In Acts 13:1-3 we find the group of new Christians in Acts 11 has become a large thriving church; yet to release it’s potential to send into all the world. Like them we want King’s to thrive and release it’s potential in Edinburgh, Scotland, and beyond. By preaching all of the gospel in the power of the Spirit, we want to reach All kinds of people, All of Edinburgh and go into All the World. To achieve that we need All of us to go All-in, engaging our hearts and gifts in building King’s to become all God wants it to become.

The Church is God’s idea: Ephesians 3:11 suggests it’s more beautiful in God’s sight than we could ever imagine from our earthly perspective. We must value it as Christ does.

Thriving churches achieve their potential when we realise the part every member has to play. We need to push back the culture of Individualism (and seeing Christian growth in purely personal terms), to see Christian maturity is found in the way we love and serve others with our gifts.

We need to find our FIT:

Healthy churches:

1.Feel Like Family.

In Antioch’s large Christian community the leaders were known and loved by name. Barnabas had deliberately invited Saul to be a part. Simon was probably Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus' cross, whose children and wife were also known in the early church. Churches must always feel like family- moving in Love (1 Cor 13) to allow gifts to grow and mature.

2. Impacted by Word and Spirit.

“Prophets and Teachers” suggests this church loved Bible teaching and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Sadly many of us can become polarised into a lop-sided Christianity that makes us less effective and robs the church of the diversity God has ordained.

3. Training everyone for the ministry.

Ephesians 4:11-13 suggests Prophets and Teachers primary role is to equip others (all believers) to do ministry.

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As believers we fail to play our part for three main reasons:

• Ignorance about our gifts.
  

(1 Cor 12:1) Take some time to read 1 cor 12, Rom 12, Eph 4. Ask God to show you your gifts. Ask others who know you what they think. Gift questionnaires can be helpful too.

• Passivity/ apathy.

Romans 12:1- Paul urges believers to offer themselves to God in active service.

• Feelings of discouragement.
  

Ineffectiveness or failure can prevent our growth if we let it. Church is a community of courage (Heb 10:25) that encourages us when we find it hard to persevere. Paul and Barnabas had been commissioned by God already- no doubt they experienced the discouragement of waiting for God's moment.

Why is it important? 1 Cor 14:26 suggests that using our gifts is necessary not optional as "Everything must be done so that the church may be built up”

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Questions:

• Overvaluing Individualism. Do you think this is a danger in the church and/or in your life? How can we avoid it's snare?
• The Family of God. How does seeing church as family (rather than organisation/ hierarchy etc) help us relate to one another (and leaders) correctly? How has your own understanding of church as family grown in recent years?
• Impacted by Word and Spirit. Does “Prophet” or “teacher” sound like a more exciting gift to you? Why do we need to value both? What happens if we become imbalanced in this area?
• Training and Releasing. Try and think what your own top 3 gifts might be and share them (in humility!) with the group. What battles do you find in exercising these gifts- how can we encourage one another to keep going?