Doing It Right! (Acts pt 1)
Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 3 views“Doing It Right!!!” So many people want to claim that they are “doing it right!” We want to say it about work… about raising a family… about relationships… BUT… What does that mean? “Doing it right” isn’t about knowledge, or skill, it’s not about abilities, it’s about dedication to the One who created us, because He created us for a purpose!!!
Notes
Transcript
“Doing it right!”
We use that phrase a lot, don’t we?
We use it in business to refer to a business that seems to be doing things the “right way”…
We use it in sports… in school… in relationships… in our families…
BUT…
What does it mean?!?!
What does it look like to “Do it right”?
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
That sounds like a group of people who were “Doing it right”, AMEN?!?
They were devoted to God… They lived together… They worked together… They studied together… They served together…
They took care of each other AND their community!!!
They were “doing it right!”
And what was the result?
Acts 2:47 (NIV)
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Does that sound like our little church?
—— NO! ——
WHY NOT?!?!
What is the difference between us… and them?!?
“Well Pastor… They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching…”
That’s easy enough to say… right?!? (How many of us would say that we are not?!?)
But… I want you to see the rest of what is going on here. (We often miss it)
We focus on the teaching… the fellowship…the prayer…, but we miss what they’re actually doing!
Acts 2:44–47 (NIV)
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Do you see what is happening there?!?!
Do you see what they’re doing?!?
They used their gifts…their talents…their abilities…their wealth… for the sake of the entire community!
It wasn’t about them and their own… It was about the good of everyone!
— They didn’t give money and then try to control how it was used…
— They didn’t only look to give to those things they enjoyed — that made their hearts “feel good”… That they could “relate” to…
— They gave out of their love for God!
And God honored that!!!
Can I be honest with you for a minute?!
— As we look back over the last 5 1/2 years, What have we lacked as a church? What has held us back? Why haven’t we connected well with our community here in Bonham (as a church)?
— —> (Would you agree?) That level of commitment!!!
So… Here’s my question: “How do we move from where we are as a church, to where they were as a church?”
I believe we do it by taking lessons from them!
The Church thrives when we ALL use ALL OF OUR MEANS… to benefit the community in which we live!
Acts 2:46–47 (NIV)
……They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
You see… When we use our gifts to the benefit of our community, God is Glorified!!!
But that’s where we struggle isn’t it?
The church over the years has done an amazing job at teaching us that it is all about coming, worshipping, giving to missions, tithing, and then allowing “those special people” — you know, the ones “called” to the work — to do everything…
But that is not how it is supposed to be…
Look at:
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 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.
We are meant to use ALL of the resources God has given us for the benefit of the Kingdom, within the community in which we live.
Let me tell you — “We don’t learn to use the gifts God has given us by simply coming to church and learning about them… We learn to use them by USING THEM!!!
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
God intended for His children — for the Church — to function as a community that lives to together, that serves together, that cares for one another, and teaches the world to do the same!
That’s what the early church did! That’s what made it powerful!
So… How do we become that? How do we move from a bunch of loose pieces, each trying to do their own thing… to a unified body, focused on the community around us?
I believe that the first disciples can show us the way!
Let me ask you: “Why do we have the book of Acts?”
You do realize that it was originally called
“The Acts of the Apostles”, Right?
It is the story of how the Apostles went from a rag tag group of disciples, fumbling about, attempting to follow and learn from Jesus to the powerful leaders and teachers we find in the rest of the NT…
We need to learn from them… That’s why we are told their story!
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Paul says, “Follow me as I follow Christ!”
That’s what we are going to do!
Over the next several weeks, we are going to follow the Disciples… We are going to journey with them as they travel from lost, broken, confused men who have feebly followed the Messiah… to men of faith who powerfully impacted the world for the Kingdom of God!
And our Journey starts with Peter…
“How do we start to move from a group of people who are just doing church, to a group of people who are ‘Doing It Right’?”
Peter shows us!
Turn to John 21.
John 21, truly holds the beginning of Peter’s story…
This is a pivotal moment in Peter’s walk with Christ.
Peter was the impetuous one… the outspoken one… the arrogant one…
Peter was the one who was quick to condemn what he saw as “bad behavior”, “wrong thinking”, or “poor choices”… even if that meant confronting Jesus.
Peter was even the one bold enough — no, arrogant enough — to chastise Jesus when He told them that He had to die…
BUT… He was also the one quick to fail when strength and faith were demanded…
We all know people like Peter, right?
Why do they act that way?
I have found that the ones who are the quickest to criticize… to put down… to rebuke and judge others… are usually the most insecure…
Think about that…
Peter has failed… Over and over again throughout his story, Peter has made bold claims, he has declared his undying faith, and yet… He Has Failed!!!
What is he to do now?!?
When I look at Peter, I get the feeling that what I am seeing is a man who has always struggled with his own self-worth!
I see someone who has always felt unworthy… (that’s why I love the way “The Chosen” portrays him — explain)
You see… I think that’s why Peter always pushed his way to the front… always trying to seem like the one who “had it together”…
But here he is… he’s lost… he’s a failure… he doesn’t know where he fits in anymore… I don’t think he even thinks Jesus will accept him back as a disciple… I mean, who would?!?
So, what does he do? He goes fishing!
3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
We know the story, amen? We know what happens…
The disciples join Jesus for breakfast, and Jesus the focuses on Peter.
Can I tell you, This is more than simply reinstating Peter.
This is significant!
Look at the narrative…
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
We know the story… but this is not about Jesus “commissioning” Peter as the “First Pope” (as the Catholic Church claims).
It’s about Jesus restoring Peter… but He does it in a very specific way!
Look at what Jesus tells Peter next:
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
Now, look at verse 19
John 21:19 (NIV)
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Sound familiar?
Jesus is telling Peter to make a choice!
That choice is a choice to set aside ALL personal desires… to invest everything that makes him who he is… ALL OF HIS RESOURCES, including his very life… and to build the Kingdom of God by sharing the gospel message of love, mercy, and grace!
Peter had to make a choice!
He could either go back to the world he once knew, and continue to question his worth… OR, he could take a step of faith and become the man God had created him to be!
The same is true for us!
Our journey toward becoming the people God created us to be, begins with a choice! (Expound)
There’s no question, WE ARE WORTHY!
That’s why He came!
So, what are we going to do with the gift of grace that He has given us?