SUPERNATURAL BREAKTHROUGH #3: CONNECTING WITH GOD’S FAMILY
INTRO: For the last couple of weeks, we have been going through a series on Supernatural Breakthrough from the Book of Acts.
OPENING TEXT:
“If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.” (1 Cor. 13:1-3).
• Redigging the wells of prayer, and unleashing the gifts of the Spirit, are both useless and meaningless unless our motivation is right: LOVE.
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A TREATISE ON COMMUNITY:
(Written by Zerlina Buhler, a member of our church)
So God has placed something on my heart and I’d like to share that with you because I think what He has placed on my heart is also for us as a church.
Friendship and hospitality. We are lacking in these areas. We are very loving and caring, friendly people…we really are…but where are we showing it? At church and in our work places maybe. But how often do we love and care for each other in our homes? Is that not where real friendships form, where hospitality can truly be shown? How well can we get to know each other if we just talk in church for a few minutes? How can our love for each other increase if we don’t give our time to each other? By opening up our homes, we are opening up our lives to each other and allowing friendships to form. The early church did this. In Acts 2:46 & 47 it says, “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” They met together in the church, they ate together in each other’s homes with glad and sincere hearts which means they did this willingly, praising God and enjoying each other’s company. When is the last time you had a family from church over to your house for coffee and some good conversation? Or for a good, fast game of Dutch Blitz? It really is amazing how sharing a good laugh can be the foundation for a great friendship.
So why do we hesitate? Why do we keep our homes to ourselves rather than sharing them with others? We might be concerned that our homes are just not big enough or good enough to have people over or that you’re just not a good cook. Jesus addressed this in Luke 10:41 & 42 when He says, “Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.” What did Mary choose? To sit and be with Jesus. She chose people. Yes, there are things that need to be done, but what’s more important is to spend time with people. Listen to them. Get to know them. You can listen to someone even if your house is messy or small. You can laugh or pray together even if you haven’t got some wonderful food made. It can be done!
And then there’s the thing about being too busy. Yes, life can be busy. Sometimes there really are not enough hours in a day - life is just too busy and we’re just not enjoying it. And when you’ve got nothing up, you enjoy it. There’s nothing wrong with taking time for yourself or your family. Nothing at all. But when we opt for a couple of hours with a friend instead of time alone, those hours can help us get through those times of just not enjoying life because of busyness. Those times with friends can be energizing and just what we need.
I also think about what Alvin spoke about a couple of weeks ago…Rights and Responsibilities. It is my right to not invite people to my home. It’s my right to spend my spare time with my family or to be by myself. It’s my right to have my house clean before anyone comes over. It’s my right! But what is my responsibility? My responsibility is to show hospitality and love especially to those in my church. It’s my responsibility to share what God has given me – a home, food, time, laughter, a husband and children. It’s my responsibility to open myself up to others and share what God is teaching me.
I will be the first to confess that I’ve used my rights for most of my life. I’ve used the right to say that my house is just too messy to have someone stop by, that I’m just too tired or that I don’t even know so-and-so well enough to have them over. I’ve over-used my rights. And now God is showing me that it’s time to let go of my rights and start thinking about my responsibilities. My responsibility to my church family. To my pastor and his wife and family. To my friends. Even my responsibility to my children to show them that people are important. I have failed to live up to my responsibility in the past, and I will again, because I am not perfect. But with Jesus helping me put responsibility before rights, I am changing. For the first time in my life, I am enjoying asking people to come to my house and I am not happy when they say they can’t come! I’ve been opening up my heart to Jesus and He is changing me…and if he can change my heart when it comes to friendships and hospitality, I think He can change just about anybody’s heart.
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ILLUSTRATION:
Bosses of a publishing firm are trying to work out why no one noticed that one of their employees had been sitting dead at his desk for 5 days before anyone asked if he was feeling okay. George Turklebaum, 51, who had been employed as a proofreader at a New York firm for 30 years, had a heart attack in the open-plan office he shared with 23 other workers. He quietly passed away on Monday, but nobody noticed until Saturday morning when an office cleaner asked why he was still working during the weekend.
- Can you imagine? We want to make sure that we are not ignoring or neglecting those around us who may be hurting - spiritually or emotionally dead inside.
KEY TEXT:
“42 They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47).
• We’ve already talked about prayer, and miraculous signs and wonders.
What other four things described the early church?
1. They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to FELLOWSHIP
2. They MET TOGETHER constantly and shared everything
3. They worshipped together at the temple and in homes (not either/or!)
4. They SHARED MEALS with joy and generosity
• WHAT DO THESE FOUR THINGS SPELL? COMMUNITY!
PERSONAL STORIES:
• New Christian – attended a youth group – place of fellowship, learning/growing
• · Liza and I, newly married, basement suite was flooded – support of our church
THREE PRINCIPLES FOR CONNECTING WITH GOD’S FAMILY:
1. GOD WANTS US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35).
• Nowadays we talk about loving hot dogs and loving our cats. But how are we supposed to love one another? The same way Jesus loves us – totally, unconditionally, sacrificially – laying down our lives (John 15:13).
2. GOD WANTS US TO HELP EACH OTHER:
“Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?" That’s exactly what Jesus did. He didn’t make it easy for himself by avoiding people’s troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it.” (Romans 12:1-3, The Message).
• We have a responsibility to help one another & get involved in each other’s lives. If you’re strong, help the weak. If you’re weak, ask for help!
3. WE NEED EACH OTHER:
“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Eccl. 4:9-12).
• God said, “It is not good that man should be alone.” (Genesis 2:18).
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
• Let’s make a commitment to connect with each other God’s family.
• Let’s remember the story of George Turklebaum – and ‘notice’ those around us
• Get involved with a small group – home groups, Alpha, Overcomers, etc.
Chris Jordan is the lead pastor of Beausejour Community Church in Beausejour, Manitoba, Canada.
For more sermon outlines, and online audio sermons, go to www.beausejourchurch.ca.
