It's exciting to be a part of a growing church, but we can also face growing pains: becoming focused on buildings and activities over relationships. People can visit for weeks and not make a connection. That’s a problem in light of the fact that we have God-given needs for love, acceptance and significance (with God and with one another).

Interesting Church Study:

1. 85% of those who joined the average church will not be there a year later.
2. 90% of new members would stay in church if they:
   1. Made 4-8 close friendships within the church
   2. They belong to a fellowship group
   3. They can articulate their faith

If we want a New Testament church experience, there isn’t a better place to begin than Acts 2:42-47, which provides insight into the life of the early church!

In Hawaii, the term 'ohana means family. The term Ohana Fellowship is another way for describing the Small Group experience.

(2009)

May God bless you through this message!

The Epic Life 3-2600 Kaumualii HWY STE 1300 #513 Lihue, HI 96766 https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

It's exciting to be a part of a growing church, but we can also face growing pains: becoming focused on buildings and activities over relationships. People can visit for weeks and not make a connection. That’s a problem in light of the fact that we have God-given needs for love, acceptance and significance (with God and with one another).

Interesting Church Study:

1. 85% of those who joined the average church will not be there a year later.
2. 90% of new members would stay in church if they:
   1. Made 4-8 close friendships within the church
   2. They belong to a fellowship group
   3. They can articulate their faith

If we want a New Testament church experience, there isn’t a better place to begin than Acts 2:42-47, which provides insight into the life of the early church!

In Hawaii, the term 'ohana means family. The term Ohana Fellowship is another way for describing the Small Group experience.

(2009)

May God bless you through this message!

The Epic Life 3-2600 Kaumualii HWY STE 1300 #513 Lihue, HI 96766 https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

If you have lived for any length of time, you have had to bury someone you love. You have felt the sting of regret, the sorrow of unfinished business, the paralyzing confusion and the emptiness of loss. You have probably also found your mind flooded with questions about life beyond the grave.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 we read the words of Paul as he addressed some of these same concerns in the church at Thessalonica. The very first generation of Christians was beginning to die. Most of these people had believed that Jesus would return during their lifetime. Now, they had questions:

• Did death mean those who died would miss the Second Coming of Christ and His reign on the earth?
• Would these people miss all the glory that had been promised?

This text not only answers some of those questions – it also contains one of the outstanding eschatological (end times) passages in the New Testament.

(2015)

May God bless you through this message!

The Epic Life 3-2600 Kaumualii HWY STE 1300 #513 Lihue, HI 96766 https://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com