INTRODUCTION
Sermonic Theme
Opening Statement: We were created for community and we need community. While life is very enjoyable the journey of life and faith is often trying, difficult and painful. Discouragement. Relentless temptation. Debilitating sins. Doubts. Ridicule. Burdensome weaknesses. Heavy burdens. Unanswered questions. Rejection. With all of this in mind, is it any wonder that God has given us the family of God and the fellowship of believers? It is an absolutely essential source of strength and guidance.
Transition: Nowhere do we see this Call to New Community more clearly than in the book of Acts.
Observation: Luke-Acts explains how an originally Jewish movement became an offer of salvation to the whole world. He shows how God can take those from many ethnic backgrounds and dimensions and mold them into a new community of God. As he shows us the work of this growing movement, Luke includes six summary statements or ’progress reports’ (6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; and 28:31). He regularly interrupted his narrative to provide a report on how the New Community was doing through the power and enablement of the Spirit in carrying the Gospel to the whole world.
Title: Pleasant Interruptions
Theme: What Happens When We Answer the Call to Community? (Taken from the Summary Statements in Acts)
Opening Statement: Not only are we called to believe the Gospel. We are also called to belong to a New Community of people that are dedicated to keeping the memory of Jesus Christ alive in our families and our culture. God has a purpose for putting us together. In Acts 2:42-47, we read about the church coming together to worship together, to learn together, to fellowship with each other, and be equipped on how to live the Christian lifestyle in such a way as to be a positive influence in society. When we stay true to these basic purposes of the church, we can expect certain things to happen. These things are mentioned in Luke’s summary statements.
Background: In effect, these summary statements provide “snap-shots” of what a healthy church of New Community people looks like. The Holy Spirit waves cover on average about 5 to 6 years with each wave.
Holy Spirit Waves in Acts – From Jerusalem to Rome
Wave 1 – Acts 1:1-6:7 Carries the gospel from the heart of Jerusalem to the whole city
Wave 2 – Acts 6:8-9:31 Carries the gospel throughout Palestine
Wave 3 – Acts 9:32-12:23 Carries the gospel to Antioch and all Syria
Wave 4 – Acts 12:24-16:5 Carries the gospel all over Asia Minor
Wave 5 – Acts 16:6-19:9 Carries the gospel over to Europe, Macedonia, Greece
Wave 6 – Acts 19:10-28:31 Carries the gospel to capital of the world - Rome
Text: Acts 2:47 Acts 6:7 Acts 9:31 Acts 12:24 Acts 16:5 Acts 19:8 Acts 28:30
Recitation:
Acts 6:1 Now in these days, when the disciples were growing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food… [They were able to overcome the problem by appointing deacons. Now, note the result.] Acts 6:7 The word of God continued to spread, [because the work of the deacons freed the Biblical teachers up to teach] the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith. [Here were men who were active all day long in religious ritual. These priests were the ones who had to slay the animals that were offered as sacrifices on the altars of the temple. They had to perform many rituals and read certain prescribed passages. They were religious people performing ritualistic observances. But now, with the word of God hitting them, and the truth about Jesus being set before them, something was happening. They were discovering that Jesus was the key to their ritual, that all these sacrifices, all these animals, all these ritualistic practices had an explanation in Jesus. They all pointed to him. If you want to see this, read the book of Hebrews. That was undoubtedly the book used most widely in the early church to reach the priests, because it speaks about all the sacrifices and how they find their culmination in Jesus. The priests began to be obedient to the truth as they heard and saw the application of these sacrifices to themselves.]
Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria [It was not just a church of a single city now.] experienced peace [because Saul or Paul had been converted to the faith] and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it [the church] increased in numbers.
Acts 12:24 But the word of God kept on increasing and multiplying [This is a significant place for one of Luke’s summary statements. At the beginning of Acts 12, James is dead, Peter is in prison, and wicked King Herod is on a rampage – arresting and persecuting church leaders! When Acts 12 ends, Herod is dead, Peter is free and the word of God marches on! You get the feeling that no one can stop the Holy Spirit enabled community from doing its job!]
Acts 16:5 So the churches were being strengthened in the faith and were increasing in number every day. [This part of its history was particularly crucial since in this phase of its expansion the church changed from predominantly Jewish to predominantly Gentile in focus.]
Acts 19:8 So Paul entered the synagogue and spoke out fearlessly for three months, addressing and convincing them about the kingdom of God. 19:9 But when some were stubborn and refused to believe, reviling the Way before the congregation, he left them and took the disciples with him, addressing them every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 19:10 This went on for two years, so that all who lived in Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
Acts 28:30 Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction.
Key Word: What happens when we answer the Call to Community or to be a committed part of the New Community?
OUTLINE
The Word will Spread
Explanation: When we answer the call to Community, the Word is widely proclaimed and goes further than it’s ever gone before because obstacles are being removed and the New Community is being very creative in overcoming their opponents. The Gospel was reaching individuals and families and into new communities as each believer was being equipped in how to share their faith. They had a very Jesus-centered message. It was the good news of Jesus and His teachings that were making the difference in lives.
Application: When we answer the call to community, we are placing ourselves in a place where we can learn how to contribute to the spreading of the Word and the Gospel in our community. The Word should be growing and multiplying in the hearts of the members of the church. The Word should be growing and multiplying as it is preached from the pulpit. The Word should be growing and multiplying as it is lived in the community. The Word should be growing and multiplying as it is shared with those outside of the New Community of faith. This is important because people are confused and disturbed about how to deal with life. The Bible addresses and answers our deepest questions in life. And when the Word is spread, confusion on how to live life dissipates because the Bible tells us how to live life. We don’t have to be so confused and lost about living.
Illustration: Joan Bradley’s son, Todd, attended church here over the Christmas season last year, and loved what he experienced here. He told Joan that he wished he could find a church like SCC in North Carolina. Just this week, I found out that Todd and his family found a warm, friendly church and received Christ. Now, Todd wants me to send him tapes of our services because he understands than new community people are all about the Book. When someone answers the call to be placed “in Christ” and thus be “in the New Community” they are saying “I realize the importance of the Bible in the New Community and I will endeavor to live by it.” When you answer the call to new community, a different set of biblical values take over in your life. You begin to live differently. You are empowered by the Spirit to live a new life and the Word spreads freely in and through you.
The Church will Expand
Explanation: Numbers aren’t everything, but in the work of the church they do indicate a measure of health. Furthermore, Holy Spirit driven expansion cannot be stopped. Corruption and contention in the churches ranks did not kill it (5:1-11; 6:1-7). Its religious enemies could not contain it (4:1; 8:1, 3; 11:19). Even Roman officials could not control it (vv. 1-23). The New Community was marching on and the numbers indicate this.
Illustration: When people are sick with a fever, a thermometer is often used to determine how high their temperature is. While a thermometer doesn’t answer all of the questions, it certainly is an indication as to how healthy we are and if we need to get further assistance. That’s my view of numbers in the local church. It’s not everything, but it does indicate a measure of health. It’s an indication of the level of control that the Holy Spirit has in our midst.
Application: When each of us answers the call to New Community, the church will expand. Worship attendance will increase because people realize the value of habitually gathering with others to become part of God’s movement in and through the New Community. New faces will appear. New members will join. New ministries will be established. Momentum will be created. Expectation of good things will be the norm. The professional as well as the farmer will be attracted to the New Community as we all answer the call to New Community living.
The People will Grow
Explanation: I’m still amazed by the priests who became “obedient to the faith.” This is the essence of spiritual growth and maturity. Becoming more and more obedient to the Word and the Holy Spirit is the essence of spirituality. Many people were “edified” or “built up” in New Community. People should never stop growing, especially in the New Community. If you’ve journeyed with us very long at all you know that I am not about teaching you what you already know. I want us to see new truths that change us into New Community people.
Observation: Recently, you’ve heard me talking about “Tracks to Grow On!” I believe that we need a process that will ensure that certain things happen in our fellowship on a regular basis that people are built up in the faith. The tracks have a progressive nature to them: winning them, bringing them in, equipping them, sending them out, and repeating the process.
Application: When you answer the call to New Community and you begin to engage in the process of change, you’re going to grow. Growing people will grow a church.
The Conflicts will Be Overcome
Explanation: Being in the community of faith is, however, not without its difficulties and frustrations. It can’t be otherwise since it is made up of sinners. The mark of community - true biblical community - is not the absence of conflict and difficulties but the presence of a reconciling spirit. In our humanness we all do things to rub others the wrong way and to offend. We all, at times, will be hurt and we will hurt others. Nevertheless, we must not back away from the fellowship of faith. We must make an unwavering commitment to a community of believers where we can be strengthened, find places of ministry and receive much needed guidance. When faced with conflict, adopt a “can-do” spirit, and watch the Holy Spirit begin to work.
Quotation: "Every problem is an opportunity to prove God’s power. Every day we encounter countless golden opportunities, brilliantly disguised as insurmountable problems." (One Step Forward, Two Steps Back, C. Swindoll, Page 35)
Application: When we answer the Call to Community we are acknowledging that there may be conflicts but an atmosphere of peace and resolution will prevail. SCC is a peaceful place to be. I love that. We don’t like to fight around here.
CONCLUSION
When the leadership is right and the Word is spreading, the church is expanding, and people are growing, then problems can be solved and Jesus can be glorified!
Is the Word spreading through your life and influence? Are you helping the church to expand? Are you growing more than ever? Do you have a reconciling spirit?
