Acts: The Birth of the Church
Notes
Transcript
Build Something
Build Something
Have you ever built something?
A backyard shed
Spot in the yard
Bought the materials
Put the work in and built the shed
Maddux’s Lego Sets
Pours them out on the tables
Hours put in, following the directions
Highland Kids Academy
In 2015, school board director said that he didn’t want to be in the childcare business
“I want to be in the childcare business”
The potential was there - not only to supplement ministry with the money made, but also 3-4 hours of kids in our facility
Hired a director
Goal set - be the best after school program in the city
Hard work, delays
Opened in January 2016 with three kids
Ten years later over 125 kids in the center daily
A school superintendent was the catalyst - all because he didn’t want to be in childcare
Jesus is the Catalyst
Jesus is the Catalyst
The birth of the church had a similar catalyst - the death and resurrection of Jesus
The disciples went from following Jesus on earth to proclaiming him as the risen lord and savior - the one who had come to bring life
40 days following his resurrection he appeared to and hung out with his followers
Jesus made the promise of the Holy Spirit, for his followers to wait for Him
Then this challenge:
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Upper room praying during the festival of Pentecost
120
wait
wind and fire
Other languages being spoken
People hear it and are intrigued
Peter steps out and preaches, 3,000 are saved that day from 120 to over 3,000 - that’s growth
That is the birth of the church - not gradual, but with an explosion of spiritual power and global influence - Acts 1:8 “8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””
Why Today?
Why Today?
We are here today because of these events
for the next few weeks we will look at the lessons from the birth of the church and how they still have meaning for us today
Today: Let’s look at how the early church was united intellectually, spiritually, and in love.
What Life Looked Like
What Life Looked Like
42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
United Intellectually
United Intellectually
The early church joined together for teaching and learning
They met at the temple each day
They craved knowledge about this thing that they have so devoted their lives to
United Spiritually
United Spiritually
They were united spiritually because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives
The presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives wasn’t just an emotional experience, it was His genuine power in their lives
This was evident in the way that even in the face of persecution, they rallied in prayer
In Acts 4, Peter and John are arrested and the believers pray
United in Love
United in Love
The early church was commited to doing life together
They shared everything, possessions, meals, property, money
This wasn’t about an organization, it’s about relationships
This wasn’t superfical or forced, it was love
For Neighborhood Today
For Neighborhood Today
We need to be united intellectually, spiritually, and in love
A major way that we are going to do that is through Groups
It is through these Groups that the one another of the early church will happen:
Love One Another
17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Be Kind and Forgive One Another
32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Bear One Anothers Burdens
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Care for One Another
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
Encourage One Another
25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Instruct One Another
14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
Serve One Another
13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
In our Groups we will be like the early churc
Groups will launch Wednesdays the end of September
