The Genuine Church

We’ve spent the last three weeks studying the sermon on Pentacost. This is when the first church is established. In fact, every modern day church can be traced to this event. Churches today all look very different. We have different denominations, different worship styles, different doctrines, different looks to buildings, etc. etc. I could go on and on describing the differences between various modern day churches. But as we look in Acts 2:42-47, I believe we see some very important ideas about church. I would even go so far as to say that without these ideas, the church ceases to be the church but falls short of what God desires for His body. So if you have your Bible, I invite you to follow along as I read beginning in Acts 2:42-47

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2 provides a powerful description of a church that is on fire for God that is seeing people added to their numbers everyday. Would we describe modern churches with this same description? The Southern Baptist Convention just released a report that churches in our denomination had seen the greatest decline in the last 100 years. While some churches in America are thriving, many of them are struggling. However, Christianity still is spreading in nations around the world. So what is the issue in American churches, why are we seeing the decline of members in our churches. Perhaps, we need to focus on the very basics of what a church should be. Perhaps you have heard the phrase, “we want to be an Acts 2 church” What does that exactly mean? What are the things the early church did that made them such a powerful force for the kingdom of God?

The first question we need to ask is what is the church.

What is the Church?

There are loads of things that use the name church. Like The church of Spock, or the church of spongebob square pants. I can guarantee they aren’t talking about Jesus. These are actual names of places. Throw in things that people worship beside Jesus such as Money, power, social status, sports, and the list could go on and on. It is easy to see the problem that the modern church is facing. While society is very secular, so was society during the time of the apostles. Modern society has just found new ways to engage with sin. So with all the problems that exist in our modern world and with all the various things that call themselves churches what truly makes a Christian Church. First, foremost, and most importantly the Church is dedicated to Christ.

dedicated to Christ

The Church is all amount the name of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. Jesus is not just something tacted on to the service or someone just vaguely mentioned. No, the true church is dedicated to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Most churches have a variety of programs, services, dinners, ministries where hopefully strive to lift up the name of God. However, some churches become more well known for a particular ministry or the strength of their worship music, than the name of Jesus. While each and every one of these ministries are important to the church, they are just vehicles for the church to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Whenever a ministry, a denomination, a church name, or a pastor are elevated more than the Kingdom of God. The church has a problem. My hope is that Calvary Baptist Church is never one of those churches. I want our church to be dedicated to Christ, lift His name and His name alone. When we do that, I believe God will use us for His glory and for His Kingdom. So let us be a church that will be used by God and never seek our own name or glory.

Acts 2 tells us of 3,000 people who are added to the church after Peter’s sermon. I can only imagine what would happen with a invitation and response to such a magnitude of this. I don’t think Peter had a line of worship counselors lined up to take individuals back to explain the decision they just made. Perhaps they had small scrolls prepared to take down information of people who had responded so they could connect them with others later on. Ok. maybe not. Even though Peter and the apostles had not “prepared” for this type of response. The Holy Spirit equipped them to help these new believers. We see how they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, & prayer. I don’t think these things happened by chance, but I see each person engaging in intentional discipleship.

b. dedicated to teaching, fellowship, & prayer (intentional discipleship)

I wonder to myself if most people grasp these ideas. Far to often, I don’t know if we intentional think about how we lead new believers in their walk with Christ. Perhaps we give them the basics and then hope they will learn as they go along. Sometimes that has worked, but to many times these people probably fall through the cracks. How many people have come to know the Lord at a church, were baptized, but just a short time later never come any more. There has to be something we are missing. I wonder if that has to do with this idea of dedication. Dedication is a life that is consumed and define by Biblical teaching, Christian fellowship, and prayer. How many of even mature believers would say their lives would be defined by these three things? Sure we participate in them but are most of us really consumed and defined by these things. It is easy to become distracted by the things of the world. Jobs have to be done. You have to make money to pay your bills, providing housing and food. We are called to be family, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters. Churches are always in need of people to serve in different areas and God has provided us with talents and abilities to help further the mission of the church. Each of these are important, very much needed in our lives. However, our vision can become so focused on those, we lose the focus on the things of God. At no point should important things ever eclipse God. We have to remained focused and intentional.

Their dedication to the discipling of God was every single day. They didn’t just come to church on Sunday and then forget about it until the next week. No, ever day they were dedicated to the learning and growing in their faith. The apostles were investing in and teaching these new believers, pouring into the lives of the people around them everyday. This was truly a community. People met everyday, studied the Bible, Fellowshipped, broke bread together, and prayed together. They were literally doing life together. I think we desire these types of relationships. This fact has been magnified by the seperation we are experiencing due to the corona virus. People are made for relationship. We need to be around others. This is true be every person on earth, but should be especially true in the church. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ. We must intentional work at discipling everyone around us. That may be discipling someone with the Gospel and a first time decision for Christ, or working alongside mature believers in our mission for Christ, and every step in between. So that is who we are called to be as the church. The early church was dedicated to Christ and dedicated to growing in their faith and helping others do so as well. But what is the job of the Church?

2. What is the job of the Church?

Most churches these days have a mission or vision statement. This statement should be a way for people to remember what their church’s job or mission is. At Calvary, we say we are called to Love God, Love people by being disciples who make disciples. The very basis of this statement is the two great commandments and the great commission. We believe this is what God has called to be and do. When we focus on God, He will be faithful and use us. I see this on display in the early church. Just like our hope is that our mission statement will lead us to unity, the early church was unified in Christ.

unified in Christ

Look at the words used in Acts. “And all who believed were together and had all things in common.” This is a type of unity that goes far beyond your everyday unity. I know there were arguements in the early church. Several book of the New Testament outline many of these arguments, but despite the differences, they were united in Christ. God has the ability to transform people’s hearts and minds. The early believers put the concept of unity into practice. It wasn’t just something they talked about or said but actually lived it out. Acts 2 shows us this in the description of how the church treated one another.

“And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.” The church was proving for the needs of others. This is ministry.

b. provides for the needs of others

We are called to help others and to bear one another’s burdens. When I read about the church in Acts, I don’t read about people who had a lot of possessions who sold them to help others with their name attached. We don’t see people elevated but the church. In the kingdom of God, everyone is equal. There is no division. Everyone is important. Yes, the apostles were leading, but they were not more important than anyone else. The Kingdom of God is not dependent by what you have, what you don’t have, your race, political beliefs. The church is defined by Christ.

I wanted to take a moment to speak about the current issues in our society. Unfortunately, we live in a sinful world. People look down on other people and will make judgements against people just based upon what they look like, their race, etc. With that said, I think it is important that the church take a stand against racism and racial injustice. There is no room in our world for these types of sins. They need to be called out when they happen. We need to help speak for those who are wronged. We also need to admit times when we have been wrong or judge others. Our world is broken and we must speak the love of Christ and the Gospel message into it. Jesus came and died for everyone. He loves all of us. Let us speak this love to everyone and speak up when things are wrong. Let us work toward equity and equality for all. It is absolutely wrong and sinful for people of color to be discriminated against or targets of racism. Let us work through the Spirit of God to declare His love around the world.

The church was providing for all needs of everyone, physical, emotional, and spiritual let us work in the same way.

So what happens when the church is comes together and functions as God intended, just like the early church.

What is the result of the Church?

people of integrity

We see people of integrity. It is interesting that Acts mentions how the early believers had favor will all the people. We know that many people in Rome did not view Christians in a very good light. In fact, there was a rumor going around that Christians were canabals. Due to the practice and describtion of the Lord’s Supper. In spite of all the differences in beliefs between the Christians and their secular society, the christians are described as being in favor with all people.

When we live for the Gospel, we will be people who are worthy of respect. People with integrity are the same regardless of the situation. They are going to do the same thing regardless of whether people are watching them or not. Unfortunately the modern church has a reputation of being hypocrites. Far too many people speak about others sinfulness, while ignoring the sin in their own life. Perhaps sometimes we strive to hard to entertain people or draw new people in, we lose sight of what we are called to do. We must be genuine in our worship, our lives, and as we interact with others. Let us not pretend to be something we are not, but let us be genuine as we worship God. Evangelism is the result of this type of church

evangelism

People are attracted to people who are genuine. When we actively live for God through the Spirit, the world will take notice. This will give us an opportunity to share the Gospel with the communities around us. As the early church starts, the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. God wants to grow His church. He wants people to come to know Him as their person Lord and Savior. We can be a part of His work when we are dedicated to following Him. Don’t become distracted by what we think or what we think we can give to God. Instead, we must be dedicated to simply being servants of God. When a church is faithful, they will share their faith. Let us be that type of church.

So as we end today, I would like to ask some questions.

Would you describe your life as being dedicated to the teaching of God, to fellowship, to prayer? If not, today can be a fresh start. Ask forgiveness for being distracted and ask God to give you a hunger and thirst for His presence and His word

Are you a person of Unity? Are you looking out for the needs of others?

Are you regularly praying for the lost around you by name and looking and taking opportunities to share the Gospel with them?

If we were honest, all of us could always do better. I don’t say these things so we beat ourselves up. God is a god of grace and we should give ourselves grace as well. Don’t become discouraged, but use this opportunitiy to be honest with God, draw closer with Him, and start on a new journey of intentionally to God’s mission.