The value of Life Groups – a bible study conducted in August and September 2012.

DEVOTE: Teaching

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“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
– 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

In Acts 2:42 we see the Christian life as one of devotion to the Apostle’s Teaching (the Word of God), Fellowship, Communion and Prayer.

This booklet is about the Apostles’ Teaching. The goal of the booklet is to help us grow to love God’s Word in a deeper way. We want to be inspired again to read and devote ourselves to the Bible. Our desire is not to make intellectuals but people who are skilled at handling the Scriptures so they can know God better.

Each of the booklets in our DEVOTE series are specifically designed for Life Group discussion and teaching, but also work well for personal study.

Download the booklet in your preferred format below:

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DEVOTE: Prayer

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Acts 2:42 says the Church is to be devoted to the Apostles' Teaching, Fellowship, the Breaking of Bread, and Prayer. In this booklet we look at the subject of Prayer.

DEVOTE: Breaking Bread

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Acts 2:42 says the Church is to be devoted to the Apostles' Teaching, Fellowship, the Breaking of Bread, and Prayer. In this booklet we look at the subject of Breaking Bread.

DEVOTE: Fellowship

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Acts 2:42 says the Church is to be devoted to the Apostles' Teaching, Fellowship, the Breaking of Bread, and Prayer. In this booklet we look at the subject of Fellowship.

DEVOTE: Teaching

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1 Comment
Acts 2:42 says the Church is to be devoted to the Apostles' Teaching, Fellowship, the Breaking of Bread, and Prayer. In this booklet we look at the subject of the Apostles' Teaching.

Life Groups: Living in the Kingdom from House to House

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What does the Bible say about Life Groups – small groups of believers gathering regularly at homes?

Our Bible Study on Life Groups is now also available for download as two manuals in PDF form – one manual for leaders and one for the Priesthood. These you can read on your iPad / Kindle / PC / smartphone or any device that supports PDF (most devices).

Click here to download Life Groups: For Leaders

Click here to download Life Groups: For the Priesthood

You can download all the audio files and read all the transcripts online, as well as download each transcript individually, at this link.

Life Groups: Being Part of a Life Group

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TITLE: Life Groups: Being Part of a Life Group
PREACHER: Various
DATE: 12 SEPTEMBER 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In this final part of this series we will talk about what being part of a Life Group is all about and re-iterate its importance in the life of the priesthood.

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Life Groups: Leading a Life Group Meeting

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TITLE: Life Groups: Leading a Life Group Meeting
PREACHER: Marcus Herbert
DATE: 12 SEPTEMBER 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In Part 6 we covered the way in which newcomers are brought into the life of Cornerstone and what believers in the church expect from the leaders. We also covered some practicalities in leading a Life Group and these will be expounded on in greater detail for this final part of this series.

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Life Groups: Practical Expectations for Deacons

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TITLE: Life Groups: Practical Expectations for Deacons
PREACHER: Glenn van Rooyen & Shaun Mackay
DATE: 5 SEPTEMBER 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In part 5 of this part of the series for leaders and potential leaders we looked at shepherding in more detail. Now we will focus more on practical issues, starting with the practical expectations of deacons.

Following up newcomers

Who is the church?

We are the church. So when we say we are Cornerstone church, we are a body of believers who call ourselves Cornerstone Church. We aren’t some organisation, we’re a people.

At some point in our personal histories we decided that this was going to be our spiritual home. But what was it that made us decide that? Was it the coffee? The music? The boys and girls? Location? There are many reasons why people come to a church. But what keeps us here is important and it’s important how we welcome anyone new in and let them know who it is we are.

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Life Groups: Our Discipleship Shepherding Wineskin

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TITLE: Life Groups: Our Discipleship Shepherding Wineskin
PREACHER: Marcus Herbert
DATE: 29 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In Part 4 we showed the qualifications and functions of a deacon. In this part we will look at shepherding in more detail.

 The motivation for shepherding

Matt 9:35—38

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them.” That’s our saviour. But it’s amazing how differently it’s been with leaders throughout the ages, where rather than being moved by compassion they’ve seen the crowds and sought to take advantage of them.

When Jesus feeds the five thousand and the four thousand (Matt 14: 13 – 21; 15:32) the Scriptures re-iterate how he was moved by compassion.

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Life Groups: Being a Contributing Part of the Body

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TITLE: Life Groups: Being a Contributing Part of the Body
PREACHER: Mark Meeske
DATE: 29 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In part 4, we looked at what the priesthood of all believers is about. In this part, we’ll be looking at how one integrates and functions in the Body of Christ.

What defines the Church?

The church isn’t an organisation or a building but is a group of people. So, we are the church. When we say we’re going to church we mean we’re going to be with God’s people, a local group of God’s people, not that we’re going to a building.

Essentially, two words define the local church (a local group of people): Integrated and Functioning.

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Life Groups: Qualifications and Functions of a Deacon

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TITLE: Life Groups: Qualifications and Functions of a Deacon
PREACHER: Marcus Herbert
DATE: 22 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In Part 3 we discussed why Life Groups are important for us today and how they are practically worked out in the life of a church, using Cornerstone as an example.

Now the course splits into two – for those who are involved in leadership or would like to be and for those who aren’t. We’ve called these two parts “Leadership” and “Priesthood” for ease-of-use, knowing that, of course, all of us are the priesthood.

You are currently reading the first part for leaders and potential leaders, which is the fourth part of the course overall. In this part we will talk about the qualifications and functions of a deacon.

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Life Groups: Priesthood of All Believers

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TITLE: Life Groups: Priesthood of All Believers
PREACHER: Mark Meeske
DATE: 22 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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In Part 3 we looked at how Life Groups function in the life of a church, using Cornerstone Bedfordview as an example. Now, this aspect of our Life Groups course focuses on the “Priesthood of all Believers” and their role in the church.

Priesthood of all believers?

The term “priesthood” can sound very religious and that often makes us lose the essence of what it means. And what it means is that God has got a calling and ministry for every believer in the church that lines up with what He has called the church to do – not just pastors/elders or deacons, but everyone. In the Bible, all Christians are called saints and ‘priests’. It’s the priests that cause the church to live in its fullness.

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Life Groups: Life Groups in Cornerstone

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TITLE: Lifegroups in Cornerstone
PREACHER: Marcus Herbert
DATE: 15 AUGUST 2012 – Wednesday PM

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Life Groups

Part 3: Life Groups in Cornerstone

The audio version of this teaching can be downloaded at http://www.cornerstonechurch.co.za/lifegroups-in-cornerstone/

In Part 2 we looked at the emphasis the Scriptures place on meeting in homes, starting from the ministry of Jesus to the life of the early church, including the letters, which give us more clues to God’s heart for church life.

Now we’ll look more closely at why Life Groups are important for us today and how Life Groups are practically worked out in the life of a church, using Cornerstone Bedfordview as an example.

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