The Gospel and the Generous Church
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Lord’s Supper
Lord’s Supper
Not a sacrament, not a dispensation of grace
III. The Message of the Lord’s Supper
"Communion," perhaps the most common title for this ordinance, is derived from
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
"Communion" in this passage means "fellowship."
Thus, we could also call this ordinance "fellowship."
It is a time for sharing with God and with one another.
ASK: What do believers share in common?
What kinds of attitudes and actions disrupt fellowship?
How does reflecting upon Christ's death make cliques among Christians appear unacceptable?
IV. Self-examination
It is impossible for any believer to be worthy or deserving of taking the Lord’s Supper, but it is possible to participate in a worthy or unworthy manner.
In Corinth there was an abuse of the Lord’s Supper; some were eating and drinking in an unworthy manner.
The unworthy behavior at Corinth included gluttony.
They were going after the Lord’s Supper the way my family goes after popcorn in a common bowl.
Everyone tries to get more than the next person.
Those that were eating and drinking unworthily were declared to be "guilty of the body and blood of the Lord," or "not discerning the Lord's body."
The people were not honoring the great sacrifice that is symbolized by the Lord’s Supper.
Every time we take the Lord’s Supper we should thoughtfully consider the tremendous sacrifice Christ made to pay for sin.
It should make us sensitive to sinful attitudes and behaviors that we need to turn from.
We have a time of quiet meditation.
This allows us to examine ourselves.
We should confess our sin to God.
Because some believers in Corinth participated in an unworthy manner, some were sick and some had even died.
The means of avoiding these disciplines from God is for each believer to judge himself and deal with sin in his life.
If one is willing to judge himself and forsake known sin, God will not have to judge.
Remember that God does not chasten a believer to hurt him but to help him abandon his sin (Heb. 12:6).
There are two prerequisites for participating in the communion service.
First, the person must be a believer.
An unbeliever cannot "remember" Christ's death for him, for he has never "known" Him.
And it would be a lie for an unbeliever to eat and drink, symbolizing a past, personal taking in of Christ by faith.
Second, the believer must examine himself before he participates.
communion participants must be baptized believers. It does seem correct, though, to regard Scripture as implying the prerequisite.
Since baptism is a prerequisite for church membership and communion is a church ordinance, it seems likely that only baptized believers participated in the ordinance in the churches of the New Testament.
The book of Acts refers to baptized believers breaking bread together, but it doesn't mention any unbaptized believers doing this.
Partaking
The Bible says, Luke 22:19-20 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
*Sit down and eat.*
(20) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
*Sit down and drink.*
Introduction
Introduction
Dismiss Children
Greeting
We are going to be continuing our Gospel Story Series today in the book of Acts and look at Acts 4 32.
We heard last week that the book of Acts was written by Luke to a man named Theopholis around 62 AD to establish the vailidity of Christianity and the church.
Last week we focused on the Holy Spirit and how He empowers believers to witness, convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and judgement.
This week are going to see the church at Jerusalem after it has grown to a size of about 8000 or more and what it looks like.
We don’t have a record of the programming they offered. I don’t know how many services they were holding or how many youth group meetings they had.
The Lord didn’t see fit to include those things in scripture.
What we do have a record of with the first church that was established after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to Heaven is how generous they were. How much love and compassion they had not just on fellow beleivers, but on their community.
They were not holding capital campaigns or fundraising drives. They were just meeting the needs of the church and community and more!
How? Why? At a time when poverty was normal and life wasn’t easy. Vacations weren’t a thing and working 6 out of 7 days a week was the standard.
The believers at the church in Jerusalem were extremely generous with all that they had.
What lead to this? How can we as individuals be as generous and compassionate as these in Jerusalem?
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:32-33
Exegete: Our passage today starts out talking about the multitude that believed. Remember last week Peter preached and 3,000 were saved? Well, I misspoke last week when I said the church grew to 5000 in Acts 4…I In Acts 4:4 we see where Peter preached and..well look with me.
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
Acts 4:4
5000 more men were saved on top of the 3000 from Acts 2. So now, the church is at an estimated 8000 men. The church could be near 20,000 with women and children included.
A church of this size at a time when they didn’t have a building, any programming to speak of, no social media marketing, or weekly newsletters was all of the same heart and mind.
How could they all be on the same page here? v 33 answers that question.
The Apostle’s preached the gospel. That was what unified the believers. Not how well the care ministry was ran, not what type of music was being played, not even what the people wore to church on Sunday. It was the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
It was this singular focus that lead this ministry to accomplish “God things” in their life time.
Was preaching all they were doing? no. But it was the foundation of all that they did.
Illustrate:
Do you remember in June of 2018 when IHOP came out and said they were changing their name to IHOB?
They were adding burgers to their menu and had decided to become the International House of Burgers.
That caused a fire storm of opinions in the media and on social media. Most calling them crazy. They weren’t a burger joint, they were a pancake house.
I believe the same reaction would have been given if Starbucks said they were going stop selling coffee and begin selling burgers.
Why? Because that is not the purpose of those companies.
Churches have often lost their focus in their purpose by becoming less of an evangelistic training center for believers to take the Gospel to all parts of their community and world and more of a place to hang out with friends and enjoy whatever program the church is putting on.
This happens when Christ is no longer preeminent and the church becomes about itself because those who attend it have become about themselves.
Argue:
How does this happen? How does a community of believers find this singular focus?
It starts at the top
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18
If the leadership in the church is double minded, then the the church will be unnstable.
The Apostle’s were focused on the gospel.
Then, this verse in Colossians must be adhered to by all
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:18
When Christ is the head of the individual life of the Christians that are apart of the church, then He is head of the entire body..
Apply:
The Apostle’s established the direction of the church at Jerusalem based upon the Words of Jesus. The people focused on the gospel that was kept in front of them and became a generous church.
When it comes to generosity, what is your focus? Are you generous because your supposed to be? Are you seeking to gain favor with God? Do you see it as a quid pro quo relationship?
None of those things have anything to do with biblical generosity.
I. A Generous Christian is Christ Focused
I. A Generous Christian is Christ Focused
As the Apostle’s preached the gospel they laid the foundation for the people to live by. The Love of God and the sacrifice of Christ.
They kept the focus of those who had trusted in Jesus as their Savior on Him and Him alone.
We see the result of that type of focus in
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Acts 4:34-35
Exegete:
The believers that had come from all over and stayed in Jerusalem along with those that lived there, were giving everything they had for the cause of Christ. They believed in Jesus, they believed in the mission He had given of telling others about Him, and are showing their commitment by their compassionate sacrifice.
Why were they laying everything at the Apostle’s feet? Why?
Verse 35: what was being given was being used to meet the needs of the community.
This type of compassionate sacrificial giving by those who were involved allowed the Apostles to focus on the word and prayer.
The people were motivated by the need of the hour. They gave of their finances and they gave of themselves willingly. Not because anyone was trying to convince them, not because of guilt, but because of God’s love for them and their faith in Jesus.
What would happen in our church if you and I gave like this? I don’t mean everything you have and let’s start communal living. I mean if you gave not based off your budget but based off your faith? What if you serve not based off your desires but based off Jesus’ love for you and those around you?
Illustrate:
8 kids with $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. 1 kid with need 1 kid to lead.
This kid represents the Apostle’s. Who are seeking to be committed to preaching the Word and prayer.
This kid represents the one in need.
These children represent the church.
The situation could have been...
However the situation was....
Argue:
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:1
Well Pastor, Paul didn’t mean everything. Can I be direct with you? Yes He did.
An Old Testament Sacrifice was used to its fullest extent. Our time, our finances, our posessions, should all be stewarded with an open hand for our Lord to direct and guide as He pleases.
Some may say “I’m waiting on a sign to give or to serve or to...” do something..
God has given you a sign. Jesus. His death burial and resurrection are a sign of your salvation.
Jesus’ teachings...
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 6:1-4
Notice he didn’t say “If you practice righteousness...” He made this statement assuming you were giving. Just like in verse 5
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:5
He didn’t say “If you pray...” He said when you pray.
Your sign is Jesus, the greatest need the poor have is the gospel, and giving your finances, your life, and your possessions for the purpose of getting the gospel to others is the ultimate stewardship of what God has blessed you with.
Apply:
What are you holding back from God? What are you not allowing Him to use for His glory?
What are you keeping for yourself that could be better used by Him for others?
Your heart towards generosity shows the focus of your generosity.
When you are focused on self interests you will find yourself being selfish. When you are focused on Christ’s interest, you will find yourself being selfless.
II. Being Christ Focused leads to being Others Focused
II. Being Christ Focused leads to being Others Focused
When Christ is preemenent, others are at the forefront of our llives. Does this mean we seek to please all people…no. You can’t. Jesus didn’t please everybody.
Jesus loved everybody enough to preach the truth to them and He took the time to get by himself and pray. I beleive this was His example to us of needing to “recharge” if you will in service to Him and others.
Pleasing people isn’t serving people. Pleasing everyone for the sake of pleasing them isn’t loving people. True, God honoring love is found in serving others with honesty, time, and generous compassion.
The people at the church of Jerusalem exemplified this. Especially one man we meet at the end of this passage.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Acts 4:36-37
Exegete:
Here we find a man named Joses or Joseph that received the name Barnabus. He would eventually become the traveling partner of Paul the Apostle.
He was a levite and technically not supposed to own land according to Jewish law so it is unclear how he came about this.
One theory is that it was by illegal means. Which was a common practice among levites of the day. They would break the law but preach it to everyone else.
Which makes this passage even more powerful.
Here is a Levite that, who had been hypocritically teaching the law of Moses. Most likely acquired the land illegally and has now trusted in Jesus as His Savior.
under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, Barnabus not only left the Old Covenant but also repented of this sin by making it right AND blessed the people of God by doing so.
This is what happens in the lives of Christians when they trust in Jesus as their savior and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
They give of themselves fully.
Maybe you don’t have an illegal land purchase but you have sins your life that have been covered under the blood of Jesus. You have sins in your life that you have or need to repent of and the you take what you save or gain by repentance and you give that over to God.
Are you addicted to watching inapropriate imaged and videos onnline? Repent and redeem that time and wasted life for Christ.
Are you a drunk? Addicted to something? Repent. Take that money and time and dedicate it to God.
Truly when we have trusted in Jesus we understand that He redeemed all of us. He redeemed our eternity back to Him. He redeemed our souls back to Him. He redeemed our lives back to Him.
When we see all that we have as His, turning over the profits from a land sale or home sale, giving all of ourselves, our energy, and our livlihood over to the God who made it possible for us to know Him by sacrificing His Son on the Cross of calvary is easy.
Illustrate:
If someone points a gun at you and says you have 10 seconds and then I pull this trigger.
What are your thoughts? It’s over. I want to live. I don’t want to die.
Some of you may be thinking: I’m taking the gun, I’m going to do this myself.
Not gonna work, the guy has a quick finger. It’s over. Your 10 seconds from death.
The life you have built is done. 4 seconds now…your helpless…there is nothing you can do. The tears start streaming. You are without hope. Life is over.
2 seconds…Your eyes widen as you see his finger tense on the trigger...
1 second…you close your eyes…BANG....you open your eyes..your alive...
The guy with the gun is on the floor and there is a man standing there who knocked him out.
Your saved. You rejoice…You hug this man and thank him profusely…You are overcome with great appreciation and admiration for what this man has done for you. Youd be willing to do anything for this man now...
That’s Jesus. That’s the situation your life was in without Him. Staring dare the barrel of the Devil’s gun waiting for him to pull the trigger with no hope of escape.
Then Jesus died on that cross for your sins and when you trust in Him before it’s too late He removes the threat of the devil, death, and hell.
Apply:
If you had that great appreciation for a person that saved your life…what about for the one that saves your soul?
Barnabas recognized what Jesus did for Him and gave all of himself to the Lord through the local church.
Ladies and gentlemen, do you recognize what Jesus did for you? Do you see the great thing that has been done? Do you understand who Jesus is? Do you know what the church is about? Do you know it’s not about the name of the church “Liberty” or “baptist”? It’s not about the pastor. The Church is about Jesus. That’s what unites us. That’s what drives the great generosity of believers with their finances, with their time, and with their talents.
III. Being others focused results in great generosity
III. Being others focused results in great generosity
Do you give of yourself back to the Lord based upon what He did for you or based on what your willing to give up?
Can I tell you a step to take in response to this message?
Ask God to direct how you should be given in accordance with His word. Ask God to direct you where to serve through he church.
Have you sat and thought of the great thing God has done in yyour life with your salvation? What other good things has God done for you?
Don’t beliieve you are working to repay Him…you can’t. Don’t think you are working out of guilt, that’s wrong.
We give, we serve, we love not out of a negative emotion, but out of a gracce filled heart of compassion because of His love for us.
Is that how you are living your life today?
Time of Response
Time of Response
