October 25, 2009
Morning Worship
Text: Acts 2:42-47
Subject: The Early Church
Title: A Church for the Ages
I am in the process of taking a leadership class. The goal is to see if there are things in my ministry I need to change in order to take the church to the next level. What am I doing that isn’t working, what is working, and what things should I be doing? These are all questions that I am asking myself as I go through the class.
One thing that I have learned is that for the church to move forward and be effective I must have a vision for the church. Proverbs 29:18, KJV says, 18Where there is no vision, the people perish: Then, I must be able to verbalize the vision that the Lord has given me for the church and communicate it to you on a regular basis. In order to communicate the vision I needed to get it written down so I can go back to it on occasionally to see how we are doing.
Here is the vision I have been given:
I see a church full of worshippers. The music of the church will be so compelling that it attracts new musicians. I envision a family friendly church with programs for every age group. I also see a church that reaches out to dysfunctional families and families in need.
The fact that this is a church that is Spirit – filled and believes the whole word of God and anticipates miracles will continue to attract outsiders who will come for salvation, healing and the Spirit Baptism.
The vision is based on the core values of our church that states that we are a church that Loves God, Trusts God and Loves people.
Now, in order to see if this vision for the church actually lines up with the scriptural evidence for what the church should look like I have gone to Acts chapter 2. In verses 42-47 I found five aspects of what the church should be and noticed that it lines up nicely with the vision God has given for this church.
Read Acts 2:42-27.
Lord, open my eyes to see and my ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
We are a church for all ages.
I. THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. According to the A/G pamphlet “Our 16 Doctrines” there is a three-fold purpose for the church. 1) To be an agency of God for evangelism, 2) to be a place where individuals gather together to worship, and 3) to be a place of ministry where God’s people can come and be perfected through teaching and preaching and be built up into the ministry. That’s a pretty good picture of the kind of church that was being established in Acts 2. First, people were being saved. Verse 41 says, those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. You know that evangelism has never been just about increasing numbers. However, numbers mean people – lives that are being changed by the gospel of Christ. Jesus’ last words to His disciples in Acts 1, before He was taken up in the clouds, you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Second, people were being taught. …42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching… This teaching is not so those in the church can have great head knowledge. It is so they can be raised up to places of ministry. Ephesians 4:11-12, 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up… Third, people were coming together to worship. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All these things done in a corporate setting equal church – the kind of church that Jesus is still building. Having said that, how does that line up with the vision for this church? The first part of the vision fits right in with God’s desire for the church in general. I envision a family friendly church with programs for every age group. I also see a church that reaches out to dysfunctional families and families in need.
II. THE POWER OF THE CHURCH. I have been saying this for the last eight years and I will continue to do so until the Lord comes back or moves me somewhere else – and if He does I’ll still proclaim it – the church is intended to be a place where miracles take place. It is a place of power. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. This is a verse that people use to try to convince us that signs and wonders were only for the apostolic age. And I can understand how, if you just look at this verse, that one could be led to believe that. However, we cannot simply look at this verse and make a doctrine out of it without looking at what the rest of scripture says. The best way to make a decision on this topic is to look at what Jesus Himself had to say about it. Mark 16:17-18, 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” That is pretty clear isn’t it? If that isn’t enough for you then go to John 14:12-14, 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. Not enough yet? Go to Luke 10. Verse 19, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Now you make the call. Are we supposed to be a church of power or not? Paul said that the last days church would be one that would have a form of godliness but denies it’s power (2 Timothy 3:5). If we ever become that church this is what we’ll do. I will go and get my framing hammer and some nails and we can just nail the doors shut, because when we deny God’s power at work in the church we have become a glorified social club. How does that line up with what God is calling this church to through the vision? Paragraph two: The fact that this is a church that is Spirit – filled and believes the whole word of God and anticipates miracles will continue to attract outsiders who will come for salvation, healing and the Spirit Baptism.
III. THE PASSION OF THE CHURCH. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Not to long ago I was talking with a brother in Christ who said that he could see how some people might misconstrue this verse to validate communism. Communism is when the government takes away from the rich and redistributes the wealth to the poor so that everyone is equal – or at least that is the way it is said to work. Sometimes it seems that our government is passionately moving towards that very thing. But this is a different scenario. No one was taking anything from the church members. They were giving willingly as the need arose. Acts 4:32-37, 32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.m36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. The passion of the early church was to have the compassion of Christ abiding in them. The vision for our church? I also see a church that reaches out to dysfunctional families and families in need. I’m talking about real compassion. Not just seeing a need and saying, “Yep, we oughta do something there.” but seeing the need and helping meet the need. Whether that means visiting the elderly, mentoring the youth, teaching someone good financial practice, or giving money for a need. It doesn’t matter. Compassion sees a need and helps without question. James 2:14-16, 14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? James 1:27, 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. The real trick to having compassion is acting on it even when it isn’t convenient. This is the compassion Jesus had. Matthew 9:35-38, 35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
IV. THE PRESENCE OF THE CHURCH. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts… I want you to notice that church didn’t just take place in a building. It also was taking place in fellowship outside the temple. Here is the excuse that I most often hear about this topic. Society has changed so much that church is no longer the center of social life like it used to be. I don’t deny that, but I should ask you this question, “When was it that society became the agent of change in the church instead of the church being the agent of change in society? You see, when we fellowship with one another in and out of church, making our church relationships more important than they are now, a new dynamic takes place. We find ourselves being less and less influenced by the world because we are surrounding ourselves with those who are like - minded. The Greek word that is translated “church” is ecclesia and it literally means, “the called out”. We are called out of the world in the sense that we don’t act like the world any longer. And that is the spiritual influence that church is to maintain over the world. We don’t hold it over their heads; we just live it. Matthew 10:25-28, 25Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” It is the presence of the church in the world and the Holy Spirit working through the church that prevents the Antichrist from rising to power. When the church is removed at the rapture the power to restrain goes with it. But while we are here we have a job to do. To influence the world and be a holy presence in the world.
V. THE PRAISES OF THE CHURCH. 46They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. I see a church full of worshippers. The music of the church will be so compelling that it attracts new musicians. Now when I say that about the music I am not saying that it is the quality of the music that will attract people. If that were the case then our A/G church out at Nelsonville would be overflowing by now. The quality of their music far exceeds that of any other church. But what I do envision is that church full of worshippers who are pouring out their hearts to God in songs of praise and are not afraid to enter into His presence. It is the spirit of the music and the worshippers that will attract others. A friend who attends the church in Nelsonville once told me after his family had come here on a Sunday evening, that although they knew their church had the best music, he had never experienced worship the way he did at this church. Why is praise and worship so crucial to the life of a church? Psalm 50:23 NKJV, Whoever offers praise glorifies Me… Here are some things that worship provides. 1) The abiding presence of the Lord - Psalm 89:15, Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. 2) Communication with God. Psalm 68:32-33, 32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord. Selah 33 to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. When we praise the Lord He responds to us. He inhabits the praises of His people. 3) A testimony to your children – Psalm 45:17, I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever. When we are praising the Lord we will find favor with people and the Lord will add to those who are being saved.
Where there is no vision, the people perish…
But we have a vision from God that is telling us everything that He wants us to be.
He wants you to be a church that reaches out.
He wants you to be a church that builds up.
He wants you to be a church that trusts His word.
He wants you to be a church that moves in the supernatural.
He wants you to be a church that expects miracles.
He wants you to be a church that worships in spirit and in truth.
He wants you to be a church that loves, God, trusts God and loves people.
