Fudamentals of the faith - Local Church
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Intro
Intro
Last week we had one group to share with us
Alright so we talked about the local church and the universal church
There are distinctions between these two
Does anyone want to talk about the difference????
This week as promised we will look more into the local church and its purpose.
Read Acts 2:42-45
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 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.
This is a picture of the first local church
I hear alot form people who think the church should go back to its basis
Where it came from
How it was “originally”
But there are many churches that do church like this
I think hillside does church like this
So what does this tell us the local church should look like?
Devoted to the teaching of scripture
Devoted to fellowship
Devoted to Breaking bread
Devoted to Prayer
Many are being saved
Devoted to the teaching of the scripture
Read Acts 2:42
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teachings
Their first focus is the teaching of the scripture
6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
These are commands from Paul to men who were called to lead the church
He charged these men to teach the word
A good local church teaches the word
They are about the word
Look Jesse and I know that there are probably cooler youth groups
I know there are probably cooler churches out there
But if those churches are not teaching the word what are they doing
A church’s primary focus should be the teaching of the word
I said it last week but I will say it again
If the pastor brings a bible but never opens it leave that church
Who is being glorified
The god who wrote the word
Or the man who is teaching the word
Devoted to fellowship
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
After the teaching is the fellowship of believers
A good local church devotes itself to fellowship
Look at our church
The people love to be with each other
You all love to be with each other
I know because you hang out till I kick you out on Wednesdays
You all go to memorials for your friends grand parents
You all spend time together
This is a good local church
Its not just show up hear the word and run away
Its come hear the word and be stirred up by fellow believers
Last week we read Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
When we come together we stir each other up to love and good works
Man that was a good teaching I was convicted in this way
This is how I would like to grow
Right on brother I’ll support you in this
Notice the writer of Hebrews talks about the challenge of doing this when we neglect the meeting together
If most of the people on the church only show up part time
Thats not a good church
A church that understands and makes ways for fellowship is a good church
Whats the small group ministry look like
Sunday school
The ordinances
Devoted to the breaking of bread
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
A good church follows the church ordinances
These are the things that Jesus has commanded the church to do
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Communion and baptism
First Communion
The breaking of bread together
A good church will devote themselves to this
They will make time to reflect on Christ sacrifice
Baptism
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
We reach back here the church is made up of those who are baptized