It’s About to Get Real

Icebreaker: Is church something you attend, something you believe, or a mission you engage in?

Sermon Title (Jan. 4, 2026):  Authentic Church – “It’s About to Get Real” – Acts 1

Group Discussion:

Read Acts 1:1-2 & Ephesians 2:17-22 – Real church is Jesus centered and Apostle confirmed. How can we, as a body of believers, ensure that our foundation (i.e., the teachings we follow) are aligned with the “Cornerstone” (i.e., Jesus) and the Apostles’ witness rather than our own preferences?

Read Acts 1:3 & 1 John 1:1-3 – Real church is scripture grounded and evidence based. How should the physical nature of Jesus’ life and resurrection (i.e., numerous eye-witness accounts) change the way we accept and follow the authority of the New Testament scriptures? Jesus spent 40 days after His resurrection providing evidence (i.e., proofs) for His disciples, so discuss how these events can serve as a foundation for our faith and the truth we must share with others.

Read Acts 1:8, Acts 1:12-14, & Romans 12:3-5 – Real church is people and mission driven. Since we are a “body of believers” on a local and global “rescue mission,” discuss the dangers that exist when we treat the church simply as “services we attend” rather than a “body we belong to.” And how can this passive mentality impact Jesus’ mission? Discuss how we can stay on mission even as we experience significant growth (e.g., our current body and those we are welcoming into the body).

Read John 14:15-18, John 16:23-24, & 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Real church is Holy Spirit and prayer empowered. How do these passages challenge common assumptions about what makes a church “healthy” or “effective?” Discuss examples of, and ways we can avoid, the dangers of relying on self-sufficiency. Conversely, how can we be more Holy Spirit driven and prayer-dependent?

Spiritual Disciplines: Find resources for this sermon on our Church Center app: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources, like Authentic Church Reading Plan and Jesus’ Church Study Guide

Action Steps: (1) Anchor everything to Jesus and Scripture: Regularly examine what you believe, teach, and follow by measuring it against Jesus as the Cornerstone and the Apostles’ eyewitness testimonies in scripture, (2) Actively participate in the mission: Identify one concrete way you can function as part of the body (e.g., serve, mentor, invite, or support mission efforts), rejecting a passive “church consumer” mentality to engage with Jesus’ rescue mission, and (3) Intentionally depend on the Holy Spirit through prayer: Establish rhythms of prayer, gratitude, and obedience by asking the Lord to reveal truth and provide guidance from the Holy Spirit.