Blueprint for Life: Recent Episodes
Mike Davies
This series takes an in-depth look at each of the values mentioned in Acts 2:42-47. The early church built their lives around these values, and God added to them. As a result, they are an example to us of how healthy churches should be built. Using God’s blueprint, we learn how to build church and live to glorify God.
In this final episode, we look at the last verse in Acts 2:42-47: seeing the lost saved and the lonely drawn into family. Everything healthy will reproduce, and likewise, we must reproduce. God desires that men are saved, and if we are devoted and intimate with Jesus, we will reflect His life to those around us.
ABOUT THE SERIES: This seven-part video series takes an in-depth look at each of the values mentioned in Acts 2:42-47. The early church built their lives around these values, and God added to them. As a result, they are an example to us of how to build healthy churches. Using God’s blueprint, we learn how to build the church and live to glorify God. We believe that only God can build His church; He is the Architect, and by following these principles, life will flow in our churches, and the lost will be saved.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
The early church in the New Testament serves as a model for building a healthy church. A key component in their life was their interaction with each other and their generosity. Here we see the fruit of love. They were devoted to each other in words and actions.
ABOUT THE SERIES: This seven-part video series takes an in-depth look at each of the values mentioned in Acts 2:42-47. The early church built their lives around these values, and God added to them. As a result, they are an example to us of how to build healthy churches. Using God’s blueprint, we learn how to build the church and live to glorify God. We believe that only God can build His church; He is the Architect, and by following these principles, life will flow in our churches, and the lost will be saved.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
What is the fruit when people devote themselves to the principles in Acts 2: 42-47? Where Gods presence and glory is, there also is His power. In healthy churches built according to His blueprint, we will experience the miraculous, the supernatural and sign and wonders.
ABOUT THE SERIES: This seven-part video series takes an in-depth look at each of the values mentioned in Acts 2:42-47. The early church built their lives around these values, and God added to them. As a result, they are an example to us of how to build healthy churches. Using God’s blueprint, we learn how to build the church and live to glorify God. We believe that only God can build His church; He is the Architect, and by following these principles, life will flow in our churches, and the lost will be saved.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
God is the Great Designer with a blueprint for the church and our lives. He communicated this through the Scriptures, specifically the New Testament. In the same way, as the Master Builder uses the blueprint but still communicates with the Architect on how to build correctly, we need to be in constant communication with God to know His heart and get direction. The early church was devoted to prayer, both corporately and individually. It was not an afterthought, duty or obligation. Prayer is an incredible privilege of access to God through Jesus. God desires to have a relationship with us, and all relationships require communication.
ABOUT THE SERIES: This seven-part video series takes an in-depth look at each of the values mentioned in Acts 2:42-47. The early church built their lives around these values, and God added to them. As a result, they are an example to us of how to build healthy churches. Using God’s blueprint, we learn how to build the church and live to glorify God. We believe that only God can build His church; He is the Architect, and by following these principles, life will flow in our churches, and the lost will be saved.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
This third episode looks at the devotion of the early church to the breaking of bread, specifically through the lens of Matthew 26:26-28. We unpack why breaking bread is not simply sharing a meal but being devoted to the Lord's supper or communion. Originating from the Greek word meaning ‘thanksgiving’, breaking bread wasn't a duty or task to be ticked off; it was a central part of the early church’s life and remains an essential component of a healthy church today.
ABOUT THE SERIES: This seven-part video series takes an in-depth look at each of the values mentioned in Acts 2:42-47. The early church built their lives around these values, and God added to them. As a result, they are an example to us of how to build healthy churches. Using God’s blueprint, we learn how to build the church and live to glorify God. We believe that only God can build His church; He is the Architect, and by following these principles, life will flow in our churches, and the lost will be saved.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
What does the Word of God say about God's plans, purposes and patterns for how we should live and how we should do church? This second episode looks at what it means to be devoted to fellowship. In the West, we have a very individualistic outlook on life, and this mentality has often crept into the church. We need to ask ourselves, do we love Jesus but struggle to love people? This is contrary to the Gospel and God's purposes.
ABOUT THE SERIES: This seven-part video series takes an in-depth look at each of the values mentioned in Acts 2:42-47. The early church built their lives around these values, and God added to them. As a result, they are an example to us of how to build healthy churches. Using God’s blueprint, we learn how to build the church and live to glorify God. We believe that only God can build His church; He is the Architect, and by following these principles, life will flow in our churches, and the lost will be saved.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
In this first episode, we look at the foundations - how God builds from the ground up. We examine the Scriptures, specifically Acts 2:42-47, to discover God's way of building the church and take a closer look at being devoted to the apostles teaching. God is the Ultimate Architect, and He knows how to build. Our human wisdom is limited, and we need to trust His wisdom and be careful not to build away from His blueprint. The church is not a building made with stones, but people joined together to glorify God.
ABOUT THE SERIES: This seven-part video series takes an in-depth look at each of the values mentioned in Acts 2:42-47. The early church built their lives around these values, and God added to them. As a result, they are an example to us of how to build healthy churches. Using God’s blueprint, we learn how to build the church and live to glorify God. We believe that only God can build His church; He is the Architect, and by following these principles, life will flow in our churches, and the lost will be saved.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)