"WHAT IS CHURCH?"

Acts 2:42–47 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

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THE VALUE OF THE CHURCH

Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Acts 2:45–47 “And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

>>>The people of the early church valued the time they had together.

*Teaching/discipleship, fellowship, communion, giving, worship.

>>>(v.42) This verse talks about being devoted to teaching and fellowship.

*“devotion” carries the idea of being persistent. This was intentional.

>>>“Breaking bread” and “prayers” were more relational.

>>>(v.45) This verse is about the generosity.

>>>(v.46) The believers attended the temple but also broke bread in their homes.

*The word “attended” is the same Greek word translated to “devotion” in verse 42.

>>>There was corporate gathering (temple) and a personal gathering (home). But all were together.

*This was day by day-consistent lifestyle.

*There was not just a value of activity but a value of relationships-FELLOWSHIP.

>>>(v.47) This simply says they lived a life of worship.

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THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH

Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

>>>“They” were the people who trusted Christ in verse 41.

Acts 2:44 “And all who believed were together and had all things in common.”

>>>The believers were the ones who were truly engaged in the church and valued what took place.

>>>Outreach events, inviting people to hear gospel, gospel nights are not bad-but the church was for believers to come together and grow.

*An unsaved person is not a part of the Body of Christ.

>>>Unsaved people can come to church/help in church but ultimately don’t value the church as a believer would.

>>>There were others in the church.

>>>1 John 2 talked about “antichrists”-people who infiltrated the church and taught a false gospel.

1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.”

>>>John said that these antichrists left the church (did not continue), because they weren’t truly believers.

>>>This also applies to people living non Christian (antichrist) lifestyle then coming to church.

*They do not truly value the church and will not continue with it.

*Even those who periodically attend-those who do not prioritize church/only attend when it’s “time” or has nothing else to do.

*They attend church but then go back to sinful lifestyle. They do not “continue” in the church.

>>>John says not only do they are not truly believers, but their not continuing makes it plain (obvious) they are not in church.

*Going to church does not mean you are a Christian but not going can be a mark that you are not.

>>>How does this apply to youth?

*This is NOT unable to come but uncaring to come.

*This does not include people who attend home church.

>>>Students who are not believers will not care about what happens in youth group.

*They will inconsistently come not really valuing what happens.

*They will choose to stop coming before 18yo.

*They will definitely fall away at 18yo.

*They were a part/members of the youth group but not God’s church.

>>>Christians will value/be engaged in what is happening in church while non Christians will eventually fall out/away if they don’t get saved.

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THE IMPACT OF THE CHURCH

Acts 2:47 “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

>>>The impact of the early church was a good reputation among the community around them. ALL saw their testimony.

>>>Jesus added to His church-Growth in numbers is somehow related to salvation.

*Evangelism?

*Invitation/salvation?

*Those already saved?

*All the above?

*The Lord blessed the church with numbers as the church engaged it what it was supposed to do (values/gospel).

Acts 16:14–15 “One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.”

>>>Among these women was Lydia, someone who held the Sabbath and essentially “attended church”. She worshiped God, was gathering, but was not a true convert to Christianity.

*Nothing is known about her background, how she joined the church, or how long she had been there.

>>>In her searching and coming to be with believers, she came to a point where the Lord opened her heart to the gospel, and she received. This is different than those who entered as antichrists as discussed earlier.

>>>How many people here are “Lydia’s”-searching, participating, trying to really do right but are not Christian?

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BE A PART OF GOD’S CHURCH.