Acts 2 37-44

TITLE:  ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH

TEXT:  ACTS 2:37-44

Objective:  Today, I want to show what salvation is all about and what happens to our heart when we are saved.  We become concerned for those around us who are in need.  We will also deal with

Review:

Function and From

1.  Define terms:

      Function—what we are to do (Absolute & unchangeable)

      Form—How we are to accomplish the function (Non-absolute and changeable)?

2.  Problem:  People begin to make the form gospel and minimize the function.

      A.  Whenever you have People, you have function.  Wherever you have function, you have form.  People tend to make the form gospel until a crisis comes and the form begins to change. 

B.  Absolutes                 Non-absolutes

            Function                 Form

            Principle                 Pattern

            Organism                Organization

            Truth                      Tradition

            Message                 Method

      Above Culture               Culture

3.  Acts 2

      Holy Spirit came, all heard in their own language

      Later on in chapter, Believed, Baptized and Received the Spirit

4.  Peter preached that Jesus would come, die, rise,

5.  What should we do?

I. Peter’s instruction to the people  37-41

      A.  Repent and be baptized

            1.  Repent in the name of Jesus

                  --Jesus name is accepting what Jesus has to say

            2.  Baptism is identification with them

      B.  Order

            1.  Repent-Confess of Jesus Christ

                  Romans Road—

                        Romans 3:10, 23

                        Romans 6:23

                        Romans 10:9-13

                        Ephesians 2:8-9

                        Titus 3:5

            2.  Baptized-Identification

                  a.  Identifies them with the Church

                  b.  Testimony to all around

                  c.  Does it bring salvation?

                  Part of the Great Commission

                        Command—

                        Part of the practice of the church

                        Does it bring salvation?

                              Example:

People who died without baptism that we know are in heaven in the new Testament time.

                              Thief on the Cross

                              Acts 16:31-34  Believed and were baptized

                                    Household

                  Let’s look at another verse—Mark 16:16

How to be baptized?

                  What does the word mean?

                  Romans 6:3-5—Shows what happened at Salvation

Great commission

Make disciples, baptize them. Teach them to observe all things

Baptism Service on August 12 at Swansons

            3.  Added unto them

II.  Pattern for the Church  v. 42-47

      A.   Apostles Doctrine—Function

            Form??

      B.  Fellowship--Close intimate, community—Function-

            Form??

      C.  Breaking of bread--Communion -- meals together—Function

            Form??

      D.  Prayers--General term for talking to God—Function

            Form???

III.  Result of God working in Jerusalem

      A.  Great Awe

            Changed lives

            Never the same again

            WOW of God

      B.  Took care of the needs of others

            No one had need

            --Form—Sold all they had and give to those in need

                  --Function—Care for the needy

                  --Form—This was one way, later it was different

      C.  Met the needs of the individuals in the church v. 45

--Personal sacrifice

      D.  Spent time together in one accord  v. 46

      E.  Praise God  v. 47

favor with all the people

God added to the church

Applications for us today:

1.  Do you know Jesus Christ?

2.  Have you been baptized since salvation?

3.  Are you serving other? 

      How? 

      Next week—Maximizing Ministry—June—Sunday evenings

            Serving where you best fit

                  Natural Abilities

                  Spiritual Gifts

                  Heart-passion

                  Functional style

                  Experience