The Original Church Plant
Notes
Transcript
Announcements:
We will be back in person next week, Sunday, October 6, 2024.
Introduction:
As we have just celebrated our one year anniversary as The Gap, I have looked back and have thanked the Lord of what He has already done in only one year. But, as I am thankful for what God has done, I also am prayerfully asking the Lord how we can continue to move forward in what He has called The Gap to do: reaching the lost; discipling the found.
One of the best passages in Scripture that helps us know how to move forward in what God has called us to do is in Acts 4:31-33.
Here we read about the original church plant God not only initiated but also propelled forward. They had no printing press, no media ministry, no social media ministry, and didn’t even have a church building! We can relate about not having a church building right now (LOL) but we surpass the early church in media and social media and books and yet they outdid us! How did they do that?
I hope this morning we get a clear understanding of how we, as The Gap, can not only celebrate what God has done in the past year but also be purposeful in moving forward successfully in what God has called us to do.
Let’s take a look at our passage this morning in Acts 4:31-33 and we will make some observations that hopefully will help us follow in the early church’s footsteps. But first, context!
Background:
(Starting in Chapter 3) Peter and John were going to the temple for prayer and came across a man who was lame from birth begging at the gate called Beautiful. They didn’t have money to give the man but they gave the man what they did have, the healing power of Jesus Christ!
(Side Note: we have to be able to recognize Divine appointments as we go through our daily routine!)
The crowds gathered and were amazed at the man being healed. And Peter addressed them and many believed in the message of Jesus Christ (about 5,000 men). This resulted in the captain of the guard coming to arrest them.
(Side Note: there will be times when we are obedient to what God tells us to do and things don’t go the way we think or want them to!)
The next morning they are facing the Jewish leadership who, once they recognize there is a power that they don’t even have, threaten Peter and John to stop preaching Christ. The Jewish leaders weren’t able to find a reason to be able to punish Peter and John so they released them.
Peter and John went back to the church and let them know everything that had been said and done. The church prays as one (probably like a Miss Clara type prayer/praise from what we read in Acts 4:24-30).
24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.
25 You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant: Why do the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers assemble together against the Lord and against his Messiah.
27 “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,
28 to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place.
29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness,
30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Now, let’s turn to our passage for this morning which is Acts 4:31-33:
31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.
32 Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.
33 With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.
Transition: As I said earlier, this morning I want to make some observations from our text as not only do we see some characteristics of the original church plant, but also what I pray that we as The Gap can purposefully adopt as part of our DNA as well! So the first observation we see here about this original church plant is:
Body:
I. It was a praying church (v. 31)
31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.
A. The church was born out of a 10-day prayer meeting!
14 They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
1 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.
3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them.
4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.
The result of the prayer meeting was a Holy Spirit empowered boldness, unity and others hearing and accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
we need to be a church of prayer:
pray for the Body of Christ daily at home, for the church and the church leadership
come early to pray before service for those coming to service, for the worship, for the message, for lives to be transformed
B. Both men and women prayed together in one accord
14 They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
C. They prayed and were filled with the Holy Spirit (v. 31)
31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.
D. When Peter was in jail, they prayed (Acts 12)
E. They prayed so fervently the building was shaken!
F. Prayer is vital if the church is to move ahead
“The church that is not praying is playing”
The church is powerless without prayer!
We need to continue to pray for one another which is why we have the end of service prayer circles!
Illustration: There is a story about a small farming community that had been experiencing a terrible drought. The crops were dying in the fields and everyone was very worried because this is how they made their living. The pastor of the local church called a special prayer service for all the people of the town to gather in front of the church and spend some time praying and agreeing in faith that God would send some rain. Many people arrived and you could sense the seriousness among the crowd. As the pastor was getting ready to begin the meeting, he noticed a young girl standing quietly in the front. Her face was beaming with excitement and then he saw beside her, open and ready for use, was a large colorful umbrella.
As he stared at the umbrella, he was a little ashamed that he did not bring one but also felt a sudden surge of hope and confidence. The little girl’s childlike innocence warmed his heart as he realized how much faith she possessed. Though the town had come together to pray for rain, it seemed no one else had thought that maybe they should bring an umbrella to keep from getting wet.
Praying is literally expecting God to do the unexpected! We need to be people of prayer not only individually but also when we come together!
Don’t know what to pray? The Holy Spirit helps us pray!
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
He knows exactly what to pray when we don’t!
Transition: So, the first thing I want us to notice is this original church plant was a church built on the practice of prayer. Secondly,
I. It was a praying church (v. 31)
II. It was a loving church (v. 32)
32 Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”
A. Love caused them to share with others (giving up a seat, etc.)
B. Love enabled them to give to those in need
C. Love enable them to put away their differences
D. Love united them
E. This kind of love brings revival
i. They began to love things above
ii. They lost their love for earthly possessions
F. I love that we stay connected throughout the week through texts, calls, getting together for coffee, giving things to each other, etc.!
Transition: So, the original church plant was not only a church that practiced prayer, but also learned to love. We need to practice prayer even when we don’t feel like it. And we need to learn to love others even when we may not agree on everything. Our mission of reaching the lost and discipling the found should be the glue that binds us together as that is the Great Commission we have been given is all about! Lastly,
I. It was a praying church (v. 31)
II. It was a loving church (v. 32)
III. It was a witnessing church (v. 33)
33 With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.
A. They all spoke with great power when giving their testimony!
B. The Great Commission (reaching the lost; discipling the found) fresh on their minds
18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
C. The call to witness sounding in their hearts
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
D. They were all reaching out with the gospel
E. I love that we aren’t shy in inviting others to church! We need to keep inviting others to church no matter how long it takes until the other person says yes!
Illustration: Research done by various institutions on the topic of church engagement concludes that a personal invitation is the number one most effective way to get someone you know to come to church. Here are some statistics for you as you consider inviting someone to church this year.
63% of Americans say a personal invitation from a friend or neighbor would be effective in getting them to visit a church
8 out of 10 people will say “yes” to a personal invite to church
7 out of 10 unchurched people have never been invited
Only 2% of church members invite an unchurched person to church
Conclusion:
It was a church that practiced prayer, learned to love, and were willing to witness as they marched ahead.
We have the gospel today because they were unstoppable!
We have the same marching orders!
They changed the world:
6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too,
So can we!
Bridging the Gap between the church and the community one person at a time by being a church that:
1. Practices prayer
2. Learns to love
3. Is willing to witness
Let’s pray