NCF Podcast

Northpoint Christian Fellowship
August 16, 2009
“It’s not where you go…it’s where you ARE!”
Michael White

Welcome… Greet and connect with one another. Take some time to find out how everybody’s week has been.

Worship… Now take some time and connect with God. Sing, pray, meditate, listen to a song. Enjoy this time of putting off the weeks challenges, and relaxing in the presence of God. Remember that God loves to “Hang Out” with you!

Witness Take some time to discuss and pray over those in your OIKOS that need to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to incline their hearts and to give you a chance to share with them. Make a plan to deliberately see them this week.

Word… The Sunday before last, Pastor Paul said that “Our Church is not in trouble. In fact, it’s healthier than it’s been in decades.” He gave some qualifying statements to back it up.

1. As a group, discuss what areas of health you currently see present or coming on the horizon to NorthPoint.

This past Sunday, I (Michael) modified Paul’s statement to simply “NorthPoint is a healthy church.” I said that before we can agree or disagree wit this statement that we had to clarify and qualify the words “healthy” and “church”.

1. What is “church”? (Hint: Take a look at Romans 16:1-5)
2. When you hear the word “church”, what thoughts, feelings, or emotions does the word evoke?

The Greek word in the Bible that we translate into “church” is the word “ecclesia.” Ecclesia literally means “a gathering”. Every biblical reference to church or ecclesia refers to a group of people and never a location or building. Since we know, biblically speaking, that “church” is a gathering not a gathering place, we can now determine whether the “gathering” that meets at NorthPoint is “healthy”.

1. What are 2-3 strong areas of health in your Life Group?
2. What are 2-3 areas in which your Life Group still has room to grow?
3. Spend some time discussing how your group can gain that growth?
In Sunday’s gathering, we discussed four benchmarks of a healthy ecclesia or gathering of believers. Those are…

1. A healthy church must be committed to true biblical teaching…(James 1:22)
a. Where do you see this most evident in the gathering of believers at NorthPoint?
b. What do you see as an area in need of growth?
c. How can your Life Group fill in the gap and help produce that growth?

2. A healthy church must have strong biblical leadership…(2 Timothy 4:1-4)
a. Where do you see this most evident in the gathering of believers at NorthPoint?
b. What do you see as an area in need of growth?
c. How can your Life Group fill in the gap and help produce that growth?

3. A healthy church focuses on discipleship… (Matthew 28:19-20, Colossians 1:28)
a. Why must a church focus on discipleship?
b. “Not everyone evangelized becomes a disciple but every disciple evangelizes.” Agree or disagree? Why?
c. “Discipleship necessitates evangelism.” Agree or disagree? Why?

4. A healthy church has a biblical understanding of membership…(Hebrews 10:23-25)
a. How is church membership a two-way street?
b. Are members who rarely or never attend the gathering really members?
c. In what areas do you need to step up your commitment to the church body?

Final personal reflection…take some time a pray personally and corporately about whether you and your group are more committed to the “gathering” or the gathering place.

Remember, “church” is NOT where you go, it’s where you are!

Admit you are a sinner. Romans 3:23
Believe Christ died for you. Romans 10:9
Choose to follow Jesus. Matthew 4:19