WHAT KIND OF CHURCH COULD WE HAVE?
Text: Acts 2:41-47
Intro: Sing “What kind of church could my church be”
WHAT KIND OF CHURCH COULD MY CHURCH BE IF...
1. EVERY MEMBER WERE SAVED
Ac 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
EVERY BODY IN CHURCH AINT SAVED
I HAVE SEEN PREACHERS GET SAVED, DEACONS, SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS.
EVERY MEMBER OF OUR CHURCH IS NOT SAVED
Matthew 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
THEY WILL SAY WE PREACHED IN YOUR NAME, CAST OUT DEVILS, DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS
SOUNDS LIKE CHURCH MEMBERS TO ME
SO WHAT KIND OF CHURCH COULD WE HAVE IF EVERY MEMBER WAS SAVED?
2. WHAT KIND OF CHURCH COULD WE HAVE IF EVERY MEMBER WAS SOLD OUT TO JESUS?
Romans 12:1 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. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:
Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
WHAT IF WE WERE SOLD OUT IN OUR
1.CHURCH ATTENDANCE ( HUNTING, BALL GAMES, PLAYS AND OTHER THINGS WOULD NOT KEEP US AWAY FROM CHURCH) 2.TITHING(IT WOULD NOT BE WHEN I CAN) 3. PRAYER LIFE 4.WITNESSING.
3. WHAT KIND OF CHURCH COULD WE HAVE IF WE SERVED OTHERS MORE THAN OUR SELF?
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe unto the world because of offences for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh
IF WE TRULY SERVED OTHERS WE WOULD NOT OFFEND PEOPLE LIKE WE DO SOME TIMES
Matthew 25
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
WHEN WE SERVE OTHERS WE WILL DO FOR OTHERS
Pr 19:17 ¶ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Pr 28:27 ¶ He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
4. WHAT KIND OF CHURCH COULD WE HAVE IF EVERY MEMBER SOUGHT GOD LIKE WE SHOULD?
1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Lu 18:1 ¶ And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Ro 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Col 4:2 ¶ Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
IS YOUR PRAYER LIFE WHAT IT’S SUPPOSE TO BE?
If Christians spent as much time praying as they do grumbling, they would soon have nothing to grumble about. -Anonymous
The real tragedy of our prayers is not that God so often refuses to grant
them. The tragedy is we so often ask for the wrong thing. --R.A. Knox
IT IS SO EASY TO GET COMPLACENT IN OUR PRAYER LIFE.
AT ONE TIME THERE WERE MEN PRAYING FOR ME EVERY TIME I PREACHED.
5. WHAT KIND OF CHURCH COULD WE HAVE IF WE GOT SERIOUS ABOUT WORSHIPING GOD?
Psalms 29: 1 Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalms 66: 1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 2 Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. 3 Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. 4 All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. 5 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.
Psalms 95 1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. 5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
HAVE YOU BEEN SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR WORSHIP TO GOD?
WHAT KIND OF CHURCH COULD MY CHURCH BE IF EVERY MEMBER WAS JUST LIKE ME?
