Building the Church (5)
Building the Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 6 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
In it Together
In it Together
Good morning.
I hope we all had a good week.
How did you see God move this past week?
We are continuing our journey through Acts.
Last wee we saw the beginning of the push back against the church.
They stood up for their faith
19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
Today we are going to look at what the core of the Church should be and how easily it could go the wrong way.
But first:
The little boy was sent by his mother to buy a 65 cent loaf of bread. While the baker was putting the bread into a bag, the boy noticed that the loaf looked rather small. "Isn't that a small loaf of bread for 65 cents?"
"You'll have less to carry," replied the baker. The boy put 50 cents on the counter. "You're 15 cents short," said the baker.
"That's right, " replied the boy. "You'll have less to count."The little boy was sent by his mother to buy a 65 cent loaf of bread. While the baker was putting the bread into a bag, the boy noticed that the loaf looked rather small. "Isn't that a small loaf of bread for 65 cents?"
"You'll have less to carry," replied the baker. The boy put 50 cents on the counter. "You're 15 cents short," said the baker.
"That's right, " replied the boy. "You'll have less to count."
In it Together
In it Together
There are things about the church that should be stand out and be true
Not just looking like a church but being the church.
We mist always be on guard for anything that gets in the way of us Being the church.
That is what we will dive look into today - the heart of the Being the Church and the danger that could lie within.
Let’s pray.
Being the Church
I want us to first look at what it looks like being the church
“The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ.” — C. S. Lewis
Being the Church
So how do we do that?
To draw people to Christ, we must be centered on Christ, which means His spirit must lead and be evident.
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
I think there are 4 things the outside world should see in a Spirit filled Church.
A Spirit filled church is unified
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
A Spirit filled church is magnified
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
People come to see a church on fire.
A Spirit filled church is charitable
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
A Spirit filled church is multiplied
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.
Being the Church
They encouraged and challenged each other and it became evident in their response.
36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Beware the attack from within
Last week we saw the beginning of the attempts to stop the church form outside.
The greatest danger is within.
Deliberate deception and pride are church killers
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Beware of the Serpent! (Acts 4:32–5:16)
“Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not.” George MacDonald
If Satan can’t get the church from the outside, He will attack from the inside.
Beware the motivated by pride
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
They saw the reaction to Barnabas, I believe.
Beware the self-interested
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
We are not being told to give up everything - be honest
We lie to God not each other
“Christians don’t tell lies they just go to church and sing them.” — A. W. Tozer
“Christians don’t tell lies they just go to church and sing them.” — A. W. Tozer
Beware sin has a price
5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
Being the Church
God is jealous and protective of His church.
This wasn’t the only time - Tabernacle - Aaron’s sons
Sin can quickly spread
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
In it Together
In it Together
We are are in this together.
Our enemy does not want to see us grow, build or reach anyone.
I believe if we stand on God’s word, allow His Spirit to lead us, and march together, that nothing is impossible for God to accomplish through this church.
It will take courage, sacrifice and faith - bit the world will notice.
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
In it Together
In it Together
God is moving and we each only have 2 choices:
Get in step or try to slow us down
Which are you.
Let’s Pray.
