Transcript Acts 2:42-47 BODY Life On a date with her (or “him”) ? “Church” In a PEW with him?

Acts 2:42-47
BODY Life
On a date with her
(or “him”) ?
“Church”
In a PEW with him?
How can the church be both a source of
a source
of illumination
at the
Thedisillusionment
church, as God and
designed
it and
as the Bible describes
it,
time?
The answer,
as foundthat
in the
is in
this:
is ansame
amazing,
dynamic,
world-changing
force.
It is,
fact,
The
truth
is, of
course,
noBible,
What
we call "the
church" isinfluencing
really
a kind
ofreligious
invisible
government,
and moving the
organization
or two churches!
Onegovernments
is selfish, power-hungry,
sinful.ofThe
is
visible
of the earth.and
Because
theother
powerful
denomination
can
be
the
true
loving,
andthe
godly.
One
a long
history
influence
offorgiving,
the church,
people
ofhas
this
planet
are able
church.
The
division
between
of stirring
up
conflict,
and
bloodytrue
to experience
thehatred,
benefits
of social
stability,
law and order,
church
and
counterfeit
church
does
persecution,
all
in the
and religion.
The
justice
and
peace.
Yes,
thename
worldofisGod
troubled
and
in turmoil-haslie
always
sought
to heal human
hurts, break
but other
we haven't
seen
even
a fraction
of one lines.
percent
of the
not
along
denominational
downTrue
barriers
of anarchy,
race andis
class,
and
deliver
men
andtake
tribulation,
tyranny,
and
slaughter
thatof
would
Christianity
not
a matter
women
from their
guilt,
shame,taken
fear,out
andof
ignorance.
place
if the church
were
suddenly
this world!
organizations or groups.
“In North America today a vital,
biblically faithful church will be a
countercultural community living
in tension with the non-Christian
elements of society and marked by
a lifestyle that is distinctively
Christ-like and Kingdom oriented.”
Growth
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three
thousand
were added to their number that day. Acts 2:41
1,000,000
500,000
0
33 AD
100 AD
UNDER THE GLORY OF ROME…
THEY MET IN THE CATACOMBS
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders
and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and
had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone
as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.
They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their
number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and
individually members one of another. Romans 12:5
Implication: Colossians 2:19
• Holding fast to the head, from
whom the entire body, being
supplied and held together by
the joints and ligaments,
grows with a growth which is
from God.
ORGANIC, not INSTITUTIONAL
Jesus
You
Me
Bobby
McGee
NOT:
IT IS:
“Ekklesia” = “Assembly”

“Continually devoting themselves to…”
 The apostles' teaching (WORD)

“Continually devoting themselves to…”
 The apostles' teaching (WORD)
Every day they continued to meet together in the
temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and
ate together with glad and sincere hearts, Acts 2:46

“Continually devoting themselves to…”
 The apostles' teaching (WORD)
Because
Basis for Trust
Interdependency
Givers, not takers

“Continually devoting themselves to…”
 The apostles' teaching (WORD)
 Fellowship (Koinonia)

“Continually devoting themselves to…”
 The apostles' teaching (WORD)
 Fellowship (Koinonia)
 Breaking of bread
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth
agree about anything you ask for, it will be done
for you by my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19

“Continually devoting themselves to…”




The apostles' teaching (WORD)
Fellowship (Koinonia)
Breaking of bread
Prayer

“Continually devoting themselves to…”





The apostles' teaching (WORD)
Remember those earlier days after you
Fellowship (Koinonia)
had received the light, when you stood
Breaking of bread
your ground in a great contest in the
face of suffering…you accepted joyfully
Prayer
“A Sense of Awe”
the seizure of your property, knowing
that you have for yourselves a better
possession and a lasting one.
Hebrews 10:32-34
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do
not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the
flesh, but through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:13

“Serve one another”
Therefore encourage one another and build up
one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11


“Serve one another”
“Encourage one another”
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with
all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another
Colossians 3:16



“Serve one another”
“Encourage one another”
“Teaching and admonishing one another”
Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and
pray for one another… James 5:16




“Serve one another”
“Encourage one another”
“Teaching and admonishing one another”
“Confess your sins to one another”
With all humility and gentleness, with patience,
showing tolerance for one another in love,
Ephesians 4:2





“Serve
Be ofone
theanother”
same mind toward one another; do not
“Encourage
one
be haughty
in another”
mind, but associate with the lowly.
“Teaching
andwise
admonishing
one
another”
Do not be
in your own
estimation.
“Confess
Romansyour
12:16sins to one another”
“Showing tolerance for one another”






“Serve
one another”
…fervently
love one another from the heart
“Encourage
1 Peter 1:22one another”
“Teaching and admonishing one another”
“Confess your sins to one another”
“Showing tolerance for one another”
“Associate with the lowly”







“Serve one another”
“Encourage one another”
“Teaching and admonishing one another”
“Confess your sins to one another”
“Showing tolerance for one another”
“Associate with the lowly”
“Fervently love one another”
Apathy
Individualism
Cynicism
Preoccupation
Materialism
CONDITIONS BACK THEN




Holy Spirit
An ocean of unbelievers
God was God
Sensualistic, Materialistic
CONDITIONS TODAY




Holy Spirit
An ocean of unbelievers
God IS God
Sensualistic, Materialistic