TITLE:  The Church as a community

TEXT:  Acts 4:32‑5:42

OBJECTIVE:  It is my objective to show the greatness of God as we follow Him with our whole heart.  I want to continue to show the strategy of the church in Acts.

INTRODUCTION:

1.  What are the strategies of the church in Acts?

      a.  Jesus Christ is the central theme

      b.  They cared for one another

      c.  They were saved, baptized and added to the church

      d.  Persecution only brought them closer to the Lord

2.  God Chose leaders—We will look at this more later

3.  Leaders took responsibility to deal with problems in the church—5:1-11

4.  Unity was and is of high priority in the church  4:32, 5:12

5.  Many were added to the faith by message and example

6.  God's Work is always disturbed by man's devices.  These devices are    prompted by Satan

I.  The church community  Acts 4:32‑37

A.  Taking care of one another

1.  Meeting financial needs

2.  Meeting the needs of food, clothing, shelter

B.  Taking care of encouragement needs.  v. 36

C.  Result of taking care of one another  v. 33

1.  Great Grace was upon them all

2.  There was no lacking

3.  People were greatly encouraged

4.  Barnabas—Son of encouragement, This was not a strategy but a way of helping others.

      D.  Unity is of such high premium

The devotion to these elements produced a unity which caused them to find favor with those around who were observing, resulting in many being added to the faith. (2:47; 5:13)

CF. Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  NASB 95

II.  Misuse of the system  5:1‑10

The unity and sincerity of their faith was threatened by the display of religious activity without inner integrity, and was disciplined severely (5:1-11)

A.  Lie of Ananias and Sapphira

1.  Could have kept some for themselves

2.  Decided together to lie

B.  Caught in their lie--Directed by the Holy Spirit

1.  Died that instant

2.  Discipline is essential

III.  Result of the purified church  5:11‑14

A.  Fear came on all

B.  Signs and wonders for today?

      1.  These became signs to authenticate the apostles

      2.  Does God heal?

            --Yes

            --God is Sovereign

C.  God is able to do great things for himself

            --James 5:13-18

D.  Scared to join the church ‑‑ 13

‑‑Lord added people to the church  14

      E.  Lessons:

1.  We have many who are in need of encouragement

2.  We should be willing to help another family in time of need

3.  Wounded heart

‑‑dries the bones

‑‑Causes death

‑‑isolation

4.  We must reach out to those who are wounded

5.  We must purify the church

IV.  Great Persecution  17-42

God's Work is always disturbed by man's devices.  These devices are prompted by Satan

A.  Reason for the persecution

      1.  v. 17--Filled with indignation

--Jealousy

2.  v. 18--Punishment

--put in prison

--Beating--v. 40

B.  God's response to their persecution

1.  God let them out of prison  v. 19

2.  Unbeknownst to the guards

C.  Directions given again by God

1.  Go back again and preach

2.  They obey

D.  Conscience of the persecutors  v. 27-28

1.  You are trying to put Jesus blood on us  v. 28

2.  Sounds like David and Saul

E.  Reaffirming their priorities  v. 29

1.  Preaching Jesus--Saying it straight  v. 30-33

2.  Parenthesis - 34-39

Warning of Gamaliel

--Do not fight against God

V.  Results of Persecution  40-42

A.  Beating  v. 40

B.  They continued to preach the Gospel  v. 41

C.  They ceased not to preach and teach Jesus  v. 42

Conclusion:

1.  Unity is vital

2.  Satan tries to destroy unity from within and without

3.  Our Response--