Making the Connection: Making the Connection to Others

Making the Connection

Making the Connection to Others

1. Why should I make the connection to others?

1.) To grow in God’s Word

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42 NIV

2.) To experience life together

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42 NIV

3.) To reach out to others

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. “

Acts 2:41NIV

2. How can I make the connection to others?

1.) You must make a commitment to God

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. “

Acts 2:41 NIV

2.) You must make a commitment to a group

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42 NIV

Making the Connection:

We need each other! Have you made the connection to others?

Intro:

Welcome…

Continuing the series I started last week…Making the Connection

It is a series designed to help us clearly see the vision God has given Violet Baptist Church and what it will look like for us to live out this vision in the next 3-5 years.

The Vision:

To build bridges to people in our community in order that, together, we may become fully devoted, passionate followers of Jesus Christ.

Let’s say that together….

To build bridges to people in our community in order that, together, we may become fully devoted, passionate followers of Jesus Christ.

Bridges are made to connect…not to collapse

God has called us to build bridges to this community…to build bridges that connect…not collapse!!!

God’s vision for our church is to build:

1. Bridges to Christ

2. Bridges to others

3. Bridges to ministry

4. Bridges to the world

Today I want to talk about:

Building Bridges to Others

Making the connection to others.

One of the goals of the RTV paln which I will share at our fellowship meal later) is:

Goal: Violet Baptist Church will enroll 80% of regular attendees in small groups for the purpose of connecting to Jesus Christ by September 1, 2010.

Why the goal?

Because it is vitally important for people to get connected to Christ and each other!!

Do you know the one question people are asking when they come to a church: Is there a place here for me???

Will I be welcomed…is there a place for me.

What is it like to feel welcomed into the family?

We have a great picture of being welcomed in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

In case you haven’t seen the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a comedy based on the real-life experiences of Greek American actress Nia Vardalos.

Toula Portokalos (played by Nia) is the daughter of a restaurateur who owns Dancing Zorba's restaurant in Chicago.

At 30 years of age, this unattractive, portly woman seems doomed to be a hostess in her father's restaurant the rest of her life.

But Toula has dreams of getting a college degree and falling in love.

Toula meets Ian Miller (played by John Corbett), a longhaired English teacher, and they immediately hit it off.

As the relationship develops, Toula becomes increasingly concerned that because Ian is not Greek, her parents will not approve of the relationship.

But Toula persists in persuading her family that she has found the man of her dreams.

Even though they gradually consent to their daughter's choice, the family insists that Ian adopt their Greek culture and faith.

When Ian's parents (a wealthy couple without any extended family) accept a dinner invitation at Toula's parents' home, they are not prepared for what they experience.

Watch what happens!

[DVD Chapter: 13     Start Time: 1:04:14     End Time: 1:07:45]

Big Fat Greek Wedding

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a comedy based on the real-life experiences of Greek American actress Nia Vardalos. Toula Portokalos (played by Nia) is the daughter of a restaurateur who owns Dancing Zorba's restaurant in Chicago. At 30 years of age, this unattractive, portly woman seems doomed to be a hostess in her father's restaurant the rest of her life. But Toula has dreams of getting a college degree and falling in love.

Toula meets Ian Miller (played by John Corbett), a longhaired English teacher, and they immediately hit it off. As the relationship develops, Toula becomes increasingly concerned that because Ian is not Greek, her parents will not approve of the relationship. But Toula persists in persuading her family that she has found the man of her dreams. Even though they gradually consent to their daughter's choice, the family insists that Ian adopt their Greek culture and faith.

When Ian's parents (a wealthy couple without any extended family) accept a dinner invitation at Toula's parents' home, they are not prepared for what they experience. As the Millers drive into the suburban Chicago neighborhood, they can't help but notice that the Portokalos garage door has been painted into a huge Greek flag. Even more amazing, they are greeted on the front lawn by nearly 100 people—the entire Portokalos clan. Amid the dozens of cousins, aunts, and uncles (most of whom are named "Nick"), there is a goat hanging on a spit over an open fire.

Toula's father, Gus, addresses the Millers above the boisterous crowd. He smiles broadly and says, "Welcome to my home!" Toula's mother approaches the bewildered couple and gives them the traditional hug and kiss on the cheek. The Millers' deer-in-the-headlights expression relaxes as they realize how much they are loved. Gus and his extended family then warmly welcome the Millers inside the home for an evening of Greek-style feasting and hospitality.

Content: My Big Fat Greek Wedding is rated PG for sensuality and language.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Playtone Pictures, 2002), rated PG, directed by Joel Zwick, written by Nia Vardalos, submitted by Greg Asimakoupoulos

What an illustration of what it means to be really welcomed into the family!!

How do we welcome people into the church family??

We have a picture in Scripture of the early church in Jerusalem…and how they connected new believers into the church family!!!

The Picture is found in Acts 2.

In Acts 2…The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost……and fills the believers.

The day of Pentecost was an annual feast celebrated on the day after the seventh Sabbath after Passover (Leviticus 23:15-16).

The word “Pentecost” means “fifty,” so named because this festival was celebrated fifty days after Passover.

Pentecost was one of three major annual festivals celebrated by the Jews (along with Passover, fifty days earlier, and the Festival of Shelters about four months later).

Jesus was crucified at Passover time, and he ascended forty days after his resurrection.

The Holy Spirit came fifty days after the Resurrection, ten days after the Ascension.

Peter, who once denied Jesus out of fear, now stands up in front of a huge crowd and boldly proclaims the good news about Christ.

About 3000 people respond to his message by believing in Christ…and the new church begins to grow…

These new Christians were immediately connected to Christ and each other.

There are 2 important questions they answer…

We need to make the connection to others.

We need to believe and belong!!!

Making the Connection to Others

1. Why?

What we see in this picture of the early church… are some priorities!!

They established some priorities.

Why should I make the connection to others?

The first priority:

1.) To grow in God’s Word

Luke the author of this gospel, said about these first Christians,

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching …

Acts 2:42 NIV

The 3,000 new converts devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching.

What does that mean?

The NASB says,

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching…”

Apostles’ teaching: God’s revealed truth, which the apostles received and taught faithfully.

It refers to God’s Word.

They took it very seriously by continually devoting themselves to it!!

They needed instruction in the Word if they were to grow up into maturity.

The early church did more than make converts; they also made disciples (Matt. 28:19–20).

Too many Christians and churches settle for converts and miss out on being disciples of Christ.

They settle for the children’s stage.

The mindset among many believers today is I am saved and that is all that counts.

If we are going to grow up we need to encourage each other in the Word of God.

If we are going to grow up we need to study the Word of God.

The psalmist in 119:9, 11…

2 Tim 3:16-17…

The Bible has great benefit

Let’s go to 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV

This verse not only helps us see what the Bible is, God breathed, but what it is useful for.

• Teaching provides content so we know what is right.

• Rebuking brings conviction so we know what is not right.

• We’re then corrected so we know how to get right.

• And training changes our character so we can stay right.

• Verse 17 tells us that when we allow the Word to do its work, we are then equipped and outfitted for effective ministry: “So that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Romans 1:16 reminds us that the gospel is the “power of God.”

And Hebrews 4:12 says: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The Word of God is practical

The Word of God is powerful

The Word of God is penetrating!

Someone made this observation: “We don’t so much study the Bible; the Bible studies us.”

I like what D.L. Moody once said: “The Scriptures are not given for our information but our transformation.”

We will never exhaust the truth of the Word of God.

It is an endless supply of truth that we need to live by.

As a seminary professor used to tell his students, “To study infinity requires eternity.”

One of the best ways to study the Word of God is in a group!!

It is important to be a apart of the Worship service on Sunday as we praise God  and proclaim His Word.

It is alsom important to be in a small group where you can study together.

In my small group…great insights as I listened to the guys in the group about how God’s Word was impacting them.

Some of best sermon material came from them!!!!
Growing in God’s Word was a priority of the early church.

Converts become disciples through the continued study of the Word of God.

Why should I make the connection to others?

The first priority:

1.) To grow in God’s Word

A second priority:

2.) To experience life together

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42 NIV

These first Christians not only devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching but also to the fellowship.

The Greek word koinonia means fellowship.

What is does it mean?

The Greek word translated fellowship means sharing in the lives of other believers.

It takes at least two people.

You can’t fellowship alone.

One little boy was asked to define fellowship.

He said, I guess it is two fellows in a ship.

That’s not a bad definition because when two fellows are in a ship together, they go up and down together, move forward at the same pace, they are together in a common purpose.

That’s what fellowship is.

See message paraphrase v. 42… puts it this way….

They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Acts 2:42 (Msg)

Fellowship is experiencing the life together…the life in Christ!!

Converts become disciples through fellowship with other Christians.

In the early church they did life together….they studied together, they ate together they worshiped and prayed together!!!

In vv 43 -47 we see how they experienced life together…(Read select verses and phrases)

True fellowship happens in a small group.

True fellowship takes us beyond simply socializing together or studying together and into deeper levels of serving together and even suffering together.

An experiment was conducted several years ago to measure people’s capacity to endure pain.

Psychologists measured how long a barefooted person could stand in a bucket of ice water.

They found one factor made it possible for some people to stand in the ice water twice as long as others.

It was the presence of another person…giving support and encouragement.

The sufferers were able to endure the pain much longer…if they had somebody with them.

Life is full of some icy buckets…cold and painful situations…but God uses the warmth and presence of friends to help us endure!

Several years ago I went through some painful times…Small group was there to give support and encouragement!!

Optional Illustration: We need Jesus with skin on!!!

Why should I make the connection to others?

The first priority:

1.) To grow in God’s Word

A second priority:

2.) To experience life together

A third priority:

3.) To reach out to others

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. “

Acts 2:41NIV

The 120 in Acts 1:15 embraced the 3000!!!

Considering Josephus’ estimate of six thousand Pharisees in all Palestine, three thousand conversions to the new Jesus movement in Jerusalem is no small start!

The temple mount had many immersion pools that worshipers used to purify themselves ritually; mass baptisms could thus be conducted quickly.

They baptized them and welcomed them!!

The picture in Acts suggests a oneness as they fellowshipped together, grew together, served together, worshipped together and they continued to reach out together. v.47 “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

God wants his children to find a good home…

Churches that aren’t willing to reach out and welcome new people are out of the will of God!!

Jesus said in Matt 22:37-40,

37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'   38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'   40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 

Matt 22:37-40 NIV

And He said in Matt 28:19-20,

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

 Matt 28:19-20 NIV

A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will result in Great Churches.

Many local churches are dying because they refuse to reach our and welcome new people!

They refuse to find common ground with others in order to share Christ….and by doing so reject the example of Jesus and the words of the Apostle Paul talked about in 1 Cor 9:22-23….

Yes, whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. 23 I do this to get the Gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ.

1 Cor 9:22-23 LB

Our church went from approx 50 in 1996 to close to 350 today!!

How did it happen?

As God added to our number…we welcomed them!!

We became a Great Commandment believers and Great Commission believers.

The small group that I met with initially said let’s do it!!

Now the 50 has become 350 we face a crossroads…

We will be content or will we continue to reach out to others and make disciples!!!

Part of the strategy is to make room for new people.

One way to do that is through our small groups.

Our small group…last year about this time were part of the tailgate…and we had a couple new to the church join our group…

The couple came and kept coming…I think it was the great food!!

That couple is going to come now and share their experience of being part of a small group…

Steve and Sue Deskins’ testimony…
Why should I make the connection to others?

The first priority:

1.) To grow in God’s Word

A second priority:

2.) To experience life together

A third priority:

3.) To reach out to others

Making the Connection to Others…

a second question:

2. How?

How can I make the connection to others?

How do I connect to a community of believers?

Community requires commitment.

We see this in the early church in Acts ch. 2.

In Acts ch. 2:41-42 we see two essential commitments that the early church made…and that we must make if we are serious about community.

1. We must make a commitment to God

Acts 2:41 says…

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” Acts 2:41 (NIV)

After Peter preached the good news about Christ…3000 people became believers.

They committed their life to Christ…turning from sin to the Savior, Christ Jesus.

That is the common bond for community…a relationship with Christ.

We all are different…some like the Browns some like the Steelers…some even like the Bengals!!!

…and we have some other differences…age, ethnic background, occupations, etc.

It’s a simple as this, if God is your Father and God is my Father, then we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Like the song says…We are family…I got all my sisters with me…we are family

If you have made a commitment to Christ…we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ray Glenn in the hospital…

Such a burden for his family…preach the gospel…

One of the songs he wants at his funeral is Friends….

Friends are friends forever…if the Lords the Lord of them…

If you haven’t made that commitment to Christ…let me encourage you to make it today.

In Acts ch. 2:42 we see a 2nd commitment that the early church made…and that we must make if we are serious about community.

2. We must make a commitment to a group

Acts 2:42 says…

“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. “

Acts 2:42 (NIV)

devoted themselves… continued steadfastly (proskarterountes, “persisting in or continuing in”;

Here we find these early believers committed to each other…as they studied God’s Word, shared life together and worshiped God.

They were together…3 times in this passage togetherness is emphasized.

The early church understood the importance of being together…their life depended on it.

Likewise our lives depend on it.

Real fellowship is so much more than just showing up at services.

It is experiencing life together.

If you have adopted a lone ranger mentality…I hope you realize the Bible doesn’t teach that.

WE are better together!!!!

Think about this…if live coals are piled up together those coals will be red hot.

If one of those coals falls off to the side it will be warm for a little while.

But then it will begin to cool off and the next thing you know…there will be just a little bit of smoke.

Soon you will be able to reach over and pick up the coal with your bare hand.

That is what happens to believers…when they separate from the fellowship of believers…they get cold. (or use Pastor’s visit story form prev serm…)

We need each other!!

Life is miserable when you try to go it alone.

The Christian life is about believing and belonging!

Imagine with me if you will what could happen in the next few years if we were really committed to Christ and to each other!!

The story of Antwone Fisher gives us a glimpse of what it might look like…

Antwone Fisher video clip…

Antwone Fisher is the true story of a young man abandoned at birth by an incarcerated woman, who was raised in abusive orphanages, foster homes, and reform schools. After his 18th birthday, he joins the navy where his anger towards life brims to the surface. After several fights, he is ordered to undergo counseling. Psychologist Jerome Davenport (Denzel Washington) encourages Antwone to find his roots to begin healing.

After several phone calls he reaches one aunt and uncle in Cleveland, who escort him to a dilapidated apartment complex where his estranged mother lives. A suspicious and aloof woman answers the door. Upon realizing that Antwone is the child she gave up at birth, she retreats to another room and sits down on a soiled and worn couch and cries silently.

Antwone asks for some explanation as to why she never came to rescue him or why she never sought him out. She cannot answer. She simply stares ahead, not daring to look at him, tears rolling down her expressionless face.

He gently kisses her on the cheek as if to say, "I forgive you," and walks away. His mother remains on the couch and stares at nothing, making no effort to respond. A despondent Fisher leaves the apartment with his questions unanswered and rides back to his aunt's house with his uncle.

As he exits the car, his slow gait betrays the loneliness of a man with no hope of a meaningful connection to anyone. As Antwone enters the front door, however, his world changes. He is met with a chorus of cheers from 50 plus relatives, all waiting to meet Antwone for the first time.

There are children, couples, cousins, uncles, and family friends, all smothering him with hugs, slaps on the back, and beaming smiles. One cousin tells him his name is Edward and says, "I'm named after your dad," and an older aunt squeezes his cheeks. Antwone takes it all in, overwhelmed.

The hallway stairs are filled with kids holding up signs with his name scribbled next to crayola-sketched smiley faces and rainbows. He is then led into the next room where a grand feast is spread across a long table. The table is overflowing with chicken, mashed potatoes, pancakes, fruit salad, and every other possible dish. The room is prepared for a party. For the first time in his life, he is being adored. For the first time, he belongs.

As the clamor quiets, an elderly woman sitting behind the table knocks to get Antwone's attention and then waves for him to come over next to her. With slow, deliberate moves, she raises her arms, grabbing his hands and then caressing his face. A slow tear runs down her cheek, and with a raspy voice that seemed as if it was mustering all the strength it possessed, she whispered the redemptive invitation: "Welcome."

In much the same way, we are welcome in the family of God.

Elapsed time: Measured from the beginning of the opening credit, this scene begins at 01:45:08 and ends at 01:50:00.

Content: Antwone Fisher is rated PG-13 for violence, language, and content involving abuse.

Antwone Fisher (A Mundy Lane/Todd Black Production, 2002), rated PG-13, written by Antwone Fisher, directed by Denzel Washington; submitted by David A. Slagle, Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Winn Collier, Seneca, South Carolina

Concl:

Making the Connection:

We need each other!

Have you made the connection to others?

Are you in a small group?

Many opportunities…

One question everybody asks when they come to a church: Is there a place here for me???

There is a place here for you!!

Or…Facing the Giants

…an action-packed drama about a Christian high school football coach who uses his undying faith to battle the giants of fear and failure.

In six years of coaching, Grant Taylor has never led his Shiloh Eagles to a winning season.

After learning that he and his wife Brooke face infertility, Grant discovers that a group of fathers are secretly organizing to have him dismissed as head coach.

Devastated by his circumstances, he cries out to God in desperation.

When Grant receives a message from an unexpected visitor, he searches for a stronger purpose for his football team.

He dares to challenge his players to believe God for the impossible on and off the field.

When faced with unbelievable odds, the Eagles must step up to their greatest test of strength and courage.

What transpires is a dynamic story of the fight between faith and fear.

Facing the Giants is a powerful experience for the whole family inspiring viewers to live with faith, hope, and love!

Point to Ponder: I need others in my life.

Question to consider: Will you make the necessary commitments to experience life together with other believers?