Tell us about your church background. How is being a

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Tell us about your church background. How is being a part of a church family like being part of a natural family? Pastor Bob talked about the importance of unity within the church. Why do you think unity is so important in the church today? What are some of the ways in which we can be unified as a local church?

Keys passages for this week: John 17:20-23, Acts 2:41-47, Matthew 16:18 

How would you describe your present church experience? (Come because I feel guilty, because someone expects me to. I’m just going through the motions, I’m looking for a boost for the week, I want to be part of a movement of God, it is encouraging, I’m just checking a time clock, it’s life changing, other)

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Why would you want to go to a church that openly admits to being a place full of messed up people?

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Discuss this statement that Pastor Bob shared. "Unity is so important to the church. Jesus prayed for it, we as pastors crave it in our ministries, and God moves in great ways in our community when we put our preferences aside and lock arms to bring people to the cross as we get under ours."

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Pastor Lee explained that the word for church, ekklesia (Ek - out of - Kaleo - Call - "The called out ones”), is used 119 times in the New Testament and 90 times of these times it is used to speak about the local church. Explain the difference between the Universal and the Local church. Does admitting to being a place full of messed up people deter us or help us in being “ecclesia”?

Use Acts 2:42-47 as a guide for praying for our church this week. Include what you are thankful for and ask God to continue to grow and mature this local body and the church in our community to reflect Jesus more and more.

I Love My Church: What does the church do?