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GROWING PAINS IN THE EARLY CHURCH
AIM
AIM
To share with believers some of the experiences we possibly could encounter as our numbers grow.
To share with believers some of the experiences we will most likely encounter as our numbers grow.
INTRODUCTION
Perhaps it would be good to look back a few verses to set the background for the passage we will be studying.
A
REASON FOR GROWING PAINS IN THE EARLY CHURCH
The main reason for church growth is very simple.
We grow because Jesus gave us a commission to go out and reach the lost with the gospel.
Matthew 28:
In very plain talk, we reach the lost because Jesus told us to do so.
Evangelizing the lost is a great way to honor the sacrifice Jesus offered for our sins on the cross.
When we evangelize, people are saved, the church grows and God is glorified.
RISKS OF GROWING PAINS IN THE EARLY CHURCH
The name Ananias means God is gracious and Sapphira means beautiful.
If we take time to think about the beginning of the church in the book of Acts, they were obviously very young believers in the Lord.
Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and kept back a portion of the profit for themselves.
This leads us to ask, was there anything wrong with selling a piece of property and keeping their part of the money?
The obvious answer is no, however, there is a lot wrong with selling a piece of property, keeping their portion of the money and acting as if you gave all of the proceeds to the Lord to provide for people who are in need.
The appearance of public generosity was no more than a family conspiracy.
Ananias and Sapphira were under no obligation to sell their property or participate with the church in giving to the members who were in need.
What the early church was doing appears to have been a totally personal voluntary deed of kindness to others.
The real problem for Ananias and his wife was God was watching their prideful and sinful actions.
Acts 5
Apparently the Lord revealed to Peter the sins of Ananias and Sapphira.
The worst problem about what they did was lying to the Holy Spirit.
They lied to the people, but they also lied to God.
Acts
I love a contrast from the Holman New Testament Commentary on the book of Acts about sickness, death and the death of Ananias.
Sickness and death do not always result from sin, but God reserves the right to deal with sin in his church, even to the strongest possible penalty.
Acts
Peter questioned Sapphira several hours following her husband’s death.
Sapphira shared the same fate as Ananias.
This story teaches us there are risks, sometimes great risks, when God’s church experiences growth.
I am convinced one of the reasons we do not grow or want to grow is because we are unwilling to take the risks of dealing with the real problems of real people.
Growing churches must deal with things like pride, spiritual immaturity, super spiritual people and selfishness, to name a few.
Think about it.
Jesus had Peter who made decisions without thinking them through, Thomas who was a doubter and Judas who was a traitor.
Paul dealt with people who slandered him and tried to destroy his ministry.
Why should be think our generation will be any different?
Acts 5:11
Notice the result after God solved the problem of Ananias and Sapphira.
The church was filled with fear, but it did not cease to grow.
REWARDS FROM GROWING PAINS IN THE EARLY CHURCH
Acts 5:12
There were many rewards from the growing pains in the early church.
We do not have enough time to deal with all of them.
I am going to deal with one since we are talking church growth.
The Bible teaches, “And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number.”
The early church continued to grow after experiencing the problems with Ananias and Sapphira.
We can and should experience great joy because of those who are being saved.
God is always glorified when the lost give their hearts to Jesus.
CONCLUSION
Do you think we really understand the reason for winning the lost?
If so, are we willing to take the risks of winning the lost and dealing with their problems?
Do we want to receive the rewards God offers for those who share the gospel and lead the lost to Jesus?
If so, we will experience the growing pains of the early church.
Prepared for First Baptist Church Oakdale - August 27, 2017
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