A united church.

The giant of literature, Alexander Dumas, wrote the famous story of four men who, together, fought against the injustices of their time. The story tells of a young man who left his province and went to Paris. His desire was to be admitted as a member of The Musketeers of the Guard.

On his way to Paris, an old man derides the young man’s horse. He felt insulted and challenge the old man to a duel. The old man’s friends beat the young man and left him unconscious. The men who not only beat him, but stole the recommendation letter the young man had to be admitted to the Guard.

When he arrives to Paris, he applies to the Guard, but he is rejected. On his way out, he sees the old man, who happen to be the Comte de Rochefort. The young man rushes out of the building to confront the old man, but on his way, he offends three men who happen to be members of the Guard. They also demand a duel with the young man. After seeing his abilities with the sword, they become friends and unite to fight for justices.

The young man’s name was Charles de Batz-Castelmore d’Artagnan, better know as d’Artagnan; the other three men were Athos, Portos, and Aramis. They were “The three musketeers and d’Artagnan”. They had a motto: “One for all and all for one”.

The church in the USA is in crisis!

Attendance and finances have decreased, the gospel is not being preached by the believers and, therefore, the church is not growing, but dying. The church of today is not even close to the N.T church.

This is a time that demands that those who remain live according to that motto: “One for all and all for one”.

If the New Testament’s church was so powerful, it was because they were “One for all and all for one”.

That will be our motto for this year!

Read Act 2:41-47

Unity in doctrine.

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching...” v. 42a

This word appears 22 times translated as “teaching” and 17 times as “doctrine”. Therefore, talking about teaching means talking about doctrine.

Being devoted or dedicated to the doctrine means that they adhere to it. Believing the same doctrine is extremely important because:

The belief or doctrine is what unite us.

1 Timothy 6:3–4 (NASB95)

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words,

When there is no unity of doctrine, the members of the Body pull in every direction. The result of that are also given by Paul in these verses:

1 Timothy 6:4–5 (NASB95)

out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

There very first thing a believer must check when he is seeking for a new church is their doctrine... Unfortunately, most make decisions based on type of music, programs, activities, or friends. Those things change, but doctrine stands forever.

The belief or doctrine is our foundation.

Doctrine is like a plumb line for a builder. Without it, you can be sure that walls will end up crooked and the first earthquake they will fall.

Whatever we teach, whatever we practice, and whatever we communicate must be checked with the plumb line or the meter of doctrine. If it is not according, we should not only not teach it, but condemn it.

Unity of the Body.

“…and to fellowship.” v. 42b

“Koinonía” (fellowship) comes from “koiné” (common: public, joint). A fellowship where...

All members are valuable.

It is great mistake to think that some member are more valuable than others. They may be more useful than others, but not necessarily more valuable.

In a church God’s way, there should not be favoritism. Favoritism is based on the belief that some members are more valuable; and, therefore, condemned in the Bible:

James 2:1–4 NASB95

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

God wants a church where the rich is as valuable as the poor; the follower as valuable as the leader; the educated as valuable as the uneducated. Remember that Christ paid the same price for each of us!

All members are important.

Just like in a body there are different members with different functions, in the number of believers there were people from different countries, different languages, and different financial means.

If we act in the flesh, like the Corinthians, we may think that some are more important than others. But Paul made it clear to them that in the Body of Christ no member can tell other members, “I am more important than you!”

See 1 cor 12:18-26...

All members participate.

“[They were devoted] to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” v. 42c

Serving the Body.

Breaking the bread was a commemoration of the ultimate proof of love. On that night when Jesus was betrayed, He gave the disciples an example of serving: He washed the disciples’ feet and told them:

John 13:14–15 NASB95

“If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

We want a church where all members serve one way or the other. We all can do something for the church. We do not want any paralytic members that have to be carried by others.

Participating of the ordinances.

Breaking bread and praying are commands given by the Lord.

Regarding the Lord’s Supper, Jesus said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

We want a church where no one gets attached to sin to the point they do not participate of the bread because they do not want to repent.

Regarding prayer, Jesus told them: “Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation.” And thru Paul, He said, “Pray without ceasing”. God wants a church that prays and give prayer the importance it deserves.

Do you pray without ceasing? Do you come to prayer service?

Preaching the gospel.

God wants a growing church! That cannot happen unless the members understand that is a task given to all, not only to the pastors or leaders.

New Testament believers were taking the Gospel everywhere they went:

Acts 8:4 NASB95

Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

The gospel was preached everywhere and every day:

Acts 5:42 NASB95

And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

The church will not grow unless we all bring people to Christ!

Every member is expected to do an effort to brings others to Christ and the church.

All members give proportionally.

“they had all things in common;” v. 44

In His justice, God has not established an specific amount, but a percentage (10%) so that the giving may be proportional. If you receive little, you give little; if you receive a lot you give a lot. In God’s eyes, the rich that tithes gives the same as the poor that tithes.

Acts 4:32 NASB95

And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

They were clear that they were only administrators of God’s money. Everything belongs to Him.

The problem with many Christians who are reluctant to tithe is that they see themselves as owners. If the congregants just understand it, that would solve the church’s financial needs.

If the owner of the company tells the treasurer, “I want you to write a monthly check of so much to any given organization”, Can the treasurer refuse to give it? Absolutely Not! If he refuses, What will the owner do?

All members share and give generously.

“they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all,” v. 45

There is more meaning in life in giving than in receiving. Having more will not make you happier, but giving more will do it.

As a united church, we must help each other.

God will bless a church where the members are touched by those in need and are willing to help to fulfill the need.

In a church where all give, there are not freeloaders or parasites. A body that has parasites is not healthy!

There was not hypocrisy among them either, but “sincerity of heart”. When we allow the Holy Spirit take control of our feelings, there cannot be hypocrisy!

Hypocrisy divides the church! Sincerity unites the church!

If you are part of this church or want to be part of it, these things are expected from you: be united in doctrine, united in fellowship, united in serving, and united giving proportionately to your income.