I. Each new venture was prepared and launched through corporate prayer

Acts 1:14 – awaiting Pentecost & replacing Judas

Acts 2:42 – following the first ingathering of converts

Acts 4:24 – after persecution

Acts 6:4, 6 – before appointing leaders

Acts 13:1-4 – in sending out Paul & Barnabas

QUESTION: Have I been faithful in praying for the Lord’s direction in the future my area Fellowship?

II.  Plans for dealing with “growing pains” were put before the people by the church’s leaders and confirmed through the prayer of the people.

Acts 1:15-26 – appointing Matthias

Acts 6:1-6 – appointing the first deacons

Acts 13:1-4 – appointing the first missionaries

QUESTION: Do I have a yielding, cooperative spirit toward our church’s leaders and do I pray regularly for God to lead them?

III. Characteristic of the growing churches in Jerusalem and Antioch were the involvement of every believer in the ministry, which was two-fold:

1. INReach (Acts 2:41-47; 4:32; 11:19-30; 12:5)

Fellowship

Sharing

Awareness of needs

Practical concern

Unity

QUESTION: What efforts have I made to get to know other believers in the nearby area fellowships and to minister to their needs?

2.  OUTReach (Acts 4:31; 6:7; 9:31; 11:19-31; 12:24)

Witnessing to Jesus’ power wherever they went, beginning at home

Wherever they were ‘scattered’, they ‘scattered the precious seed’.

QUESTION: Do I believe that people in my local neighborhood without Christ are actually lost? Have I been faithful in sharing Christ with them? Do I care whether or not they are reached?