A beautiful picture of the church is found in Acts 2:42-47. Vintage21 takes this seriously as we grow, and foster the development of these deep friendships through Home Groups. We are becoming a large church but the larger we get the smaller we must become. To care for each other, to really know what is going on in someone’s life, to offer help, to share our needs and to point each other to Christ, we must live the gospel with one another in community. We invite you to live the gospel in a Home Group.

Calling: To bring glory to God with your gifts, talents, resources

Praus: the middle between two extremes –angry & laid-back

He who is not angry when he has cause to be, sins. For unreasonable patience is the hotbed of many vices.

Patience Greek: Makrothumia—Long-suffering

This love is the ability to retain unconquerable goodwill towards the unlovely and the unlovable, towards those who do not love us, and even towards those whom we do not like. Agape is that quality of mind and heart which compels Christians never to feel any bitterness, never to feel any desire for revenge, but always to seek the highest good of absolutely everyone.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does deep community form in your life? How can you live out the Gospel in such a way that allows you to have friends in every stage of your life? It is harder than you imagine. How will you dig in and suffer for your friends?
2. Are you living in a manner worthy of what Christ has done for you?
3. Living out the gospel is demanding. It will require humility, long-suffering and love. It will require us to use our gifts of teaching, leadership, sharing Christ with others. It will require us to no longer prolong our infancies. The call is huge HOWEVER, can you imagine if we actually lived this way: lives would be transformed, brokenness would be healed and people would see Jesus. What will it take for you to LIVE the GOSPEL?