Acts 2:43-47 Church growth Part 2. (Acts 2:41) Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized,...
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Transcript of Acts 2:43-47 Church growth Part 2. (Acts 2:41) Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized,...
(Acts 2:41) Those who accepted Peter’s
message were baptized, and about three
thousand were added to their number that day.
1. Committed to the Message
We thank God continually because, when you
received the Word of God, which you heard from us…(1 Th 2:13)
1. Committed to the Message
(1 Th 2:13) …you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it
actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in
you who believe.
1. Committed to the Message
(1 Cor 1:18) For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are…saved it is the
power of God.
(Eph 2:19-20) You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's
household, built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief
cornerstone.
2. Committed to the Body
(Acts 2:44-45) All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their
possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as
he had need.
3. Practical in their Love
(Heb 13:1-2) Keep on loving each other as
brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels
without knowing it.
3. Practical in their Love
(Heb 13:1-2) Keep on loving each other
Diversity
Community
Indispensability
Indivisibility
The Message
Committed to
The Body
Practical Love
WITH The Principles of:
CHURCH GROWTH CHURCH GROWTH (Acts 2:43-47;).(Acts 2:43-47;).
The nature of the church is plainly set The nature of the church is plainly set forth in the divine record. forth in the divine record.
We can We can EASILYEASILY learn the organization learn the organization of the church, the worship of the of the church, the worship of the
church and the mission of the church. church and the mission of the church.
NO ONE NO ONE ought to have a problem in ought to have a problem in finding out finding out WHATWHAT is morally is morally RIGHTRIGHT
and morally and morally WRONGWRONG according to the according to the teaching of the Bible. teaching of the Bible.
All commands are given in concise All commands are given in concise language so that language so that "even he who runs may "even he who runs may read and understand" read and understand" and and "the wayfaring "the wayfaring
man, though a fool, need not err therein." man, though a fool, need not err therein."
If we maintain a simplicity and purity toward If we maintain a simplicity and purity toward Christ Christ (2 Cor. 11:3), (2 Cor. 11:3), we will have no we will have no
overwhelming difficulty in understanding overwhelming difficulty in understanding his laws. his laws.
Our Our FELLOWSHIPFELLOWSHIP and and UNITYUNITY are based are based upon the commands revealed in the upon the commands revealed in the
Apostles teaching.Apostles teaching.
What prevents us from having this kind of experience today?
Apathy? Cynicism?
Individualism? Materialism?
Preoccupation?
The question facing US is NOT do we
WANT to be a community like thisBUT are we WILLING to be a community
like this?
Are we PREPARED to EQUIP Are we PREPARED to EQUIP ourselves to be READY TO GIVE ourselves to be READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER FOR THE HOPE AN ANSWER FOR THE HOPE
THAT LIES WITHIN US THAT LIES WITHIN US 1 Pet 3:15;1 Pet 3:15;
Are we PREPARED Are we PREPARED to DEVOTEto DEVOTE the TIME to BUILD relationshipsthe TIME to BUILD relationships
(Romans 12:2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will.
3. Culture of Survival:If we hang on long enough,
we should be okay.
1. Culture of Submission:We’re told, therefore we have to do.
Foundations of a Culture
of Fellowshipof ConnectionCreating a CultureA Renewala Culture
2. Culture of Acquisition:We want to have,
therefore we have to work.
4. Culture of Moral Relativism:We never know what’s right or wrong;
we’re open to suggestions.
5. Culture of Entertainment:It’s all about what others see...really!
A Transformed Culture
transformed
(Acts 2:41-42) Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day…
(Acts 2:41-42) … They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
The transformed culture is a culture of connectionteaching
fellowship breakingof bread prayer
(Acts 2:41-42)
that is first made possible byconnecting with God
that is first made possible byconnecting with God
(Acts 2:41-42)
(Hebrews 10:23-25) Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…
The transformed culture is a culture of connection
teachingfellowship
breaking of breadprayer
(Hebrews 10:23-25) …(Hebrews 10:23-25) …Let us not give up meeting Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.as you see the Day approaching.
(Acts 2:43) Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
wonders andmiraculous signs
to anyone in need
wonders and miraculous signs
(Acts 2:44-45) All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
everything incommon
to anyoneneed
A Culture without Masks
(Acts 4:31-35) After they prayed, the place where they were
meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and spoke the word of God boldly…
everything in commonto anyone in need
wonders and miraculous signs
(Acts 4:31-35) …All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed
that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had…
everything in commonto anyone in need
wonders and miraculous signs
(Acts 4:31-35) …With great power the apostles continued to testify to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no
needy persons among them…
everything in common
to anyone in need
wonders and miraculous signs
(Acts 4:31-35) …For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them,
brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was
distributed to anyone as he had need.
everything in common
to anyone in need
wonders and miraculous signs
Why put on a mask when Jesus is the only audience that matters?
everything in common
to anyone in need
wonders and miraculous signs
(1 Peter 1:22) Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another
deeply, from the heart.
(Acts 2:46-47) (Acts 2:46-47) Every day they continued Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts... to meet together in the temple courts...
(Acts 2:46-47) ...They broke bread in their homes and ate together with
glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the
people…
A people intent on being a blessing
(Acts 2:46-47) ... And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Let’s createa culture of connection…
A Culture of Blessing
A people intent on
being a blessing,
He blesses.
that is transformedand without masks
a blessing
(1 Peter 3:9) Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
A Period of Good WillA Period of Good WillThese first days of the Kingdom-Church were These first days of the Kingdom-Church were like a honeymoon. But it would not last long.like a honeymoon. But it would not last long.
Soon the movers and shakers of the Jewish Soon the movers and shakers of the Jewish religion that did not accept Jesus as their religion that did not accept Jesus as their
Messiah began to violently oppose what they saw Messiah began to violently oppose what they saw as a renegade sect of Judaism growing in as a renegade sect of Judaism growing in
numbers and power.numbers and power.
But for now this great multitude from all over But for now this great multitude from all over the civilized world were staying in Jerusalem the civilized world were staying in Jerusalem
and were united and happy.and were united and happy.
These first days of the Kingdom-Church were These first days of the Kingdom-Church were like a honeymoon. But it would not last long.like a honeymoon. But it would not last long.
Soon the movers and shakers of the Jewish Soon the movers and shakers of the Jewish religion that did not accept Jesus as their religion that did not accept Jesus as their
Messiah began to violently oppose what they saw Messiah began to violently oppose what they saw as a renegade sect of Judaism growing in as a renegade sect of Judaism growing in
numbers and power.numbers and power.
But for now this great multitude from all over But for now this great multitude from all over the civilized world were staying in Jerusalem the civilized world were staying in Jerusalem
and were united and happy.and were united and happy.
The Fellowship of ChristiansThe Fellowship of Christians
Acts 2:41-47 Acts 2:41-47 by Ellis Jonesby Ellis Jones
Fellowship is sharingFellowship is sharing
Ourselves, our things, with others.Ourselves, our things, with others.
Especially with Christians;Especially with Christians;
But all men are our brothers.But all men are our brothers.
Acts 2:41-47 Acts 2:41-47 by Ellis Jonesby Ellis Jones
Fellowship is sharingFellowship is sharing
Ourselves, our things, with others.Ourselves, our things, with others.
Especially with Christians;Especially with Christians;
But all men are our brothers.But all men are our brothers.