What Kind of Church?
Notes
Transcript
Acts 2:36–47; 4:32–35
Introduction
A. What kind of church would you like?
A. What kind of church would you like?
B. You can have whatever kind of church you wish.
B. You can have whatever kind of church you wish.
C. The only place to find out what kind of church Christ wants is in the New Testament.
C. The only place to find out what kind of church Christ wants is in the New Testament.
D. Here is the pattern for the best, most efficient church it is possible to have.
D. Here is the pattern for the best, most efficient church it is possible to have.
I. The New Testament Church Was a Church of Christ
I. The New Testament Church Was a Church of Christ
A. Each Christian recognized the church as Christ’s: His body, His bride, His building.
A. Each Christian recognized the church as Christ’s: His body, His bride, His building.
B. In every figure referring to the church Christ is pre-eminent: Sheep, shepherd; fold, door; servants, master; etc.
B. In every figure referring to the church Christ is pre-eminent: Sheep, shepherd; fold, door; servants, master; etc.
C. The church recognized the authority of Jesus: also the authority of His divinely appointed apostles.
C. The church recognized the authority of Jesus: also the authority of His divinely appointed apostles.
D. The members appreciated the price with which they were bought—the precious blood of Christ.
D. The members appreciated the price with which they were bought—the precious blood of Christ.
II. The Church in the New Testament Was a Big Church
II. The Church in the New Testament Was a Big Church
A. They operated on a large scale.
A. They operated on a large scale.
B. They increased from 120 to three thousand members in a one-day revival.
B. They increased from 120 to three thousand members in a one-day revival.
C. Shortly afterward, the church grew to five thousand members.
C. Shortly afterward, the church grew to five thousand members.
III. The New Testament Church Was a Growing Church
III. The New Testament Church Was a Growing Church
A. It grew in the favor of the community.
A. It grew in the favor of the community.
B. It grew in grace.
B. It grew in grace.
C. It grew in numbers: added, multiplied.
C. It grew in numbers: added, multiplied.
IV. The New Testament Church Was a Steadfast Church
IV. The New Testament Church Was a Steadfast Church
A. It continued in the apostles’ teaching.
A. It continued in the apostles’ teaching.
B. It continued in fellowship.
B. It continued in fellowship.
C. It continued in breaking of bread.
C. It continued in breaking of bread.
D. It continued in prayers.
D. It continued in prayers.
V. The New Testament Church Was a Praying Church
V. The New Testament Church Was a Praying Church
A. It was born in prayer.
A. It was born in prayer.
B. It was steadfast in prayer.
B. It was steadfast in prayer.
C. It prayed instead of grumbling.
C. It prayed instead of grumbling.
1. While Peter was in prison, the church prayed.
1. While Peter was in prison, the church prayed.
2. Paul and Silas prayed and sang in prison.
2. Paul and Silas prayed and sang in prison.
D. The prayers of the early church were:
D. The prayers of the early church were:
1. Short.
1. Short.
2. Reverent.
2. Reverent.
3. Definite.
3. Definite.
VI. The New Testament Church Was a Giving Church
VI. The New Testament Church Was a Giving Church
A. They considered themselves, as they were in fact, stewards, merely, of their possessions.
A. They considered themselves, as they were in fact, stewards, merely, of their possessions.
B. No one lacked.
B. No one lacked.
C. They provided for the ministry.
C. They provided for the ministry.
D. They looked after the poor people.
D. They looked after the poor people.
VII. The Church of the New Testament Was an Evangelistic Church
VII. The Church of the New Testament Was an Evangelistic Church
A. They went everywhere preaching the Word.
A. They went everywhere preaching the Word.
B. They understood and acted upon the great commission.
B. They understood and acted upon the great commission.
Conclusion
A. Do you want a better church?
A. Do you want a better church?
B. Be a better Christian.
B. Be a better Christian.
Butler, B. (1962). Sermon Outlines on Christian Living (pp. 47–48). Cincinnati, OH: Standard.