What is a Church? Part Three
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Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 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,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Introduction
Introduction
What is a church? The church is not just a place where we learn more about what Christ has done for us. It is not just a place that we learn more about who God is as we saw in week one. A church is more than just a place where we serve with others as we saw in week two. Tonight, we will see that a church is a place that is where we offer sacrifices to God.
Sacrifices are an interesting topic in the Bible. We see the idea of sacrifice in many different contexts. The first murder took place after a sacrifice was not accepted by God in Genesis 4. We see times where sacrifices were offered to pagan gods and even babies were offered on the altars. We also see times where sacrifices were commanded with precision by God in the law.
Sacrifice is something that we often misunderstand in our culture. We feel that a sacrifice is the same as an annoyance or an inconvenience. If we are forced to do something that we didn’t want to do or that we felt was unnecessary, well, we sacrificed. We have changed the meaning of the word from how it is understood in the context of Scripture.
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations (5219 Epigram on Sacrifice)
• He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.
—Jim Elliot
• The wise man does not expose himself needlessly to danger, since there are few things for which he cares sufficiently; but he is willing, in great crises, to give even his life—knowing that under certain conditions it is not worthwhile to live.
—Aristotle
Sacrifice is giving up something that you treasure to or for someone else.
When we sacrifice, we are choosing to show love to God for what He has done for us. Love is the key to sacrifice for the Christian. When we give because we expect something in return, we are not showing sacrifice. We will see in the next few minutes four ways that we are able to sacrifice through each of our services at Revival Baptist Church.
1. We offer Praise to God
1. We offer Praise to God
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
God deserves our praises. He has been kind and good to us each day of our lives. No matter our reaction to His kindness, He still give us life and breath. He give us food to eat and a place to sleep. When we think of all that God has done, praise is the only correct response.
Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever.
He created the world and all that is in it. When you look up at the stars or at the sun or moon, remember why they are there. The heavens testify of the handywork of God. The earth shows the design of the Creator. Nowhere that you go or look is without the direct creation of God.
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night sheweth knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, Where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, And his circuit unto the ends of it: And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
He made a way for us to have fellowship with Him. God knew that we were unable to come to Him because of our sin. We could not do anything on our own to have fellowship with Him.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
He has given us so many blessings that it would take forever to count them all. He has blessed us with life and breath. He has given us a beautiful world to live in. He has given us the opportunity for salvation through His Son.
The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless them that fear the Lord, Both small and great.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Praising God is the sacrifice of singing hymns and gospel songs in our church services. Songs bring to mind what God has done in the past. Songs remind us of what He will do in the future. We must praise Him alone in our church.
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Logos Digital Hymnal (Praise Him! Praise Him!)
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Author: Fanny J. Crosby
Composer: Chester G. Allen
1 Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! highest archangels in glory,
Strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children;
In His arms He carries them all day long;
2 Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins, He suffered and bled and died;
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the crucified:
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong:
3 Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown Him! crown Him! prophet and priest and King!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious,
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong:
Chorus Praise Him! praise Him! tell of His excellent greatness!
Praise Him! praise Him! ever in joyful song!
2. We offer our Resources to God
2. We offer our Resources to God
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
Giving money to the church is for many a taboo subject. They feel that this is something that is talked about too much for them to discuss. The truth of the matter is that giving is often not talked about enough. Why is that? Jesus talked about money often. When He discussed it, it was with the goal to help each person to be a good steward of the money that God had given him. Giving is one of the most important sacrifices we can be faithful in toward God.
God has given us all that we possess. He gives us the strength to work a job and earn money. He gives us the ability to serve Him faithfully as witnesses of His blessings and He provides for our needs.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
He has asked us to steward our resources for Him. A steward is someone who is given the power over the possessions of another in order to use them and bring forth increase for the owner. We have been given the task of stewarding the resources that God has blessed us with.
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
We offer a tenth of our resources as the tithe. Tithing is obeying the clear command of God. We give to the church as God has blessed us during the week.
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
We give what God lays on our hearts as an offering of love to God. We see this pattern in the history of Israel as they gave to the tabernacle.
And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning. And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;
And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
We give what God lays on our hearts to missions. We call this faith promise as we trust God to provide. Missionaries are those who carry the Gospel to the lost people around the world. They cannot necessarily get jobs in the countries that they go to. Instead, we give toward their needs to allow them to reach people that we cannot.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We sacrifice our resources at the time of offering. We call this the “offering” because we are offering our resources to God when we could keep them for ourselves. An offering is always something we give up for God.
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
3. We Sacrifice our Time to Fellowship with other Christians
3. We Sacrifice our Time to Fellowship with other Christians
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Everyone has busy lives. We all have things we want to be doing. We all have things that we need to be doing. God has something that He has told us to be doing. That is being with other Christians.
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.
Many of the things we do are important and necessary. Being with other Christians is also necessary. When we are with other Christians, we are encouraging them and they are encouraging us.
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
We sacrifice our time by being faithful to the services of our church. When we come to church, we are blessed by being with other Christians. When we are by ourselves, we miss out on this blessing. One of the big ways that we are blessed is through answered prayer.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
When we get together with other Christians, we sacrifice our time to help them. Time is the one resource that we can never recover any of. What we invest our time in ought to be the opportunity that we will receive the most return on. Obeying God through investing in other Christians at church is the best return that we can get on our investment.
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
4. We offer Ourselves to God
4. We offer Ourselves to God
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
God has called the preacher to give God’s Word to the church. Preaching is delivering the message that God has led the preacher to give to the hearers. The Bible has many truths that we can explore. God has one message for the hour at hand.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The preaching of the Word will show us where we are in need of change. When we look into the word of God, we see ourselves as God sees us. We see the areas that we need to make adjustments in. Sometimes it is sin. Other times it is sacrifice. All of the time it is a choice.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
The conviction of the Holy Spirit will bring to mind where we can improve. He will lead us into the next steps that we need to take.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
We sacrifice ourselves when we commit to God to make the changed we need to. We call the place of prayer at the front of the church the altar for this reason. We are giving our lives to His cause of reaching the lost with the Good News of the finished work of Christ.
But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Conclusion
Conclusion
1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (When Sacrifice Is Necessary)
The Wall Street Journal…reported: “The elms in South Park, Pittsburgh, must come down because they are obstructing the monument to Joyce Kilmer. They have lifted their leafy arms so high that passersby can no longer read the inscription which begins: ‘I think that I shall never see/A poem lovely as a tree.’ ”
Sacrifice ensures that we don’t miss the monument for the trees. God could have done all that He did in creating and sustaining the world but left us on our own in our sin. Instead, He chose to send His only begotten Son to die for us. He chose sacrifice.
When we leave Christ out of His church, we are like the people who cut down that tree in Pittsburg. Christ is to have the preeminence. We are to be willing to sacrifice for Him. We find four opportunities for sacrifice each time that we come to a church service. What are you going to choose to sacrifice for Him?