Building the Church (3)
Building the Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Power Points to the Person
Power Points to the Person
Welcome back everyone.
I hope you had a good week.
Who would like to share how they saw God move this past week?
We are continuing our journey through Acts and the building of the Church.
Last week we saw the birth of the Church at Pentecost and the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise of the Helper
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Power Points to the Person
Power Points to the Person
We also see something else.
We see the Apostles start doing some amazing things starting with speaking in the languages of those around them.
In fact we ended the birth of the Church with this thought:
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.
Power Points to the Person
Power Points to the Person
The focus in the beginning is on Jerusalem
This is where the death and resurrection happened and the heart of Judaism.
Within Judaism there were at least 5 sects and other rabbinical groups, not to mention the plethora of pagan beliefs, and it would be easy for the fledgling movement to get lost.
How could it stand out in the midst of all the other noise.
Through its authority or power and the person it point to.
Have you ever known anyone who wants all the credit for something?
At minimum they want everyone to know they did it. It is about pride and wanting everyone to know it.
Muhammad Ali, the great boxer was never known for being a kind person. Once he was on an airplane and he often said, “I'm the greatest.” The airhostesses looked at him and saw he didn't have his seatbelt fastened. She said to him, “Mr. Ali, you'll have to fasten your seatbelt.” Ali responded, “Superman don't need seatbelt.” The hostess then replied, “Superman don't need airplane either.”
Not so with the early church - the purpose of the show of power was to express the continuity of between the ministry of Jesus and the witness of the church.
Simply put - the power points to the person.
What we do and say should bring God glory.
"What are you really living for? It's crucial to realize that you either glorify God, or you glorify something or someone else," Ken Sande
This is our focus today.
Let’s pray.
Opportunity for Ministry
I believe everyday we are given opportunities to further the Kingdom.
I also think we miss them.
The early church was still centered around Jerusalem, so Temple life was central part.
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
Opportunity for Ministry
This was normal - the lame would sit outside the Temple as the Jews came in begging. The giving of alms was a big part of the Jewish faith.
Most walked by not noticing or paying little attention, but not today.
4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
Don’t miss a opportunity by looking past the needs in front of us
This man was us:
Lame from birth - we are unable to walk with God
Poor -we are bankrupt
outside the Temple - we were separated from God
Don’t just walk by
Power for Ministry
6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
Our power comes only through the Savior.
Power for Ministry
Ministry without the Gospel is a band-aid on bursting dam
Immediate needs should be met but in the context of revealing and their eternal need.
Give a man a fish...
Don’t get me wrong, we need to be generous and help those in need but it needs to be connected with Gospel.
Jesus changes everything
7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Source of Ministry
When God is moving and things are happening, people take notice.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.
Source of Ministry
Our ministry should always point to the source, Jesus Christ
12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
Source of Ministry
Peter took full advantage of the opportunity
14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Effective ministry proclaims faith in the name of Jesus and calls to respond.
We need to remember they don’t know, but it is not an excuse.
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Power Points to the Person
Power Points to the Person
The message is still the same today.
19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Power Points to the Person
Power Points to the Person
"What are you really living for? It's crucial to realize that you either glorify God, or you glorify something or someone else," Ken Sande
The church is only the church when it proclaims Jesus, points to Jesus, and gives Him all the credit.
When we live this out people will take notice, but a warning it will not always be positive attention we get.
That’s next week.
Next week Acts 4
Let’s pray.
