Fellowship Of Believers (Part 1)

ME:

Pledge

Passage - Acts 2:42-47

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.

Prayer

Title: Fellowship Of Believers (Part 1)

As I have grown up I have been taught many thing (physically)!

How to walk / How to ride a bike / How to play guitar / How to Fish / How to catch a football (My uncle Rick)

ALL THESE THINGS I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO DO PHYSICALLY

There are some things I have been taught by someone modeling it (Observation).

My mom taught me how to LOVE your kids.

My coaches taught me how to be a TEAM PLAYER.

I had teachers in my life who taught me RESPECT.

Transition Statement: I am sure I am not alone no this. You can resonate with some of this can’t you?

YOU:

Someone has physically taught you how to do thing!

A grandparent / A family member / A Neighbor / A Teacher / A friend

There is one thing in my life that many people have shown me (I learned by observing) .....

DEVOTION (Loyalty)

I think there is a difference between Loyalty and Devotion

Loyal to a football team

Devoted to my wife.

I have had people in my life who taught me “DEVOTION.”

Who?

My Parents! / Mentors in my life / Pastor Peers of mine

Transition Statement: As we look at the passage of scripture we read this morning we are shown devotion.

GOD:

Share what just took place prior to this passage ....

In an upper room praying (120 of them)

Baptized by the Holy Spirit

Peter preaches (3000 saved)

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IS BIRTHED

3120 people are members of the FIRST N. T. CHURCH

What does any good American Church do?

Buy some property .... Build a building .....

Set the time for church service ....

9:30am S.S

10:45am Worship Service

6:00pm Sunday Night Service

Wednesday Night Prayer meeting (do everything but pray) 7:00pm

Isn’t this what the scriptures tell us. (Vs 44-47)

This is NOT what the First Church of the N.T. looked like.

Over the next few weeks I want to look at this First Church of the N. T.

Does the church today look like this NT Church?

Overview:

The main Characteristic

The 4 Components of the Church

The results

The reaction of the believers

the reaction of the non-believers

This morning let’s look a the Main Characteristic of this N.T. Church

It’s found in Vs 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 

The Main Character is “Devotion.”

The very first Characteristic describing the First N.T. Church is the word “DEVOTED!”

Greek - Proskartereo

Def: Remaining faithfully attached to a person or applying oneself exclusively to a certain thing. Devoting oneself to it tirelessly!

10 times this word is used in the NT

3 times translated “Devoted” (All by Luke).

Acts 1:14 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. (WAITING ON THE H.S.)

Acts 6:4 4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (YOU TAKE CARE OF THE WIDOWS)

The 3120 were not told to do this!

When the Holy Spirit comes upon you this becomes a way of life.

Devotion to Christ is not merely a decision to be made in ones life but a decision to be lived out in ones life.

This is how it should be for us STILL TODAY!

You want to know if you are devoted to Christ or not .....

Do you have the teaching of Christ at the center of your life? (42)

Should I have sex before marriage

Should I get drunk

Am I loving my neighbor

THE 1st N.T. CHURCH WAS!

You want to know if you are devoted to Christ or not .....

Are you gathering (every time) with a body of believers when there is an opportunity? Fellowshipping? (42) (46)

THE 1st N.T. CHURCH WAS!

You want to know if you are devoted to Christ or not .....

Are you coming together to Pray????? (42)

THE 1st N.T. CHURCH WAS!

You want to know if you are devoted to Christ or not .....

Are you giving up some of your resources to be able to give to others? (45)

THE 1st N.T. CHURCH WAS!

You want to know if you are devoted to Christ or not .....

Are you gathering together to PRAISE Him? (47)

Or do you find that others worldly things take the place of this?

Transition Statement: What was so significant to the 1st Church of the N.T., has it become so minor for us today?

YOU:

Have we allowed ourselves to be moved so far away from what WAS significant to the 1st Church of the N.T. that being devoted is no longer the essential of our walk but an option?

This is a question that is addressed to us personally.

Only I can answer this question for myself.

Am I “Exclusively Faithful, tirelessly devoted” to Jesus Christ?

Pastor, I don’t need to come to a church to be devoted to Jesus!

I would say to that, “Being devoted to Christ, you would want to be a part of body of believers (THE CHURCH)!”

No one told those 3120 people “NOW YOU HAVE TO BE DEVOTED.”

The Spirit that lived within them did!

WE:

Over the next few weeks we will be looking at the First Church of the N.T.

My desire is for us here at Journey to assess out hearts to see if we are still (in essences) the N.T. Church.

And if need be, let hit the RESET button, as a church, and get back to being DEVOTED TO CHRIST as the church was called to be.

(VIDEO to be played from PASTOR ROB) 2nd service