Unity Lived Out
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-OOS
I. Welcome
A. P. Dustin
a. Great 2 c ya
b. Reminder: We have the privilege o participating in water baptism 2day
1. Marianne Sarchino after tithe/offering
c. Reminder: Offering will b taken @ the end o service just b4 baptism
II. Opening Prayer
A. Kiomi
III. Worship
A. Songs:
a. “Awesome God”
b. “One Way”
c. "Great Are You LORD”
d. “No Sweeter Name”
e. "Draw Me Close"
IV. Announcement
A. Abby Dedication July 19
V. Sermon
VII. Offering
VIII. Water Baptism
-SERMON
INTRO
INTRO
I. Where We’ve Been
A. last week we defined Biblical unity:
a. Jesus centered community w/same purpose, shared devotion 2 love, same souled, & shared thinking
1. This unity is intricately connected w/ fellowship
b. Biblical fellowship is described as
1. shared encouragement in Christ
2. shared comfort frm God’s love poured out in & through us
3. shared participation in The H.S.
4. Shared affection & sympathy
i. we cannot have biblical fellowship apart frm unity
ii. & we cannot have biblical unity apart frm fellowship
c. This was described in detail by Apostle Paul in...
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
II. Where We’re Going
A. What we read in Phil was practically lived out in the church…which we read in...
B. Main Text
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
C. Illust. Union w/out Unity
a. There can be union w/out unity: tie 2 cats 2gether by their tails & throw 'em over a clothesline.
b. Married Couples might have experienced this
c. It can also b true o a church
d. & this was the experience that some in the Church at Philippi were beginning to experience
Is it Possible to experience all that God has 2 offer HIS people: community, power, & missional leading if we look like cats w/their tails tied 2gether?
D. Instead, let us experience what A.W. Tozer describes in The Pursuit of God
100 pianos all tuned 2 the same fork r automatically tuned 2 ea. other. They r o 1 accord by being tuned, not 2 ea. other, but 2 another standard 2 which ea. 1 must individually bow.
a. Rather than trying 2 rally around ea. other, let’s strive 2 rally around Jesus
1. Let us b in-tune w/the H.S. 2 experience unity
C. Biblical unity offers us shared experiences necessary 4 us 2b God’s change agents in this broken world
a. which is What God has called the church (God’s chosen community centered around Jesus’ leadership)
III. Prayer
BODY
BODY
I. Why we need Biblical Unity
A. Biblical Unity 2 experience community (community looks like:)
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
a. devoted: constantly attend; continual devotion
b. God designed the church 2b a people who shared & lived life 2gether
1. they learned together: “devoted to apostles teaching”
i. learned & applied Jesus teaching shared by the church leaders
2. Shared close friendship: “and the fellowship”
3. shared meals together: “breaking of bread”
4. shared prayer together
i. folks who pray 2gether, stay 2gether
-pretty tough 2b @odds w/some1 ur persevering in prayer w/
5. shared possessions 2gether
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
i. context
-kicked out o Jewish Fellowship
-kicked out o Roman Fellowship
-Actually believed that poverty didn’t mean second class citizenship (poverty then diff. than poverty 2day)
*folks who couldn’t work, or struggled & toiled to make ends meet, & couldn’t
-what did having all things in common look like practically?
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
6. all seasoned w/shared gladness & generosity
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
c. When Lk describes their “fellowship” he may have something similar in mind 2 what Paul described in...
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
1. this is more than the Sunday gathering
i. a people can’t experience this kind o community & fellowship… this kind o unity by meeting just 1x a week
c. how is this kind of life in community possible?
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
1. impossible 2 give so deeply & live in community w/out seeing other’s need as more significant than 1’s own
i. Lk describes it as —“of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own”—
ii. this is a practical ex. o the idea Paul described 2 the Phil. in
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
2. The community we read about in Acts was not inward focused group who only took care o themselves w/no thought 2 the world around them:
3. God is creating a community designed & empowered 2 grow
i. sometimes in steady increase
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
ii. Sometimes in waves
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
iii. All Spirit empowered growth
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
d. Opportunities for Community in GMCC (going 2 look a little diff; not all ostracized):
1. Men’s Coffee (wed 9:30am)
2. Women’s Coffee (Mon 10am)
3. Bible Study (Tues. 6:30pm)
4. In-home gatherings (including in the church bldg; Sun. 10am) what if:
i. we let down our walls & let people in2 our life, thoughts, struggles
-w/out fear o judgement
ii. we started praying 4 ea. other in these home groups when folks lower walls & let us in
iii. sharing the burdens practically by meeting ea. other’s needs
iv. inviting our friends & neighbors to the home groups...
- so they could c that followers o Jesus r known by our love 4 ea. other
- How might God show up?
B. (We Need) Biblical unity 2 experience God’s Power
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
a. Describe
1. God showed up in pwr
2. Directly following, Peter, empowered by H.S. preached an amazing sermon & 3,000 were got saved!!
i. Why? - Unity:
b. Lk records that they were 2gether: gathered @1x, but also in 1 accord
1. this was spelled out earlier by Lk in...
14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
2. Pwr o God not a 1x revival experience; a life of shared fellowship w/God (back 2 main vs’)
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
—Also look @—
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
i. It’s in unity that they experienced the power of God 4
-saving souls
-setting the sin captives free
-Breaking chains,
-Restoring relationships
-Mending broken hearts
-healing the sick
c. In-hm Gatherings: What if...
C. (We Need) Biblical Unity 2 experience God’s Missional Leading
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
a. Describe scene
1. a little like our multi-church gatherings for prayer & worship
i. Remember those?? (describe)
2. They knew, it wasn’t only about growing deep…was about growing out 2!!
i. God wants many to experience
-salvation
-community
-power
-Leading
b. it was while unified in fasting & worship The H.S. showed up 2 give fresh vision for Paul & Barnabas’ missionary journey
c. In hm-gatherings (What if?)
1. as we were gathered in hms & here @church bldg.
i. During prayer & worship God started calling our folks 2 min
-Raising up
*missionaries
*church planters
*pastors
*Min. heads
~how would u respond? - Here’s how Paul/Barnabas responded:
3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
1. How do we experience unity in community, power of God, & missional prompting?
i. Perhaps we can begin by applying Paul’s encouragement in how we view church
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
D. It’s time 2 allow the H.S. to change how we view & understand church so that we can b x-formed in2 God’s true change agent in the world!!
a. if we’re not willing 2 c church as more than the place we go 1x a week so we can get our weekly God fix
& begin 2 c ourselves as the Church:
i. God’s people sharing life together in unity of purpose & fellowship
ii. We’ll never experience what we read in Acts
2. We can’t force God 2 move in pwr...
i. but we can create an environment conducive 2 his moving
II. PRAY
A. Lord, like the pianos described by A.W. Tozer, please tune us 2 urself by ur Spirit
a. That we would be unified under Jesus’ leadership, vision, mission & values
b. Help us that we may experience true community, divine power, & missional prompting
OFFERING
OFFERING
I. Here’s a way for us to do practically what we read about regarding community:
A. Contribute Generously 2 the needs of our fellowship as well as the people o Bennington
a. Give to tithe/offering
II. 3 ways to give
A. online: greenmtn.org
B. text the word “give” to (833) 966-2042
a. already gave via text: just text the amount to that same #
C. mail a check to 440 Main St. in Bennington
III. Close in Prayer
A. after offering we’re going 2 have an opportunity to experience unity through baptism
a. after offering we’re going 2 disconnect frm live streaming & have our host homes loggin 2 zoom meeting
IV. Song: "My Savior My God”
BAPTISM
BAPTISM
I. Intro
II. Baptism’s purpose
A. A sign of unity
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
a. It’s a right o passage
1. Where the person baptized says, “I’m 1 o u”
2. & God’s community says, “ur 1 o us!!”
3. It’s w/baptism that we rally around the leading of Jesus as his followers
B. Baptism as an Outward Expression of an Inward work
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
II. Intro Person Baptized
A.
B. Share w/us ur story
C. In2 the baptismal
a. do u confess the Jesus is LORD
b. do believe w/all u r that He is risen from the dead?
c. I now baptize u in the name of the Father, Son, H.S.