1. Read Acts 2:42-47: What aspect of the early church impresses you?

How can that trait be expressed at 2BC? How can your Sunday School class help? What can you do personally to help with it?

How can you help keep 2BC united as the church in Acts was?

2. Read 1 John 3:16-20: John wrote to believers who had false beliefs about Jesus Christ which resulted in unethical behavior. Describe how God demonstrated his love to you through the cross? Through another means? How can you use those experiences as motivation to love others?

3. Read Acts 2:42-47: The early church was respected by the Jerusalem community. What should our church’s reputation be in our community?

What do we need to do in order for people to see 2BC that way?

4. Read Philippians 2:1-4: How would you recognize someone who considers others better than themselves? How can you become more like that person?

Ask God to help you find something to do that will be in the interest and for the benefit of someone else. Now, do it!

5. Read Acts 2:42-47: As Baptists, we believe that God can do miracles. Why do so many of us seem to be "fearful" when we hear about a miracle happening today?

How can we be able to see more of God’s wonders at 2BC?

More verses: Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:1-6; 1 Peter 2:9-10

For many people, the same attitude applies toward spiritual disciplines. We love what prayer does for us, how Bible study connects us with the mind of Christ, and how we walk in humble confidence in life. Actually doing the disciplines, well, that’s another story. Everyone needs help to be consistent in walking with Jesus.

2BC has a long history of preparing, praying, and ministering to it’s members. As your pastor, my task is to help you in your walk with God. We need to be intentional in developing disciplines in ourselves so that we can become better disciples of Christ. Toward that end, I want to give you several tools to help you.

(1) Intercessory Prayer - Every worship service there is a time for prayer. This is an opportunity for you to pray in your seat, at the front steps of the worship center, or with one of the staff at the front of the church.

(2) Scripture Memory - Every month we will have a verse for the church to memorize. It will be shown on the screen before church and throughout the worship service. Write this verse down, so that you can practice it throughout the week. We will even recite the verse together in worship. For May 2008, we will memorize 2 Corinthians 5:17.

(3) Devotions - Each week in our worship guide, there are notes for that Sunday’s sermon. On the back of the sermon notes we are going to have five brief devotions for you to use during the week. These devotions will be related to sermon on the reverse side of the page. David, Justin, and I will be writing these devotions. Give us some feedback on how to make them fit your needs better.

(4) Wednesday nights - I think of Wednesday nights as practice time. We practice the spiritual disciplines. Each Wednesday we spend at least 20 minutes in prayer. It takes a primary position in the service. Afterward, I will give a brief Bible study. Most of the time I plan to focus on various spiritual disciplines. We’ll even talk about how the various disciplines have helped us in our walk with Jesus.

These are some tools that you can use to help develop a deep relationship with God. Like any tool, they won’t do you any good unless you use them. I’m praying that you’ll use whatever tools necessary to know God more intimately.

1. Read Mark 1:16-20: In Mark’s gospel, Jesus’ call to the disciples comes abruptly. Recall how Jesus first came to you. Was it sudden and abrupt or slow and deliberate? Make it a goal to relate your salvation experience to someone soon when an opportune moment arises.

June 8 Vacation Bible School Kick-Off, Aransas Pass Water Park

June 9-13 Vacation Bible School

June 29-July 2 Kids Camp

July 6 - 17 California Mission Trip, Youth

August 2-9 Mexico Mission Trip, Adults