Acts 2:37–47

The Church Devoted to God’s Word and Fellowship adds Souls to the Congregation.

17Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.

Introduction: The first church consisted of two main activities. Church members were devoted to the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship. Fellowship is further defined as breaking of bread and prayer.

God creates all things, by the Word of His mouth. The Church was created by the Word of God.

Peter preached Christ. The message was simple: Christ was sent by God to create peace between God and humanity. Christ carried out God’s plan by living in the flesh, according to God’s will. By being put to death by sinful society, innocent of any wrongdoing, Christ died as a substitute for all our sins. Jesus was buried and three days later God raised Him victorious over sin and death and made Jesus both Lord and Christ over God’s Kingdom.

Heaven’s embassy on earth is the church. Sinful enemies of God hear the word of God and one of two things happen. They reject the message and remain estranged from God, or they receive the message and become ambassadors of Christ their King.

explains how we are appointed Ambassadors and gain admittance into heaven’s embassy—the church:

37Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

38Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 41 reveals the result of receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit:

41So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

August 19, 2018 God Added Emaús to Hunt Springs’ family.

Topic Transition: Today we are here to celebrate the one-year anniversary of our union, and to be reminded of our heavenly mission here on earth.

The Hunt Springs/Emaús union is called Church. Together we have a three-fold mission like the first church. The first Church consisted of two main activities which resulted in Jesus’ mission on earth.

Big Idea: The Church gathers around God’s Word and fellowship, which, when done with complete devotion, adds more souls to the congregation.

Read

(NASB95)

42They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

43Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

44And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;

45and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.

46Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Purpose: We are here today to celebrate what God has accomplished, in one year, and to renew our devotion to the teaching of God’s Word and to the Fellowship of believers. In order for the Church to grow, we, the members, must work in unison.

1. Are you devoted to the Word of God?

Are you continually devoting yourself to the authority of Scripture? The first church members remained devoted to the teaching of the Word.

They feasted on the Word of God at church and at home. If the Spirit of Christ dwells in you, then you are drawn to the Word of God. You need the Word of God for individual growth and corporate growth. You must study and use the bible. You will sit under the authority of the teaching of God’s word. The preacher may be boring, but the Word never bores you.

: Do you feel a sense of awe, when the Bible is being taught?

Do you find yourself trying to get out from under the hard truths of Scripture? If so, you need to repent. Ask God to change your heart’s disagreement with His instructions.

Are you building relationships with other believers, around the Word of God? If not, you need to repent. Some days, God uses other believers to speak his truth into our lives. Other days, God uses us to speak biblical truth into another believer’s life.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke of the mutual reciprocation of actively being nourished on the Word of God:

The Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s Word to him. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged, for by himself he cannot help himself without belaying the truth. . . the Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the word of his brother; his own heart is uncertain, his brother’s is sure (Life Together, 23).

Jesus reminds us, in :

. . . “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Devoted believers prioritize studying God’s Word, sitting under the preaching of God’s Word, and sharing God’s Word. If you do not have a hunger for one of these servings of spiritual nourishment, then repent today. Began today, planning on attending preaching and sharing what you learn with others, during the week.

Believers Nourished on the Bible are devoted to fellowship.

2. Are you devoted to fellowship with God’s people?

Fellowship is further defined as the breaking of bread and prayer.

First do you have fellowship with God, through Christ Jesus. Only an intimate relationship with God can produce deep relationships with other believers. Do you love the idea of church more than you love the actual people in the church? If so, then repent. Do you show up regularly for church activities, but you come late and leave early to avoid interacting with people?

Believers devoted to fellowship make two-way commitments. Horizontally we are committed to God, vertically we are committed to others. We build accountability relationships.

says:

“Iron sharpens iron, so one man [or woman] sharpens another.”

Church together involves doing life together.

Today we must commit to partner together in fellowship and study of God’s Word. Are you willing to make this commitment to one another? If so, raise your hand.

Devoting ourselves with result in sharing of God Word verbally and visibly in action and attitude.

Application: Do you feel a sense of awe, when you are near God’s Word and His people? Are you continually devoting yourself to Scripture and Fellowship, because you are amazed at the benefit of Christ’s creation of the church?

Today we gather for fellowship, in the breaking of bread. Make an effort to build a new relationship, repair and old relationship, or enhance an existing relationship, while we share a meal this afternoon.

Next Sunday we gather for preaching and the breaking of Bread, in the Lord’s Supper. Make your devotion to God’s Word and His people a priority next week. Remember how much the creation of the church costed Christ Jesus

Pray for each other, pray that our strengths and weaknesses complement one another’s needs. Are you devoting time and effort to the teaching of God’s Word? Are you devoting time and effort to fellowship with other believers? Where do you gain most of your instruction for Life situations? Who influences your behavior the most? Who are you accountable to for you attitude, actions, and words? God gives us the Bible for instruction, and He gives us each other to help apply His word to our lives.

LET US PRAY:

Kind and Saving Heavenly Father, we come to you in need of Your Spirit to make us into the image of Your Son Jesus. Lord forgive our insincerity to your Word and help us redirect our devotion to sitting under the authority of preaching and study of Your Word. Help us understand the advantages of be devoted to renewed fellowship with you and other believers, whom you place in our lives. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN