Remain In The Lord

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you remaining in the LORD?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To encourage regular bible devotional, fellowship, Holy Communion and prayer as we remain in the LORD.

IV. TEXT:

Acts 2:41-42 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

V. THESIS:

Remaining in the LORD means regular bible devotional, fellowship, Holy Communion and prayer as we remain in the LORD.

VI. TITLE:

Remain in the LORD

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Dr. Luke, companion of Apostle Paul

B. Intended Reader: Theophilus, represents the believers based on his greek name meaning a friend of GOD, Christian

C. Date of writing: Before A.D. 64

D. Purpose of writing: Record consistent legal precedents in favor of the early Christians.

E. Message: World evangelization

F. Genre: history

Historians were permitted a wide degree of latitude on details, although they were expected to get the bulk of a story right insofar as their sources were accurate.— Bible Background Commentary

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Giving of the HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 2:1-4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.

Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.

Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.

And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

B. They remained in four activities:

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer."

1. Apostle's teaching - New Testament

Galatians 1:6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News

Ephesians 2:20 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

Colossians 1:23 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.

Since Apostle Paul wrote majority of the New Testament and he's an apostle of Grace, grace should play a major role or part in our doctrine as a church, the preaching of grace should not be limited.

2. Fellowship -

Hebrews 10:25 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

1 John 1:3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Our meetings with other believers should not be ignored, this usually happens every Sunday and another day reserved for bible studies in the houses.

3. Sharing in Meals (LORD's Supper) - with emphasis on the Holy Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread

and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.”

For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

Matthew 26:26-28 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”