A Gospel Shaped Church
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
Vision Month #3
Vision Month #3
We are a family on a mission to see...
A growing number of people saved and added to the church.
Last Sunday we focussed on point 1a of our church vision statement - that we are on a mission to see a growing number of people saved.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXV Soul Saving Our One Business (No. 1,507)
Christian people: your one business in life is to lead men to believe in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit,
We have seen how the church is a lifeboat not a cruise ship. We’re out on the open ocean and there are people in the water, our desire is to recue as many as possible.
In todays text from Acts 2 we are peering through the window of time at the very first moments of the fledgling church of Christ. The Holy Spirit has been poured out upon the church while they were praying the upper room and the Apostle Peter under the power of the Spirit preaches the gospel to the gathered crowds.
Many cried out to Peter - “What shall we do?”
True and anointed gospel preaching will be accompanied by a pressing call to action in the hearts of the hearers. This internal call to action is the result and working of the Holy Spirit, it’s not merely natural - it’s not something that can be generated by human effort, it’s supernatural. You will hear the gospel - and in your heart you’ll have this driving urge to do something about it, to respond to it. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit - that’s effectual calling.
Peter responded - Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
This is what you must do if you want God to forgive your sins, this is what you need to do to enter into a covenant relationship with God, this is what you must do to receive the Holy Spirit. There is no other way. There is no other response to the gospel that will obtain God’s blessing. We all must enter by the narrow gate - through repentance, faith and baptism.
But the story doesn’t end there… Verse 41 says: So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Those who believed were baptised - but that’s not all the scripture has to say about these people, it says that they were added. Added to what we ask? To the number who had already believed? Added to a list, an electoral roll? No! Verses 44-47 tell us..
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.
They were added to the Church, the Ekklesia or assembly believers. They were added to a community. Where once these people had been disparate, they were now united they belonged to a community. The text makes it clear that this wasn’t a kind of ‘in name only’ community - but it was real, each member was committed to this community.
They were together. Day by day, worshipping together, breaking bread together, visiting one anothers homes, eating together. Church was a living, breathing community to which new believers belonged.
What does this mean? It means that from the very beginning being a Christian and being part of the church went together. Church community wasn’t seen as an optional extra - something that it’s nice to do on occasion if you have the time, but something precious, something valuable, something functional.
Christianity is a team sport! And church is the primary place in which we practice our faith. Just like in the early church - we are to come together, worship together, take communion together, share life with one another.
THE GOSPEL ISN’T JUST A MESSAGE THAT SAVES US, IT’S A MESSAGE THAT SHAPES US.
Church is a gospel community - it’s a place where the message of God’s free grace and mercy in Jesus Christ is baked into the culture, so that we are living and breathing the good news whenever we meet together!
I’ve got into watching these amateur mountaineering films on youtube, some of the filming is incredible, shot in 4k from drones, you just get these unbelievable, cinematic views of the mountain peaks. I was watching one yesterday of a mountain range in Kyrgyzstan and there were these knife edge ridges that had been shaped by glaciers that had just hollowed out the sides of the mountains leaving these breathtaking razor ridges.
Well, just like glaciers shape mountains, communities shape lives.
Michael Biddulph - struggling at school, getting in with the wrong crowd. Parents moved him to a school further away with an excellent record. Mike went on to acheieve what people thought he never would - he has since set up a very successful charity in east london teaching practical skills like woodworking to youths involved in gang crime. That school community shaped him, helped him to become the man God made him to be.
Church is a community that shapes you - helps you become all that God has made you to be.
So what does gospel culture look like?
A corporate awareness of our daily need of God’s grace.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
We are real. We don’t pretend that we’re perfect, no one is here on merit. There are no super-Christians here, only redeemed sinners.
We deal with sin. We don’t hide it, we confess it. We don’t live in shame because Christ has dealt with our sins once and for all.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Forgiveness is practiced
Because God does not treat us as our sins deserve, we do not treat one another as our sins deserve.
21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
“I think that if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him.” CS Lewis.
Love for God and for one another
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. 6Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never fails. - 1 Cor 13:4-8
4. Joy and gratitude are everpresent
21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
5. You feel encouraged to walk in newness of life
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
6. There is a peace evident in the community
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
7. It is a community that rejoices in truth
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.