Acts Message 7

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE CHURCH IS THE CHURCH

Acts 2:41–47 NKJV

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 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, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Intor: There are programs, strategies, gimmicks, sports, movies, financial seminars, Mens meetings, women's meetings

The purpose is to get more people in the church. Some are ideas, can be good but over all do they really work?

Why aren’t as many people getting saved?

One: The gospel is getting watered downed.

Two: The gimmicks may get to some people to come to church, but if the gospel isn’t preached and they don’t get saved, they’re lives are not changed so the want stay.

So it is a gimmick gospel. Gal 1:6-7

Galatians 1:6–7 NKJV

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is being perverted and distorted into something that is not.

I’m not saying that it is wrong to do things to bring people into the church. But if the gospel isn’t being preached , and people are not getting saved, and Christians are not being trained on how to live for Jesus and share their faith then it is wrong. Most of the time these gimmicks don’t work. Gimmicks don’t change people the gospel changes people.

I. WE MUST BE OBEDIENT TO GOD’S CALL

1.. What did Jesus tell His disciples to do just before He left the Earth.

Luke 24:49 NKJV

49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

a. What if they didn’t obey God? What we they went back to their live?

Remember when they were fishing? Ealb.

b. The 120 would not been filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter would not have been preached; the 3000 would not have been saved and baptized. The church would not have started. But it did start, because they did obey God.

c. We must be obedient and obey God. Even when we don’t understand. Even when were scared. We must have faith, and be willing to do what God has called us to do.

2. This was the first church. In most towns and cities we have, First Baptist Church of ..... The was the first Baptist Church of the First Baptist. How do I know they were a Baptist church? They baptized people didn’t they?

3. When a church really grows, they become a model church. Pastors will go to them for advice. “How did you grow so fast?” “Give all the info you have so we can grow like you.”

a. What works for Westside Baptist, First Baptist, or what ever other Baptist might not work for Pine Grove. I’m not saying we, or I can’t learn from other Churches, because we can. But if we just look at what the first church did, follow their example. People will we saved. Lives will be changed, Christians will grow in their walk Christ.

II. THE EXAMPLES OF THE FIRST CHURCH

Acts 2:41 NKJV

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

1. They were saved by faith. VS41

a. “They gladly received his word” They excepted the gospel for what it was, the truth. VS 37 they were pricked in the heart. They were convected of their sins. They repented.

b. For you to be a part of the church, you have to be convicted of your sins, and repent. You can be a member of the local church and not be saved because you have people fooled. But your not a part of the body of Christ (the church) because you can’t fool God.

2. They were separated by Baptism VS 41

Acts 2:41 NKJV

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

a. By being baptized they were separating them selves their old beliefs, and identifying themselves with Christ.

b. As a Church, we have to separate ourselves from the ways on the world. I didn’t say from the world, we need to reach the lost that are in the world, but we don’t iidentify ourselves with them.

c. There are some pretty worldly things that go on in the church today. Why?

“If we want to reach the world, we need to be more like the world” Rom. 12:2

Romans 12:2 NKJV

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

d. We don’t need to be like to world, but we can’t be blind to what is going on in the world. Elab. Youth, children have get down to their level spiritually.

f.

3. They were sound in doctrine (Teaching) VS. 42

Acts 2:42 NKJV

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

a. The early church sat under the teaching of the Apostles, and it is written in God’s word to be taught, and preached today. II Tim 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

b. When people visit a church that they are thinking about joining, here is what they will must likely ask.

1. What kind of programs do you have?

2. What can you do for my children, teenager? (Story about man that came to Hope)

3. These you’ll hear about churches. They have a great youth program, they do a lot for Sr adult there. Etc....

c. Good youth programs, children’s programs, collage programs are great and are needed. But the most important thing in the church is sound doctrine. Is the word

being preached?

d. Elab all that is talked about in these Vs. But the first thing is doctrine.

4. They were strong in fellowship VS. 42

Acts 2:42 NKJV

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

1. Fellowship: Christianity is an individual decision. But when we make that decision we become a part of the body of Christ. (The church) We need that fellowship together. (Elab Bro. Ray)

a. We can only have true Christian fellowship with those we something in common with (a relationship with Jesus) Elab USMC

2. Part of that fellowship was the breaking of bread.

The Lord’s Supper. They didn’t do like we do it today. Elab.

a. They would meet in homes, break bread, have fellowship, remember what Jesus had done.

5. They were steadfast in prayer VS42

Acts 2:42 NKJV

42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

1. They devoted themselves in prayer.

a. Churches need to constantly in prayer/ Wed nights.

b. At church, in homes, teach our youth and children.

Praying for lost souls to be saved.

c. This way the first church was successful, prayer.

III. Their respect and reverence for God. VS 43-47

Acts 2:43–47 NKJV

43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 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, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

1. “And fear came over every soul.”

a. This speaks of a sense of divine presence. This was so real that to first church, that weather inside or outside the church they feeling a sense of awe:

b. Elab. What we may say or do at church. But it is okay at home.

c. The problem is to many churches don’t really have true fear of God anymore.

d. Do you remember when stores were closed on Sunday? No ball games on Wednesday?

f. This church had a fear, reverence for God.

2. VS 43b.

a. Just as the miracles in Jesus was on earth were signs of the kingdom of God, the miracles performed by His apostles were also. (More on this next week)

b. In the early church great things were happening. These miracles testified to God’s presence. The church was filled with wonder and amazement, and God was among them. It was spiritually powerful.

c. Why is that the baptisms are down, maybe God isn’t in a lot of the things going on in the church today.

3.They worked together. VS. 44

Acts 2:44 NKJV

44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,

1. “All that believed.” (Those that trusted and relied on God) were unified

a. I know that we won’t always agree on everything. (Elab Me and some pastors)

but we can have unity because we are believers.

b. What does tell us about people that are always causing disruption in the church?

They may not be a believers.

4. They were a generous (sharing) church. VS. 45

Acts 2:45 NKJV

45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

1. Many of these new believers were form distant places. (Elab. Pentecost feast)

a. They may have stayed around and not gone home yet. Its not like they had a church to go to back home. So they would have need of money, a place to stay.

b. some of these new converts may have fired from there jobs. Elab.

c. They were a caring, sharing, giving church. This showed the reality of changed lives.

d. We should be caring and sharing people. This doesn’t mean we give to everyone that asked. Elab.

5. They were a rejoicing church. VS. 46

Acts 2:46 NKJV

46 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,

1. “One accord” One mind; unity

2. “in the Temple” They would have still gone to the Temple to pray. But now they would nt only pray, but they would witness to the people there. Over time they would be condemned for sharing Jesus in the temple and synagogues.

3. “Breaking bread form house to house”

a. They had fellowship, going from each others homes to eat. Remember that didn’t have a church building like we have. They met in their home, worshiped, prayed, listened to the doctrine, (teaching of the Apostles)

b. And they did it with gladness, and singleness of heart. UNITY.

VI. THE RESULTS OF ALL THEY DID VS. 47

Acts 2:47 NKJV

47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

1. They were praising God. Singing and rejoicing. Singing the psalms.

They had a new meaning. FIND A PRAISE PSALM.

a. When you are saved hymns, and praise songs have new meaning.

2. Having favor with all people.” Times have changed.

a. Key to the early church. People were happy. No wonder they grew.

b. No complaining, No criticizing, No envy, No strife. The fruit of the spirit was evident in these people. “Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”

1. The title. What happens when the church is the church?

a. This early church, the first church is what church is all about.

2. The last part of VS. 47

a. The church doesn’t grow by adding names to the roll. Elab. Sunday School.

b. The church grows by people repenting of their sins, and being saved.

c. If we will follow the example that this church set in the book of acts, will to will add to the church daily.

3. What about you?