What do you think of when you think of the word “church”? Do you think of a building, or a steeple? Maybe you think of padded pews or chairs lined up in rows? Do you think about meeting with friends after the service or maybe you think of music or, heaven forbid, you think of long boring sermons. Whatever it is that comes to mind I am sure that it is different from what the people of the first century thought when they considered their initial gathering.

Over the next few weeks we are going to take a look at “the church”, not Amberlea specifically but the early church as recorded in the book of Acts. We are going to look at how it came into being, what was Jesus’ intention for the church and what is required of us.

I promise not to make it too long and boring ;)

When I do think specifically of Amberlea, and the body of believers that gather together each week, to worship God (Luke 4:8; John 4:23; Rev. 4:10), to study His Word (2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Cor. 4:6), to pray (Acts 2:42), to love one another (John 13:35; Phil. 1:1-4), to help each other (Gal. 6:2), to partake in baptism and the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:19-20), to learn how to live as Godly people (Titus 2:11-12), and to be equipped to evangelize the world (Eph. 4:12; Matt. 28:18-20), I am excited to think about what God can and will do through us!