favor and awareness

Acts 2:42–47 NKJV

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

. last week Sunday we shared about 2 things in this passage that i believe are of vital importance to the effectiveness of God’s church. and today i would like to dive a little bit deeper into those two things.

. Those two things were

1)”sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” awareness of those around us

2)”praising God and having favor with all the people” holding favor within the community.

. these two things were instrumental in the exponential growth that the early church experienced, and were recognized by the disciples and the apostle Paul as ways that the church could impact new towns and regions that they were expanding to.

. and as such become a core part of Paul’s teaching and instruction to new pastors and leaders that he was developing and planting in the new churches that were being started.

we see this teaching expressed in Paul's letter to Titus.

. for a little context Titus is a young pastor, that Paul has left with the challenging task of setting in order and leading the church in Crete, in the letter Paul talks about appointing elders and leaders and gives advise on how to choose those people, but he also stresses to Titus the importance teaching that everyone men and women, young and old each have their vital functions to fulfill in the church if they are to be living examples of the doctrine that they profess.

Titus 3:8 NKJV

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

. So one of the things Paul is expressing in this statement is that for the local church to be effective in its expression of the gospel of Jesus, those who belong to that church and who profess there faith in Jesus, need to be aware that for the church to make a positive impact, they need to be doers of good works, learning to become desperately aware of the ways in which they as a believer can live their life in a way that is ‘profitable’ for all men.

. That our lives make a positive impact on the community

Titus 3:14 NKJV

And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

. Paul also express that this is true for people in all levels of functionality in the church.

. it becomes clear that the way that the early church reached out to the community was through good works and by being and the kind of community that God intended.

. and it was by this genuineness of community that the early church won favor with all people.

. this is so important being completely genuine in our love for and our faith in God.

. Living by the standards that we say we live by. by being the church and doing what the church is created to do, we build favor in our local community.

give some examples :......