Renewal Lab
Welcome!
The Renewal Lab is a two year long process that MarshView Ministries is participating in to help bring personal and corporate renewal to the local church that we began in September 2024.
There is a team which gathers monthly to discern and discuss the direction of the ministry to ensure that we enrich both our congregational life and the community life in which we are a part of.
Each quarter there is a six week reading plan with a cimple reflection question.
We invite you to begin this reading plan on October 1st 2024 and journey with us.
SCRIPTURE READING GUIDE…QUARTER 1
“ACTS”
Begin reading on September 30th or October 1st
Week 1 (Sept 30-Oct 5): The New Testament Church is born
Day 1: Acts 1 Q: How does a passion for prayer shape our congregation’s mission?
Day 2: Acts 2 Q: How is our church mirroring the snap shot of the Acts 2:42-47 N.T. church and how is it not?
Day 3: Acts 3 Q: How does Peter’s instruction in Acts 3:19 provide the hope of renewal in my own life?
Day 4: Acts 4 Q: How should Peter’s words in Acts 4:12 shape our Gospel message in a pluralistic society?
Day 5: Acts 5 Q: How does the story told in Acts 5:1-11 help us think about expectations in Spirit-birthed churches?
Week 2 (Oct 6-Oct 12) : The New Testament Church is prepared for mission
Day 1: Acts 6 Q: How could our congregation identify opportunities, train leaders and release persons for mission?
Day 2: Acts 7 Q: How can we maintain the sweet spirit of Stephen (vs. 59-60) when we’re being mistreated?
Day 3: Acts 8 Q: How does Philip’s experience with the Ethiopian offer guidelines for our outreach to seekers?
Day 4: Acts 9 Q: What does Jesus’ call to Saul (see 7:58) suggest about who Jesus can use for his purposes?
Day 5: Acts 10 Q: Who is our church potentially overlooking that the Spirit may have in mind for us to love & serve?
Week 3 (Oct 13-19): The New Testament Church moves beyond her walls
Day 1: Acts 11 Q: Acts 11:19-30 describes a disciple-making faith community…how can we make better disciples?
Day 2: Acts 12 Q: The church in Acts 12:15 underestimated the power of prayer for mission…do we?
Day 3: Acts 13 Q: How does the mission-minded Antioch church help us think about empowering missions?
Day 4: Acts 14 Q: Acts 13-14 describes a persistent push for greater Gospel impact…are we persistent?
Day 5: Acts 15 Q: The council of Jerusalem extended grace within culture…how can we be more gracious?
Week 4 (Oct 20-26): The New Testament Church goes global
Day 1: Acts 16 Q: The church went global with the words “come help us” (vs. 9)…who is calling us to “come & help”?
Day 2: Acts 17 Q: Paul connected Gospel to culture in vss. 22-23…how can we do the same?
Day 3: Acts 18 Q: How does Jesus’ words to Paul in vss. 9-10 provide us with courage for our missional work?
Day 4: Acts 19 Q: Missions moved from synagogue to lecture hall (vs. 9)…are there new locations for us as well?
Day 5: Acts 20 Q: What lessons can we learn by listening to Paul’s farewell instructions to the Ephesian elders?
Week 5 (oct 27-Nov 2): The New Testament Church witnesses to those in power
Day 1: Acts 21 Q: Is the H.S. potentially redirecting our mission work by introducing unexpected events?
Day 2: Acts 22 Q: Paul had opportunities as a Roman citizen…what opportunities do we have by our citizenship?
Day 3: Acts 23 Q: The Romans partnered with Paul….what partnerships exist in our community for Gospel work?
Day 4: Acts 24 Q: The Gospel made Felix uncomfortable (vs. 25)…what uncomfortable message must we speak?
Day 5: Acts 25 Q: Paul’s appeal to Caesar brought the Gospel to the heart of power…how can we do the same?
Week 6 (Nov 3-9): The New Testament Church persists in challenging of times
Day 1: Acts 26 Q: Vs. 29 says it was a vision that kept Paul keeping on…what is our vision that keeps us going?
Day 2: Acts 27 Q: There seems to be no rest for the weary…how are you handling the exhausting work of mission?
Day 3: Acts 28 Q: Sometimes challenging circumstances provides Gospel opportunities…are you leveraging those?
Day 4: Acts 29 Q: You and your church are Acts 29…how is the N.T. church story being lived out in your context?]
Final questions:
- What did I learn about the N.T. church while reading the book of Acts?
- The N.T. church was persistent in preaching the Gospel and making disciples…how can we do the same?
- What Holy Spirit inspired thoughts came to me while reading that I should share with the Renewal Lab team?
