Lessons From The Early Church | Acts 2:41Today, we begin a new three-part study about the makeup and the mission of God’s Church.

By way of introduction, I want to quickly run through the growth record of the early Church. Then I want to point out several lessons that we can learn from the Church in Jerusalem that are still true today.

I. What did the numerical growth of the early church look like?Acts 1:15, 2:47, 4:4, 5:14, 5:28, 6:1, 6:7, 21:20

II. What can we learn from their example?

1. We must minister with the __________________________________Acts 1:4-5, 8; Acts 4:13

2. We must maintain a ______________________________________Acts 2:42-44

3. We must multiply _______________________________________Acts 2:46-47

4. We must magnify our _____________________________________Acts 4:24

5. We must maximize the ____________________________________Acts 4:32

6. We must model_________________________________________Acts 4:32-37, 2:45

7. We must mobilize every____________________________________ Acts 6:1-7

a. A growing church is _____________________________________ “In those days the number of disciples was increasing…” v. 1a b. Church growth caused ___________________________________ “… there were rumblings of discontent …” v. 1b

c. Problems resulted from ___________________________________ “The Greek speaking Jews claimed their widows were being neglected…” v. 1c

d. The Apostles _________________________________________ “… not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word… to wait on tables.” v. 2

e. Lay leadership was _____________________________________ “Choose seven men… We will turn this responsibility over to them…” v. 3

f. The Apostles were to focus on _______________________________ “We will give our attention to prayer and the teaching of the Word.” v. 4

g. The result of lay leadership was ______________________________ “This proposal pleased the whole group… So the word of God spread and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly.” v. 5

8. We must move out with ___________________________________Acts 8:1&4

WELCOME TO FIRST BENTON

Thank you for worshiping with us this week at First Benton.If you are a first time guest, please stop by Guest Services located at the Home Pointe Center in the Worship Center lobby before you leave today. We have a gift for you and some helpful information about our church. Also, we would love to connect with you later in the week and ask that you fill out a Connection Card located in the pew rack. Simply drop the card in the offering plate during the service so that we may follow up with you and answer any questions that you may have.

Every two months we have a First Step lunch for those who may want even more information about our church. At the lunch, you will meet several of our staff members and be given the opportunity to join the First Family. If you would like to attend the next First Step lunch, register online at firstbenton.org/first-step or call the church office at 501.778.2271 to make a reservation.

THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE

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Email: office@fbcbenton.org | Phone: 501.778.2271

FEBRUARY 5, 2017

WORSHIP | IN CHRIST ALONE | COME THOU FOUNT | ALMIGHTYOFFERTORY | I THEN SHALL LIVE | Celebration Choir & OrchestraMESSAGE | LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH | Pastor RickRESPONSE | JUST AS I AMANNOUNCEMENTS

BAPTISMWORSHIP | WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NAME | GREAT ARE YOU LORD | FINAL WORDMESSAGE | LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH | Pastor RickRESPONSE | COME AS YOU AREANNOUNCEMENTS

UPCOMING EVENTSSUNDAY CELEBRATION | 8:30 AM

THE GATHERING | 11:00 AM

THIS WEEK AT FIRST BENTONSUNDAY 8:30A Classic Worship 9:45A Life Groups11:00A Modern Worship 5:00P Divorce Care Grief Share Pure Energy, Pure Praise & Pure Joy 5:00P Family Super Bowl Party, Upper Room Home Groups

MONDAY 9:30A Grief Share10:00A Sunshine Circle12:00P Noon Bible Study, Upper Room

TUESDAY10:00A Morning Glories, AE-10011:15A WMU Luncheon, Fellowship Hall 6:30P Men’s Coffee Fellowship, Upper Room

WEDNESDAY 9:15A Ladies Bible Study, AE-100 5:00P Fellowship Supper, Selph Hall 5:45P Kids Inc (1st-5th Grade, Fellowship Hall) 6:00P Bible study with Pastor Rick Midweek Worship (Middle School, Verge) Preschool (Birth-K, Preschool Building) Marriage Matters, Hospitality Room Men of the Bible, AE100 Parenting in a Sexualized Culture, AE-204 Choir & Orchestra Rehearsal, Choir Room 7:00P IMPACT (8th-12th Grade, Upper Room)

FRIDAY 6:00A Men’s Bible Study, Fellowship Hall 6:00P Kid’s Night Out, Fellowship Hall

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

NEW FORMAT FOR WEEKLY INFORMATION

Zach Cloudby baptism

Kennedy Glazeby baptism

Parker Glazeby baptism

PRAIZFEST 2017Last weekend, First Benton hosted over 200 students and instrumentalists from churches state-wide for Praizfest 2017organized by the ArkansasBaptist State Convention.

CONNECT | GROW | SERVELIFE GROUPS

Sunday January 29Senior AdultsBoomersOpen AgeCrossoverStudentsChildrenPreschool

Total Bible StudyAverage Attendance

10111112419112990

105

851812

NEWS & CELEBRATIONSWOMEN ON MISSION | February 7The Women on Mission luncheon begins at 11:15 AM in Fellowship Hall. This month’s speaker is missionary and church planter, Amy Benson. Lunch is $5

MEN’S COFFEE FELLOWSHIP | February 7Men, come enjoy coffee and dessert with other men of First Benton as we pray for transformation--beginning with each one of us. We’ll meet at 6:30 PM in the Upper Room.

FIRST STEP LUNCH | February 12First Step is an opportunity for guests to learn more about First Benton, meet our staff and become a member of our faith family. If you would like to attend, please register online at firstbenton.org/first-step or contact Beverly in the church office.

SENIOR ADULT VALENTINES BANQUET | February 14Seniors, come enjoy a delicious hot lunch and entertainment by theBenton High School Acapella Choir in Selph Hall at 11:30 AM. Tickets are available for purchase in the church office until February 8 for $6.

KAIROS COOKIE COLLECTION | February 1-28We are collecting prepackaged cookies throughout February for theKairos Prison Ministry. Donations may be left in the lobby collection bins.

BLOOD DRIVE | February 26We will soon begin accepting appointments for the annual Sunday Blood Drive at First Benton. Look for more information next week!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTSVISIT FIRSTBENTON.ORG/ANNOUNCEMENTS

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND SERVE, VISIT FIRSTBENTON.ORG

We are incorporating the former Encourager publication into this newly designed,weekly Connection Guide. The Connection Guide will be distributed in print on Sundays and by e-mail on Thursdays. If you would like to receive the Connection Guide by U.S. Mail, contact the church office to be placed on the mailing list.Homebound members will continue receiving the printed Connection Guide, plus amidweek bulletin with Wednesday Bible study notes and First Family News by U.S. Mail without needing to call the church office. The First Family News bulletin will begin mailing next week and also be available at the Home Pointe Center.

TO FIND THIS WEEKLY BULLETIN ONLINEVISIT FIRSTBENTON.ORG/CONNECTIONGUIDE

VIEW OUR CALENDAR ONLINEFIRSTBENTON.ORG/CALENDAR