission Statement: “We are a community of Christ-centered disciples who Love God, Love Others, and Make Disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Blackwood Pathway: Gather, Grow, Give, Go

Blackwood functional membership: A functional member of Blackwood Church is someone who is consistently GATHERING with the local body, GROWING into the image of Christ, GIVING to the work of God, and GOING to reach our neighborhoods and the nations.

Mr Ferrell and Mrs Betty...

Title/Statement: A disciple of Jesus prioritizes the Church and sacrifices by Gathering together with other believers.

Text: Acts 2:41-47.

A disciple of Jesus prioritizes teaching of God’s word...

The role of the overseer/elder/pastor...

1 Timothy 3:1-7.

Titus 1:7-9.

The responsibility of the overseer/elder/pastor...

Teaching

1 Timothy 3:2 NASB95

2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

2 Timothy 2:24 NASB95

24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,

Titus 1:9 NASB95

9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

Equipping

Ephesians 4:11–13 NASB95

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

A disciple of Jesus prioritizes fellowship with believers...

What is fellowship and what is not fellowship...

The Greek words translated “fellowship” in the New Testament mean essentially a partnership to the mutual benefit of those involved.

or

“A selflessness of giving time to the needs of others in a corporate setting”

“Sharing”

Coherence (unity)

Acts 2:44–46 NASB95

44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

John 17:23 NASB95

23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

Conditioning (strengthening)

Proverbs 27:17 NASB95

17 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.

John 13:34–35 NASB95

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Ex: Jesus and Peter

A disciple of Jesus prioritizes breaking of bread...

Communion

1 Corinthians 10:16–17 NASB95

16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.

1 Corinthians 11:23-34.

Meals

Acts 2:46 NASB95

46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

Luke 9:16 NASB95

16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people.

Acts 20:7 NASB95

7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.

1 Corinthians 11:20–22 NASB95

20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

A disciple of Jesus prioritizes prayer...

Unity

Act 4:23-31.

Matthew 21:12–13 NASB95

12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”

Help

James 5:13–16 NASB95

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Conclusion

The Holy Spirit’s role...

Acts 2:38 NASB95

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 7:20 NASB95

20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.