Back to life - 2
Notes
Transcript
We are better together - Community
We are better together - Community
This morning we are continuing our series that we started last week, titled back to life.
Last week we looked at Ezekiel 37 and that it is God who provides life.
This morning we are looking in the Book of Acts at the Early Church, or the First Church.
We are going to look at eight church principles that we can learn from the Early Church that will help us be better together, as we build the family of God.
God has planted churches in their specific place for a reason and that is to reach that specific area.
Our main text is Acts 2:42-47
Let’s look at that now.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Pray
Pray
I believe the eight principles that we will receive from this text this morning were effective in the Early Church and can also be effective today as well.
These principles could be seen as core values for the church.
The early church who gives us these principles, was a multi-generational, multi-cultural church, that was faced with severe criticism, push-back from religious establishment and great persecution all while growing rapidly.
We may ask what allowed the church to thrive under these conditions?
It was the Holy Spirit of God rallied these believers around these eight principles.
The first principle we have is:
I. Commitment
I. Commitment
The early church was devoted to learning and remaining committed to the teachings and practices of Christ as revealed in the Apostles Doctrine or Teaching.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,
The church formed its mission around the teachings of Christ.
The early church was missioned focused, and would ask themselves what should the church look like when looking at the life and teachings of Jesus.
If we look at the life and teachings of Jesus, what should our main focus be here?
Jesus tells us in Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus said He did not come to be served, we must not come to be served either, but to serve God by serving others.
Jesus gave His life as a ransom, that is He gave His life freely that we may have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
The early church was devoted to the apostles teachings, what were they teaching, the things that Jesus had taught them.
The second principle is
II. Unity
II. Unity
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread
As the church determined its mission to reach the lost, they then became united in that mission.
They were unity in fellowshipping with one another, that is they did life together, they spent time with each other regularly, and they also were united around the Lord’s Table.
We must remember that this was a very diverse congregation: even still there was incredible unity.
When we realize it is all about Jesus and sharing Jesus with others, we can be united.
The goal is not unity for the sake of unity, but the goal is unity for the cause of Christ.
People must be willing to lay aside their preferences, personal agendas, and differences, so the cause of Christ can be elevated and carried out.
We might ask how does the church remain united when there are so many different personalities and opinions in the congregation?
Unity is deprived when the main thing remains the main thing.
The main thing is Jesus.
And Satan loves division, especially when it comes to the church.
25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
When Satan can bring division into the church the witness of Christ is greatly harmed.
On the other hand, where there is unity around the person, message and mission of Jesus Christ the church is empowered in its witness.
The third principle is:
III. Prayer
III. Prayer
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
A primary activity of the early church was prayer.
There is no substitution for prayer in the church.
When looking at the early church, and the planting of churches throughout the known world, one can see that prayer was a priority.
When confronted with persecution they prayed; when determining who to send out as missionaries they prayed; when boldness was needed to witness they prayed; when they needed power they prayed.
The principle is timeless.
Do nothing before you pray.
We must bathe everything we do in prayer.
As we pray, we must not just ask God to do this and that, and then go about our day.
We need to understand that prayer is our communication with God, and for it to be communication we must allow God to speak to us.
The fourth principle is:
IV. Expectancy
IV. Expectancy
43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.
The people of the early church seen God work in mighty ways, and with that they expected things to happen!
Since the people had seen God do mighty things, they came expecting God to do mighty things.
They believed that God could and would do mighty things, and they prepared themselves to see God work.
Too many people come to church expecting nothing to happen, because nothing has been done to prepare the church for great things to happen!
Where is expectancy in the churches today?
People come to church to mark it off their check list so to speak, they are there to say they have been to church.
They do not want to serve, they do not want to do anything, they just want to show up, be served, and go home.
People do not prepare for meeting and hearing from God, they do not pray before arriving at church asking God to do a mighty work, or that He might speak to them.
The fifth principle is:
V. Generosity
V. Generosity
44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Selfishness was not a characteristic of the early church believers.
They were a sacrificial congregation.
In today’s churches there is what many call the 80/20 rule.
It translates this way: 80% of the ministry is done by 20% of the people.
80% of the financial support is given by 20% of the people.
On the other hand 80% of the complaints come from 20% of the people.
Imagine what could happen if this were not true.
I believe looking at the early church we see what could happen if the majority of the Body of Christ became committed to the ministry and mission of Jesus.
The early church was sold out for Christ.
When they met they celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The primary issue is not when the church meets; the primary issue is, what happens when it meets!
When the church meets it should meet to celebrate the risen Lord, not mourn a dead Savior.
Salvation is by the Grace of God and comes through repentance and Faith.
People are not saved based on feelings or the lack of feelings.
They are saved based on what they do with the gift of salvation that has been provided by the sacrifice Jesus made.
I believe a great testimony to a church is when someone says, “there is something special in that place.”
A church characterized by gladness will be contagious.
The seventh principle is:
VII. Community
VII. Community
46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,
The early church was a church without walls.
This is not in reference to a building or a permanent meeting space.
Rather it means the early church existed more for the people who were outside the church; not only for those on the inside.
The church can never allow those who are on the inside to prevent them from reaching those who are on the outside.
We must understand that the church is not a museum for the saints but a hospital for the hurting.
We must asks ourselves how does the community around us perceive who we are, what is our reputation in the community?
This is not just for River Gardens, but the global church.
There are a lot of people that have been hurt by a church, and they hold that against all churches at times.
We must understand that even if it was not River Gardens that caused the negative perspective in their minds, we must show them the true love of Jesus that they can heal and overcome that hurt.
See if we do not strive to help the community see us in a positive perspective that is loving and accepting of all people.
If the community does not see love from us, then they will not listen to us, or want to be around us, and we cannot reach the lost like that.
A positive community connection opens the door to the final principle.
The final principle is:
VIII. Evangelistic
VIII. Evangelistic
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
There is no mistaking the fact that the early church was an evangelistic church!
The early church strived to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the world, we see that at the end of that verse, the Lord added to the church those who were being saved.
We must ask ourselves what was the main emphasis of the Lord’s ministry?
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus main emphasis in His earthly ministry was people, that is to help people see the need for salvation, as He gave His life as a ransom for many.
Everything we do should be so people who do not know Jesus can know Him.
That is the reason the church exists.
Small, large, rural, suburban, or urban it does not matter.
The church exists to get the Gospel to the world.
The church can never allow those who are on the inside to prevent us from reaching those who are outside the church.
Unfortunately, the church today, all across the US most of what is done is done for those who are already believers.
So many times, believers are exchanged from one church to another and think we are fulfilling the Great Commission.
The Great Commission is about making disciples not swapping disciples.
The church must be willing to adopt a strategy that is evangelistic.
The church cannot be content with doing business as usual.
If all we are looking for is a place to go and socializes and be served, then we need to go to a social club.
God has called us to share the Gospel message with the world, we are to show love and grace to all people.
We need to adopt these eight principles - commitment, unity, prayer, expectancy, generosity, celebration, community, and evangelistic.
Until we get the first seven principles right, we will not have the opportunity to share the gospel.
We must get the first seven principles right so that we can be effective in our evangelism to the community.
