“You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you

publicly and from house to house.”  (Acts 20:20  NIV)

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"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:23-25  NIV)

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“Upon reflection, I could not but observe, This is the very thing which was from the beginning of Christianity.”

(John Wesley Works 8:248)

 

What is ACTS2020?

ACTS2020 is a redefining of church culture combining New Testament principles with respect to the Wesleyan model of the church.  The two-winged approach involves the worshiping/celebration assembly plus “house to house” home groups which form the primary core of the church.  In the traditional, program-based church, worship is the primary gateway into the church.  ACTS2020 remodels the New Testament model of the oikos – the Greek word for “the household community” – and it is here that the primary gateway into the church is the household. 

 

Leadership for the two-winged structure comes from the Lead Pastor, through the Pastoral Staff and Leadership Team.  The Lead Pastor and Pastoral Staff will be responsible for giving ministry away through servant leaders properly assessed, evaluated and trained.

 

The ACTS2020 Assembly

The ACTS2020 assembly is the setting of the covenant community in worship and celebration.  The sacraments are observed, as well as music and praise leadership reaching the target demographic and ministry.  True worship transcends form.  Selection of praise music will involve blending of different forms as deemed appropriate by the worship team leaders.  The goal is services which are inspirational through the praise experience and proclamation of the Word.

 

The ACTS2020 Home-based Community

The ACTS2020 group is not a small group ministry or program.  It is the core of the identity of the church.  The ACTS2020 oikos is the primary setting in which community is experienced, and pastoral ministry, outreach, and accountability are the goal. 

 

The ACTS2020 group is a safe environment which, under carefully trained and prepared leaders, the experience of outreach, nurturing, pastoral care, and discipleship are led and achieved. Spiritual gifts:

 

The Fivefold Ministry: "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."  (Ephesians 4:11-16  NIV)

 

Service Gifts:  Prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, mercy (Romans 12:6-8).

 

Manifestation Gifts:  Healing, faith, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, miracles, discernment.

 

Leadership identify apprentices who will eventually reproduce the group with a new core from the parent group.  Groups are anywhere from four to twelve members (beyond twelve the lines of communication become unworkable).  Assessment of leaders will be accomplished by the G.A.T.E. profile (inventories of Gifts, Anointing, Training, Experience) and personality inventory.  Aspiring leaders must have the endorsement of his/her group leader.

 

HOSTS will be group members who have a gift of hospitality and organization.  Leaders will not be hosts.  These functions will be separate.

 

ACTS2020 groups follow the model developed by the founder of Methodism, John Wesley.  His groups consisted of the Class Meeting (entry level group); the Band (a group of several groups, for celebration of Holy Communion, the Breaking of Bread service, and baptism); the Select Society (a group consisting of group leaders); and Penitent Band (for special needs such as addictions).  In ACTS2020, the Wesleyan model becomes Houses (meeting once a week or twice a month, whichever works best for the group), Blocks (groups of two or three houses), Leaders, and Intervention groups.  The format of the group meeting is ACTS: Acquaint (welcome – icebreaker), Celebrate (praise and worship time), Teach (review of Sunday sermon using sermon notes), and Share (ministry of group members to each other in feedback, encouragement, prayer).  Houses will gather with other houses once per quarter for “block parties,” social gatherings for fellowship. 

 

Leaders will covenant to follow the direction of the Lead Pastor and Pastoral Staff of UFMC.  This means that groups will not become splinter groups, seceding from the congregation.  Groups will reproduce - multiplying by dividing.

 

Houses will be centrally located for the convenience of the membership of the group.

 

Participation in the group life and teaching through the group leader and pastoral staff in discipleship classes, and supervision by the group leader in the areas of ministry of the group, form the core of apprentice training.

 

The ACTS2020 Guide to Discipleship and Leadership

Discipleship and Leadership in ACTS2020 means disciples make disciples and leaders raise up leaders.  The discipleship principle is found in the Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20 NIV:

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“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

 

The leadership principle is found in 2 Timothy 2:2 NIV:

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“The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men

who will be able to teach others also.”

 

Leaders are required to disciple and mentor believers into disciple-makers and subsequent generation leaders.  Seekers who come into house meetings are welcomed and have the chance to hear and respond to the Gospel through group members.

 

ACTS2020 is not a “program.”  It redefines the church according to New Testament Christianity as defined by the historical Wesleyan movement.