A CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Introduction: Isn’t I funny that everyone around can’t regonize the living God at work in the world today. God has given us truth and salvation through Jesus and this world refuses to acknowledge the living savior, Jesus. It doesn’t amaze me because Peter wrote about it in his second Epistle. Let me read it from the Living Bible Translation:
2 Peter 2:1-2
2:1But there were false prophets, too, in those days, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly tell their lies about God, turning against even their Master who bought them; but theirs will be a swift and terrible end. 2Many will follow their evil teaching that there is nothing wrong with sexual sin. And because of them Christ and his way will be scoffed at.
This world scoffs at Christ, but you know what, Peter was saying there were those among the church that would scoff at the sound teachings of Jesus and His apostles. There are Churches out there that will throw away everything that is true and good for a lie.
As we meet today I struggled with this message. Oh, I believe God has laid this message on my heart. I have been reading and in study in Acts and I was looking at the early Church. I was amazed at some of some of the things I saw in the early Church that were present. As I looked at that early Church, I saw 8 things present in the Church and I want us to look at those 8 things that are present in a Christian Church.
Acts 2:42-47
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
I. They were a Biblical Church
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
A. The Truth was what they followed
1. They were rooted in the doctrine that was true.
B. Many today are not rooted in the truth.
Harry S. Truman- Everybody has the right to express what he thinks. That, of course, lets the crackpots in. But if you cannot tell a crackpot when you see one, then you ought to be taken in.
1. They can’t beleive that there is a God who saves unconditionaly.
a. The only condition is you andyour choice
b. Being saved doesn’t mean that you understand everything, it means your saved
2. We need to know what we believe and why we believe it
Eph 4:14-15
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
a. Can you explain the doctrine you believe and why you beleive it.
*Let me tell you something, Satan can confuse you so much and muddle the word until you doubt everything you believe
Once the Devil was walking along with one of his cohorts. They saw a man ahead of them pick up something shiny. "What did he find?" asked the cohort.
"A piece of the truth," the Devil replied.
"Doesn’t it bother you that he found a piece of the truth?" asked the cohort.
"No," said the Devil, "I will see to it that he makes a religion out of it."
II. They were a Fearful Church
43 And fear came upon every soul
A. They didn’t fear man
1. Peter and John spoke boldly about Jesus.
a. Where has the boldness of the Church gone
2. If we can go before God we sure should be able to go before men.
Matt 10:28
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
B. There is no fear of God any more.
William Gurnall--We fear men so much because we fear God so little.
Fear of God is a wholesome dread of displeasing God
1. There are consequences for Sin
a. Because you are a Christian doesn’t mean you have a liscense to sin
2. God will not stand idly by and allow us to do any thing and nothing.
a. God hates Sin
b. If God hates sin believe that God will punnish my sin and your sin
Lev 26:27-28
27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;
28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
One time many years ago, the king of Hungary found himself depressed and unhappy. He sent for his brother, a good-natured but rather indifferent prince. The king said to him, "I am a great sinner; I fear to meet God." But the prince only laughed at him. This didn’t help the king’s disposition any. Though he was a believer, the king had gotten a glimpse of his guilt for the way he’d been living lately, and he seriously wanted help. In those days it was customary if the executioner sounded a trumpet before a man’s door at any hour, it was a signal that he was to be led to his execution. The king sent the executioner in the dead of night to sound the fateful blast at his brother’s door. The prince realized with horror what was happening. Quickly dressing, he stepped to the door and was seized by the executioner, and dragged pale and trembling into the king’s presence. In an agony of terror he fell on his knees before his brother and begged to know how he had offended him. "My brother," answered the king, "if the sight of a human executioner is so terrible to you, shall not I, having grievously offended God, fear to be brought before the judgment seat of Christ?"
III. They were a Unified Church
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
The believers were still Jews continuing daily worship of God in the Temple in accordance with the Jewish practice. There was no thought of withdrawing from Judaism and establishing a separate movement. Their Christian fellowship manifested itself particularly in fellowship meals, conducted in various homes. Joyfulness and generosity of heart were two of the outstanding characteristics of the early Christians.
(from Wycliffe Commentary)
A. They were excited about being in Church and together.
1. It wasn’t an obligation, It was a Joy.
2. They had it because they believe.
a. It’s not something they got latter on/ It was when they believed
B. Where has the excitement gone in the church and it’s people
1. Is there Joy in your worship today
2. Is this a place you want to be.
a. Do you want to be with the person next to you/ The early believers did
**It doesn’t say anywhere that they were all buddy, buddy before they were after
IV. They were Sacrificial Church/ Mission Minded
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need
A. They weren’t caught up in the selfishness of the world.
1. It wasn’t right to want to give all to Jesus.
a. meism was and is ever present
b. it was easy to throw some money and offer some empty prayer
2. A man was measured by His stature
a. It hasn’t changed much in 2000 years
B. The rules haven’t changed.
Luke 6:38
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again
1. We have an obligation to help the less fortunate.
2. Were to be good stewards but there is work to be done.
a. What to we tithe for.
*Do we invest the tithe or put it under a rock/ Matthew 25
*The Church
b. Do we tithe.
*Marsha writes the first check to the church
V. They were a Consistent Church/ Worship and Attendance
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
A. They went daily
1. The most important thing in there life was the Church
2. They didn’t think the only one who had to show up was the apostle
B. The Church today gets the leftovers that man has.
1. If God needed to eat what the Christian is giving in time today what would he look like.
2. I have to ask myself, If every Christian was like me where would the Church be.
VI. They were a Joyful Church
47 Praising God
A. They praised God constantly
1. In everything they were happy
a. The circumstances may not have been good
b. They kept a song in there heart for Jesus
You are God’s melody of life and He sings His song through you.
B. Where is the Joy in the Church
1. Many Christians don’t have joy they have obligation
a. If your hear only because of obligation then your living the Old Testement Law
b. It’s not an obligation, It’s a priledge
2. If it’s not joyful then what is it.
a. The Church today needs to be happy they are who they are.
*A chosen people
VII. They were a Active, Witnessing Church/ They had a witness with the people
46 and breaking bread from house to house, 47 Praising God, 43 and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles
A. They early Church wanted to tell the story.
1. They were excited to be able to share there faith
2. There fear was of God and not of man
3. They were convicted there was a need for Jesus in others lives
B. If there is no conviction for the Lost then why are we hear.
1. What is the purpose of the Church.
a. To further the Kingdom of God
2. Is there time for the message of Jesus in your life today
How would you like to spend 2 years making phone calls to people who aren’t home? Sound absurd? According to one time management study, that’s how much time the average person spends trying to return calls to people who never seem to be in. Not only that, we spend 6 months waiting for the traffic light to turn green, and another 8 months reading junk mail. These unusual statistics should cause us to do time-use evaluation. Once we recognize that simple "life maintenance" can chip away at our time in such huge blocks, we will see how vital it is that we don’t busy ourselves "in vain" (Ps 39:6).
Psalm 39 gives us some perspective. In David’s complaint to God, he said, "You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You" (V. 5). He meant that to an eternal God our time on earth is brief. And He doesn’t want us to waste it. When we do, we throw away one of the most precious commodities He gives us. Each minute is an irretrievable gift--and unredeemable slice of eternity. Sure, we have to make the phone calls, and we must wait at the light. But what about the rest of our time? Are we using it to advance the cause of Christ and to enhance our relationship with Him? Is our time well spent?
VIII. They were a Growing Church/ Souls Were Added as God saw fit.
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
A. The first 7 things led to the last
1. They had all the pre-requsites for God to add the last.
2. The first 7 were needed for God to do the last.
3. They had to be doing the right thing for God to do the last
a. Save souls
b. We don’t save them, God does
We are responsible for the effort not the outcome.
B. There are so many churches that want God to add to the Church but there are 7 things missing
1. All 7 might not be missing
a. There may be only 1 or 2/ missing all the same
2. When the attitude is right the multitude will follow.
Conclusion: The Psalmist said in Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Today can we ask God the same thing, Do we really want Him to. As I close I ask God to search us and show us the things that are present and the things that are not.
The change that took place in the Church is the same things that should change in us. Change, the changes that really count.
Are the 8 things present in this Church, is there something missing, if there is lord then I ask you to start with me. I am praying God to send revival in my heart and in my families, I pray for it to begin with me and spread, would you do the same.
I look again at that psalmist and must ask the question about salvation today, ask God to remove the block that’s keeping you from accepting Jesus. Is it teaching, then let me go back, rely on the truth.
The truth is that you must call on the name of the lord, you must believe on Jesus. It’s that important today, you can’t get there any other way, You cant just believe in Him you must believe on Him.
The basis is the first point of today and the last point, you have to believe and God will add your name in the lamb’s book of life.
