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Welcome & Background
Welcome & Personal Introduction
Lunch & Vision after the service
4 weeks into our Acts series entitled: Witnesses | A Study in the Book of Acts
Big Idea: The gospel will be proclaimed among all peoples through witnesses empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Normally I give a bit of background to bring everyone up to speed with where we are in the book but I wanted to change that up a little bit.
Invite Joey Howell out, who serve with StoryRunners, a ministry of CRU
Story is powerful way to communicate scripture and biblical truth throughout the word.
Joey was in Chad at the same time as our family using story-telling to communicate the gospel and I wanted you to have a taste of what that is like based on the first two chapters of Acts.
Have Joey share
PRAY
READ:
PRAY
Introduction
Today we are going to see ‘The Vital Signs of a Healthy Church.’
You drive around long enough and you will pass numerous churches.
I’m thankful for the gospel-witness of churches that help people know and grow in their relationship with Jesus
Unfortunately though, not all churches are healthy.
But how can you tell?
Doctor Visit
Vital signs: Heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, maybe some blood work
You read these numbers and have a general sense of overall health
Typically the advise I hear:
Exercise
Eat Healthier
I don’t always listen though - because it’s hard.
I like ice-cream and carbs and I don’t like vegetables or fruit
It’s too hot to run outside so I don’t exercise like I should
Church
Sometimes the same can be said about church
We’ll read a passage like the one we see at the end of Acts chapter 2 and we’ll say, man, I wish our church was like that.
As we’ll see, it takes devotion and overcoming challenges together.
In reality though, we want it to be easy and given to us.
It’s like seeing that fit, in-shape person and wishing you looking like them but then going home and eating that bowl of ice-cream in front of the TV.
PRAY
Big Idea
God cultivates a community of Jesus followers who live on mission to love one another and proclaim the gospel.
God is the one who builds the church, it’s to him and for him but it is also by him.
We respond in love to one another and in proclaim to the world.
8 VITAL SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH
1 - 4 DEVOTION
Word means: persist obstinately in…; steadfast; implication of of continuing on despite difficulty
It means things aren’t allows easy.
This is true of the first century church as well so we don’t think they had everything figured out and we are the only ones who struggle.
In the book of Acts we will see this community:
Face resistance community and other religious leaders
People not feeling cared for and needs going unmet.
People have their favorites or special clicks and they are on the outside
Jail, disobedience of believers, death
Disagreements that rupture working relationships between leaders that didn’t include doctrine, hard decisions,
People liking one leader over another, etc...
1 | Devotion to the Word
“Devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching...”
The diet of a healthy body of Christ is the Word of God, the Bible.
“You are what you eat.” - this is why my doctor always tells me to eat healthy and exercise.
The Apostle Paul encourages young pastors:
“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching...” (1 Timothy 4:16)
“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine...” ()
Jesus prayed for us during his time on earth and tells us that Jesus said, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth”
If you want to be changed, transformed, sanctified - You don’t need my opinions or that of another pastor
There is a danger and temptation that we can read and study what other people say about God but never talk with him directly.
We never listen to what he says about himself.
Imagine if someone wanted to get to know you.
They went and talked with your friends, family, co-workers but they never talked with you.
In the end, they would know some thing about you, some true and some false, but they wouldn’t know you personally.
They same is true in our relationship with God.
Individual & Church Response
This is why we prefer to preach through books of the Bible the majority of the time.
We believe the central theme in all of Scripture is Jesus
We believe that “all of scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
Then it goes on to say that God’s Word is made even more powerful with flashy graphics and hip themes.
That people will be transformed and moved by the spirit if you inject an emotional story and then summarize the passage in 3 points that start with the same letter.
It takes devotion and intentionality to devote ourselves to God’s Word as a church.
This is one of the reasons I love the scripture journals for our church.
Personally a Challenge
This is also a personal challenge as well
Our personal appetite
2 | Devotion to One Another
Now, we are eating healthy and have to add some exercise.
- “Loving One Another”
Literally “Fellowship” - partnering together in life, interdependent relationships and connection with one another.
We are a family because we’ve been adopted into the same family:
“so that you may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
(1 John 1:3)
The Bible gives us several “one another” statements that help us understand how the gospel leads us into true biblical community.
Loaded statement: gospel and biblical community:
Gospel: “I give you a new command: Love one another.
Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another” ()
Gospel: “Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters” ()
Biblical Community: “The members would have the same concern for each other.”
(); “Serve one another” (); “Carry one another’s burdens” (); “Be kind and compassionate” (); “Don’t lie to one another” (), “Encourage one another” ().
The list goes on and more can be found on the webpage.
This is what we mean by the word “Community,” these are biblical descriptions of fellowship and partnership.
When we talk about becoming a ‘Partner’ here at CrossPointe this is what me mean.
You Are: Making a commitment to a church family, to people, not an organization or institution.
You are saying that you desire to live out the “one another” statements here at CrossPointe.
Your making a commitment to the people sitting next to you.
Partnership is Not: Just a membership to an organization like you might become a member at Sam’s Club, Costco, or BJs.
That’s just business.
Which store has the better brands, the better prices, closest to my house.
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