“Fellowship In The Church”
INTRODUCTION: TODAY, we’re going to take a POSITIVE look at the church. Too often, the church gets a “bad rap”. Some people might have a NEGATIVE view of the church. BUT … I don’t see it that way.
Have you ever NOT WANTED to come to church? STORY: One Saturday night, Johnny says to his mother, “I’m not going to church anymore!” His mother asks him “Why?” Johnny says, “I don’t enjoy it anymore … people are mean to me … there are too many hypocrites. I’m just not going to church anymore!” Johnny’s mother tells him, “Now, Johnny, you HAVE to go to church!” Johnny says, “Give me 3 good reasons why!” Johnny’s Mom says, “Number 1, it will do you lots of good. Number 2, God says in the Bible that you should go to church. Number 3, because you’re the Pastor!”
There are lots of good reasons why we should come to church … AMEN? This morning, we’re going to look at 3 OBJECTIVES of the church. TURN with me to Acts 2:37-42.
2:39 – “afar off” – That was me 43 years ago … June 23, 1961. That’s when God called me into His family. That was my Spiritual Birthday. It was on that day that I became a part of the body of Christ … the family of God … a child of God … a member of His Church.
2:42 gives us 3 OBJECTIVES of God’s Church … this church … all churches. What are they? They can be summarized into: Doctrine, Fellowship, and Prayer.
1.- DOCTRINE – This is more than just good preaching. Someone once said that a good sermon is one that has a good beginning and a good ending … AND … the two should be put together as close as possible! AMEN?
What Luke has in mind here is the meat of the Word … where the rubber meets the road. TO SOME, “doctrine” might mean a dull, dry, boring sermon … a real “yawner” … a bell ringer. BUT … it doesn’t have to be. “doctrine” isn’t something reserved for the Bible scholar … the Seminary graduate … those with a high I.Q. We should ALL be students of God’s Word.
If all the Bible you get is on Sunday Morning in Church, you are in bad shape! Do you know what God says to you? “Shame on you!” 2 Tim. 2:15 – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Listening to the sermon in Church should be icing on the cake … not your source of Bible study.
God has a message for you in every sermon you hear. The preacher may not be a Billy Graham … or a Charles Stanley … or a Charles Haddon Spurgeon. BUT … that’s OK. If he preaches the Word of God … if he preached DOCTRINE … God has something to say to you. People are never disappointed when I preach … Know why? BECAUSE … they don’t expect much!
Don’t ever GO INTO a preaching service without ASKING the Holy Spirit for a message. Don’t ever SIT in a preaching service without LOOKING for a message from God. Don’t ever LEAVE a preaching service without GETTING a message from God. God has put YOU/PREACHER/WORD together for a purpose … for you to get a message from God.
At the door, at the end of a service … what does a preacher love to hear more than anything else? “I really enjoyed the message!”? “Good sermon!? NO! STORY: A church had just called a new Pastor. After his first sermon, a dear older lady greeted him at the door and said, “That was a mighty warm sermon, preacher.” He had never had this comment about one of his sermons before, but he let it pass. The next Sunday, this dear saint said the same thing at the door, “That was a mighty warm sermon, preacher.” This continued for several Sundays, until finally he just had to ask. “What do mean, every Sunday, when you say it was a warm sermon?” The lady replied, “Not so hot, preacher, not so hot!”
SO … what does a preacher like to hear at the door after every sermon? “That sermon was just for me … I needed that … God spoke to my heart today.”
There’s a DIFFERENCE between “hearing a sermon” … AND … “getting a message”. Preachers preach a SERMON because they have to … 3 times a week … they crank out 150/year. Preachers preach a MESSAGE because God burdens their heart with a MESSAGE … because … God has something to say to His people. Don’t come to church to hear a SERMON. Come to church to get a MESSAGE from God!
Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” “seek and you shall find”. Whatever you look for in a sermon … in a church … in a church service … that’s what you’ll find. If you seek NOT to be blessed … you’ll find it. If you seek nothing … you’ll find it. BUT … if you seek a BLESSING … if you seek a MESSAGE from God … you’ll find it.
1.- Doctrine
2.- FELLOWSHIP – Acts 2:42
“Fellowship” includes “breaking of bread” – 2:46. This is fellowship with each other. It also includes “The Lord’s Supper”, which we will observe on August 25th. This is fellowship with our Lord and Savior, Who desires fellowship with you.
FELLOWSHIP with each other is IMPORTANT in the church. We will enjoy the “breaking of bread” in an hour or so in the Fellowship Hall. It is one of the 3 OBJECTIVES of the church.
STORY: A teacher asked her students to bring to class the next day, something that reminded them of their spiritual heritage. The Jewish boy brought a Star of David, and laid it on the teacher’s desk. The Catholic boy brought his prayer beads, and put them on the teacher’s desk. The Baptist boy brought a casserole dish, and laid it on the teacher’s desk.
The church ought to be a place of FELLOWSHIP … AMEN? It ought to have some good memories. Today is Homecoming #118. During the past 118 years, there has been a lot of precious memories made here at Priscilla Baptist Church. Maybe you grew up here at this church. Maybe you were married at this church. Maybe you were saved here at this church. I’m sure you have some precious memories here. It’s not the PERFECT church. If it ever was, you ruined it the day you joined it! Somebody once said, “When you find the perfect church, don’t join it … you will ruin it!” I’ve had some great times of fellowship here over the past 10 years.
What is church to you? STORY: The family was driving home from church one Sunday. Dad was fussing about the sermon being too long. Mom was fussing about how the music was too loud. Grandma was fussing about Mrs. Peterson, who wore the same dress 3 Sundays in a row. Sister was fussing about the crying baby that distracted her during the service. Finally Little Junior piped up and said, “Yea, Dad, but you gotta admit … it was a pretty good show for a DOLLAR!”
For some people, church is “a pretty good show for a dollar. Put a dollar in the offering plate, sit back, and enjoy the show!
Think back to your life in church (ouch, it hurts, doesn’t it?). It was in Church, that I saw my first wedding … funeral … baptism. Do you remember the OLD HYMNS that you heard for the first time. OR … the NEW CHORUSES that you heard for the first time? I remember singing “The Old Time Religion” with Mrs. Bales, and Grandma Jones. Do you remember what a grand time we had when Elvin was leading the music? Do you remember some of the great former Pastors you had? Think of the influence they had on your life.
STORY: 3 boys were talking, and telling each other how their father was more important than the other’s fathers. One said, “My father is more important, because he owns the candy store.” Another one said, “My father is more important because he owns the bank.” Another one said, “My father is more important because he owns Hell.” “Wait a minute”, one of the boys said. “Just because your father is the preacher, doesn’t mean that he owns Hell.” The boy replied, “Well, he does! Last night, he came home from a Deacon’s meeting, and told my Mom that the Deacons gave it to him!”
Can you remember some of your Sunday School teachers from years past? These were men and women who gave their time, their heart, and their love to you. I remember one Sunday School teacher I had who took a real interest in me. She didn’t know much about the Bible … BUT … she knew and cared about ME … AND … was there for me when I needed her.
It was at CHURCH that HOLIDAYS had a new meaning. CHRISTMAS was more than Santa Clause and presents … it was the celebration of the birth of our Lord. EASTER was more than Easter eggs and candy … it was Resurrection Day! BY THE WAY … do you know how you can tell if you’re getting old? It’s when you can hide your own Easter eggs!
Can you remember all the ACTIVITIES of Church? The softball & volleyball games … the ice cream socials … the banquets … Summer Camp …
It was at Church that you learned to TITHE, You learned that “it’s better to give than to receive”. You learned that “you can’t out give God!”
It was at church that I found my MATE. She was only 8 years old when I first laid eyes on her. BUT … I didn’t NOTICE her until she was 16!
MEMORIES … of CHURCH … a place of love, acceptance, praise, worship … FELLOWSHIP.
MAYBE, not all you’re memories are as pleasant. LIKE THIS MAN … STORY: A man dies, and went to Heaven. St. Peter met him at the gate, with clipboard in hand. St. Peter told him that he was taking a survey, and asked him, “What was the most exciting thing that ever happened to him while on earth?” The man thought a minute, and said, “I was just standing around, when a motorcycle gang drove up, and one of them knocked a little old lady down and stole her purse. Immediately, I rushed over, knocked over his motorcycle, kicked him in the shin, and punched him in the nose.” St. Peter said, “That WAS exciting! When did all this happen?” The man replied, “About 5 minutes ago!”.
Hebrews 10:25 tells us, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” There’s a reason why God doesn’t want us to forsake coming to church. You see, He has so many blessings for us here!
As long as you keep your eyes on Jesus, there will be FELLOWSHIP within the church. The Church is made up of sinners. Just like you & me … imperfect & human … with all our faults, failings, and short-comings.
The CHURCH has always had a rough time.
• The 1st PASTOR … JESUS … was executed.
• The CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD … PETER … was caught cursing & swearing … he denied ever knowing his pastor.
• The 1st TREASURER … JUDAS … embezzled funds & committed suicide.
• The OTHER BOARD MEMBERS … the DISCIPLES … all ran away.
• The ONLY ONES LEFT around the cross … were a few women from L.A.M.P.S.!
People will fail you … BUT … Jesus never fails! AMEN!
Ephesians 4:2 says – “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” The Greek word for “forbear” is ‘a-NECH-o-ma’, which means, ‘to put up with, endure’. SOMETIMES, we just have to “put up with” each other … and realize … other people aren’t as perfect as we are! The next verse, Ephesians 4:3 tells us WHY - “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
The OBJECTIVE of the Church is … Doctrine … Fellowship …
3.- PRAYER – Acts 2:42
This is the GLUE that holds it all together … AMEN? STORY: One time a preacher had a parrot, and he went on vacation. He asked a Deacon, who also had a parrot, to take his parrot home with him, to keep the preacher’s parrot company. When the Deacon brought the preacher’s parrot home, the preacher’s parrot said, “Let’s pray, Let’s pray!” The Deacon’s parrot said, “Let’s kiss, Let’s kiss!” The Preacher’s parrot replied, “My prayers have been answered, My prayers have been answered!”
FELLOWSHIP is PHYSICAL FOOD … for the unity of the BODY.
PRAYER is SPIRITUAL FOOD … for the nourishment of the soul.
• WITHOUT PRAYER … the PREACHING of DOCTRINE is fruitless.
• WITHOUT PRAYER … FELLOWSHIP is all for show.
• WITHOUT PRAYER … The FELLOWSHIP HALL is just another building … The CHURCH SERVICE is just another activity.
PRAYER gives POWER to DOCTRINE and FELLOWSHIP. WITHOUT PRAYER, God will not do a mighty work in our midst. WITH PRAYER, we will see God work in ways that we can’t even imagine. Let’s not forsake prayer … AND … settle for a church that just goes through the motions. PRAYER is how we access the power of God … to make our FELLOWSHIP and preaching of DOCTRINE a ministry of this church. If we neglect PRAYER, we neglect the greatest OBJECTIVE that God has for this church. Make prayer a PRIORITY … AND … watch God work!
CONCLUSION:
TODAY, is a special day. It’s a day we set aside every year to celebrate what God has done in our midst throughout our 118 year history. We may never celebrate another “Homecoming Celebration”. Jesus may come back before this time next year. Are you ready?
The Rapture will be the best “Homecoming Celebration” you’ll ever have … AMEN? Are you ready? If Jesus should come tonight, will you go home with Him … OR … will you be left behind? Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Will you spend eternity with Him in Heaven? Have you given your heart, your sins, your life to Him? Jesus wants to enjoy sweet FELLOWSHIP with Him in Heaven for all eternity. If you don’t know Him as your Lord and Savior, repent of your sins, and come to Him today and ask Him for His saving grace.
STAND – PRAYER
HYMN - #495 – “There’s A Land That Is Fairer Than Day”
