Continue Acts 2:41-47

Introduction

The book of Acts is all about the beginning of the church age and it gives us insight to the first century church as they lived out the great commission.

Acts 2 isn’t where the church began but it is the first real picture we have of the day to day operations of the church. A few weeks ago we looked at how to become part of the church. You must be saved by your belief in the Gospel and you must be baptized, an outward expression of an inward possession.

As we get to the end of Acts 2 we will see how the church continued and we will bring some practicals in to how our church continues as well.

This morning we are going to look at 8 ways to continue as a church

Continue

A key word in the first two chapters is continue and we will see it some later in the book of acts

Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”

Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Acts 2:46 “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,”

Acts 6:4 “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

Lets look at what they continued in

They continued in the truth

Jesus is the truth

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The Word of God is truth

If we want our church to continue, we must continue to preach the truth and live the truth.

Everything we do should be done through the lens of the scripture. The reason the church continued and continues is because they didn’t allow the world to dictate the truth, they built the church on the word of God.

While the world believes that truth is relative the Bible proves that truth is absolute

While the world has turned the truth of God into a lie the Christians must stand firm of the truth

Romans 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”

If we want our church to continue we must continue in the truth

The continued in fellowship

Good Christian fellowship is important for every believer.

The reason for fellowship is found in Heb. 10:23-25“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

It helps us regard or respect one another

The word consider in Heb. 10:24 means to have regard or respect.

It helps us provoke (To move; to incite; to stir up;)

to love

Jesus said in Mark 12:30-31 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

Jesus also told us his disciples would be known by their love

1 John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

to good works

As believers our fellowship should stir us up to do good works for the savior.

When we gather we should exhort one another

Exhort here means to encourage

We should encourage one another not tear each other down.

They continued in the ordinances

When the Bible hear talks about breaking of bread, it isn’t talking about eating a communal meal, it is talking about the Lord’s supper.

Jesus left the church two ordinances before He ascended to heaven, one being baptism and the other being the Lords supper. When we do the Lord supper its not a ritual, its a reminder of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross and the body that was given as a sacrifice for you and I so that we could have salvation

They continued in prayer

“Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty.” – E.M. Bounds

Prayer is how we communicate with God

the Hymn writer had it right when he penned these words What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer!

John Phillips said this in his commentary

“The name of Jesus opened up prayer opportunities never before known, for now we had instant access to the throne of grace. Every aspect of individual life and corporate life can now be related to the throne and to that great high priest who sits at God’s right hand.

As Jesus was crucified, the temple veil was torn in two giving us access to the throne that was once only approached by the high priest.

They continued in reverence vs. 43

The word fear here is talking about a holy terror or to sense a divine presence.

Prov. 10:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.”

Prov. 14:26 “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: And his children shall have a place of refuge.”

When we think about the early church they were some 50 days removed from Christ literally meeting with them. I believe they understood the importance of the task that Jesus had left them through the great commission.

The 120 in Acts 1 had literally sat under the teaching of Christ and understood his holiness.

If we want to continue as a church we must see Christ as he is.

1 Peter 1:16 “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

The apostles continued doing wonders and signs which again were for the jews

John 4:48 “Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”

They continued in generosity

If someone had a need they sold their possessions to meet that need.

They did this every time someone had a need.

They were generous in their giving, they gave sacrificially to meet the needs of those in their church.

Amy Carmichael said “you can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving”

I’m thankful that our church is a generous church, lets continue being generous

They continued in unity vs. 44, 46-47

They practiced commonism (the voluntary sharing of possessions and not a forced one ) and not communism (which is controlled by an outside force i.e. the government)

They were unified in the church

what kind of car did the early church drive? A Honda because they all got along in one accord

They were unified with each other outside of the church

They were meeting in each others houses and spending time with each other outside of church

Notice that they ate their meat (food) with gladness and singleness of heart

How many of us want to eat with someone we don’t get along with?

If we do eat with them it’s not often said that we are eating with gladness and singleness of heart.

They were unified in their praise

Ps 150:6 “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”

The results

The Lord added to the church daily

this is the only way a church grows

It doesn't grow by us manipulating people into a false profession

it doesn't grow by us using high pressure tactics

John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

I can get up here and use all kinds of tactics to convict you, i can make the invitation last 43 verses and no one comes to the altars, or we can preach the word of God and allow the holy spirit to do the drawing because at the end of the day that os how people are added to the church.

I’m thankful that the Lord continues to add to his church today

Conclusion

May I remind you this morning that being a member of a church doesn’t get you to heaven? The only way you get to heaven is by placing your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and believing the Gospel (the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ) come this morning and we can show you from the bible how you can be saved.

Maybe this morning you are saved but you’ve never been baptized, baptism is an act of obedience after you get saved, its an outward expression of an inward possession. Come this morning and we can talk about you getting baptized.

Maybe you’ve been saved and baptized but have never joined a church. come this morning and we can talk about you joining the church.