„« One day while studying the passage we are looking at this morning, I was praying for help me to come up with a simple way to help people remember the purpose of the church. It was soon after that I was reading in Matt 5:16 where Jesus said ...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
„« As I read that verse, the word SHINE jumped out at me and I instantly knew I had the word I was looking for.
„« God created man to glorify Him. Sin disrupted His original plan and now God has left us on this earth as His ambassadors to represent Him and to share the gospel with the unsaved, but even in that it is to fulfill His objective of having a people who will worship Him and praise Him by their own choice.
„« (Rev 4:11 NIV) "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
„« (Rev 5:12 NIV) In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
„« And isn’t that exactly what Jesus is saying in Matt 5:16?
„« So how do we do that? We do that when we SHINE.
„« Now as we look at the PRACTICAL PURPOSE of the church in Acts 2, we will use the word SHINE as an acronym to shoe the purpose of the church.
„« (Read Acts 2:41-47)
PROPOSITION: Let’s look at the 5 practical purposes of the church
I.SEEK (V 47B)
A. (read v) Evangelize
B. I think many people think they are a part of God’s family but in reality, they are not because they never have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. They have a false sense of security. They think that just because they know who Jesus is and what He did, that they will go to heaven when they die. But simply knowing is not enough.
C. (James 2:19 NIV) You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
D. Someone asked Ed Young, "Are you so narrow-minded to think that only Baptist are going to heaven?" He said, "I’m even more narrow minded than that, I don’t even think all Baptist are going to heaven.
E. Billy Graham once said he believed as many as half of all the members of our Baptist churches sitting on the pews were lost.
F. What about you? Have you genuinely been saved? Are you in danger of missing heaven by 18 inches? Here is how you can be saved...
T.S.: The 1st PRACTICAL PURPOSE of the church is to SEEK (evangelism). The 2nd practical purpose is...
II. HELP (V 44,45)
A. We must care for one another.
B. Because of the fellowship the early church had with each other, when someone had a need the church stepped in to meet that need.
C. (read vv 44,45)
D. Notice in these verses, they didn’t give a part of what was left. Their approach to ministry was not one of, "I’ll give my time and my energy if I’ve got any left after I’ve done all the things I need to do for myself."
E. Their ministry of giving was not one of, "I’ll pay all my bills and buy all the things I want to buy and then if I have any money left I’ll give it to the church." They didn’t give what was left of their time, energy and money. They gave up what they would like to have used for themselves; so they could have a part in the ministry of the church.
F. Must remember the churches primary purpose is not to be a welfare agency. 2 Thes. 3:10-12; you don¡¦t work, you don¡¦t eat
T.S.: Not only must we SEEK and HELP but we must also...
III. INCLUDE (V 41,42,44-46)
A. (read vv) Fellowship
B. (read p.84 of McArthur’s Commentary on Acts 1-12; 1st 2 paragraphs) "Fellowship is the spiritual duty of believers to stimulate each other to holiness and faithfulness. It is most specifically expressed through the ¡§one anothers¡¨ of the New Testament (cf. Rom. 12:10, 16; 13:8; 14:19; 15:5, 7, 14; 16:16; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 4:2, 25, 32; 5:21; Phil. 2:3; Col. 3:9, 13, 16; 1 Thess. 4:9, 18, 5:11, 13; Heb. 3:13; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:9, 10; 5:5, etc.). The basic meaning of koinōnia (fellowship) is ¡§partnership,¡¨ or ¡§sharing.¡¨ Those who receive Jesus Christ become partners with Him and with all other believers (1 John 1:3). That fellowship is permanent, because our shared eternal life is forever. The joy associated with it, however, may be lost through sinful neglect of its duties."
C. Fellowship requires that we ask not what is best for me but what is best for the group. There may be a program or a ministry you don’t particularly find beneficial for yourself, but as a mature Christian you don’t ask, "What is it going to do for me?" Instead you see that it is going to benefit others in the church and rather than criticize you pray for it.
D. Why? Because as a part of the body of Christ, you put the needs of others ahead of yourselves.
E. I¡¦m sure we do things here at our church that some members may not like. Some may not prefer the style of music or drums; but you understand the difference between a big issue and a little issue.
F. We never compromise important doctrinal truth, but matters that are not important we bend over backwards to keep peace and unity in the church.
G. Phil 2:3-5 Do nothing...
H. If we are going to have true fellowship with others who are a part of the body of Christ then it is vital that we get involved in each others lives and put the needs of others ahead of our own.
T.S.: Practical purpose: SEEK, HELP, INCLUDE and the 4th PRACTICAL PURPOSE is...
IV. NURTURE (V 42A)
A. (Jonah and the whale story)
I heard about a little girl riding a bus across the country. A man sitting next to her asked her what she was reading. She told him the Bible. He asked her, "You don’t really believe all those stories and all those miracles do you?" She said, "Yes." He said, "What do you think it was like for Jonah being in that whale for 3 days and nights?" She said, "I don’t know, but when I get to heaven I will ask him." He said, "What if you get to heaven and he isn’t really there?" She said, "Well, I guess you can ask him."
B. (read v.42a) This is learning God’s Word. This is the study of doctrine, scripture memory, learning how to share your faith, learning how to study your Bible, learning the basics of the Christian life and not being content to simply spend the rest of your life as a BABY Christian.
C. It is all about growing in Christ and becoming more like Him.
1. You know when we pray, "Jesus I want to be more like you." We better be ready for Christ to start doing a work in our lives. And often that is going to mean God is going to put us in difficult situations. Situations we don’t like. Situations we would rather not be in!
2. You know what I do? I find myself praying, Lord, please use me. Help me to make an impact for the kingdom, and then God starts exercising me and preparing me to make a difference for the kingdom and I start asking, "God, what are you doing to me?"
3. To expect to be used by God without facing trials would be like a player at the beginning of the season walking up to Coach Roy Williams and saying, "Coach, I really want to play in the FINAL 4 this season, but if you don’t mind, I’m going to sit over here on the bench and take it easy and not practice."
4. You don’t make a difference unless you practice and get prepared, and the way God prepares us and makes us useful is by taking us through difficult situations.
5. That is why James said in James 1, "Count it all joy when you face various types of trials..."
D. There comes a time when we have to grow up spiritually but unfortunately, many Christians are content to stay spiritual infants. Heb. 5:12,13
E. So if you want to make a difference for Christ, you must be spiritually nurtured.
T.S.: Practical Purpose: SEEK, HELP, INCLUDE, NURTURE and #5...
V. EXALT (VV 46, 47A)
A. (read vv)
B. We exalt the Lord by Worshipping the Lord.
C. (Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, Micheal P. Green Editor; pp.407,8; #1506)Many years ago, Thomas K. Beecher once substituted for his famous brother, Henry Ward Beecher, at the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, New York. Many curiosity seekers had come to hear the renowned Henry Beecher speak. Therefore, when Thomas Beecher appeared in the pulpit instead, some people got up and started for the doors. Sensing that they were disappointed because he was substituting for hisbrother, Thomas raised his hand for silence and announced, "All those who came here this morning to worship Henry Ward Beecher may withdraw from the church; all who came to worship God may remain." The example of godly leaders is helpful, but onoly the Savior is worthy of our worship and devotion.
CONCLUSION:
ƒõ What is the purpose of the church? S-H-I-N-E
ƒõ Invitation
