Today’s Message

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Where Church Life Begins…Rediscover the Core Values

of the First Church

Pastor Timothy Chan

Chinese Grace Bible Church

Sunday, April 15, 2012

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Introduction

A sketch of the first church of Jerusalem reveals a remarkable template for a vital Christ-centered church. Though small in origin, strapped of financial resources and weak in structure and organization…

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Introduction

…the community life of the first church of Jerusalem in the great book of Acts describes how a vibrant church life impacts the whole world.

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Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984)

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984)

39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

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Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984)

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

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Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984)

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

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Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984)

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.

45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

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Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984)

46 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,

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Acts 2:38-47 (NIV 1984)

47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

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Acts 1:13-14 (NIV 1984)

13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

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Acts 1:13-14 (NIV 1984)

14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

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Rediscover the first things about the First Church:

I. The First Church is a __________ church. It is faith built on ____________-___________ lives.

believer’s

radically changed

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Acts 2:42 (NIV 1984)


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Acts 6:1 (NIV 1984)

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

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Acts 11:26 (NIV 1984)

26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

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The Implications:

A. A ____________ DecisionVoluntary

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Acts 2:38 (NIV 1984)

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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The Implications:

A. A ____________ Decision

B. A ____________ Change

Voluntary

Radical

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2 Corinthians 6:16-17 (NIV 1984)

16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

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2 Corinthians 6:16-17 (NIV 1984)

17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

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The Implications:

A. A ____________ Decision

B. A ____________ Change

C. An Adult _________ Into New Life

Voluntary

Radical

Baptism

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Acts 8:35-38 (NIV 1984)

35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

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Acts 8:35-38 (NIV 1984)

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”

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Acts 8:35-38 (NIV 1984)

[37 Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” ]

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Acts 8:35-38 (NIV 1984)

38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

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The Implications:

A. A ____________ Decision

B. A ____________ Change

C. An Adult _________ Into New Life

D. A New Faith Taught Through ______-_____________

Voluntary

Radical

Baptism

Life Witnesses

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Acts 2:42 (NIV 1984)


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The Characteristics:

The identifiable characteristics of the first church are the ______________ _________________ of the believers.

identifiablecharacteristics

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The Characteristics:The Bible identifies them as disciples who:

A. _______________ the authority of God’s WordFully recognized

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Acts 2:37 (NIV 1984)

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

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A. _______________ the authority of God’s Word

B. _____________ to the teaching of the apostles

Fully recognized

Fully devoted

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Acts 2:42 (NIV 1984)


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A. _______________ the authority of God’s Word

B. _____________ to the teaching of the apostles

C. ______________ a unique lifestyle that draws people into the church

Fully recognized

Fully devoted

Fully manifested

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Acts 2:47 (NIV 1984)


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The Power:

In other words, they are “_______ ____________ ______.”

Our reference point is not knowledge or decision but ___________________.

fullycommitted into

faith in submission

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II. The First Church is the witness of __________ ________ in worship and praise.

revived souls

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Acts 2:46-47 (NIV 1984)

46 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,

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Acts 2:46-47 (NIV 1984)


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A. The Perish of ________________ Worship:

i. _________-Oriented Worship

Anthropocentric

Activity

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ii. _________-Oriented Worship

Anthropocentric

Activity

Emotion

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iii. _________-Oriented Worship

Anthropocentric

Activity

Emotion

Intellect

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iii. _________-Oriented Worship

iv. _________-Oriented Worship

Anthropocentric

Activity

Emotion

Intellect

Benefit

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B. The Promises of ______________ Worship:

i. _________ Is Exalted

Theocentric

Christ

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Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV 1984)

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is

above every name,

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10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under

the earth,

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11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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ii. ________ Is Remembered

Theocentric

Christ

Grace

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Hebrews 2:17 (NIV 1984)

17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

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iii. “_______-ship” God’s Character In Our Behavior

Theocentric

Christ

Grace

Worth

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Psalm 103 (NIV 1984)

1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy

name. 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

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3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and

compassion,

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5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

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7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

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9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

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11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

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13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

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15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no

more.

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17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who

fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—

18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

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19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.

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21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.

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22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the LORD, O my soul.

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iii. “_______-ship” God’s Character In Our Behavior

iv. Renewal Through __________ _____________

Theocentric

Christ

Grace

Worth

SpiritualSacrifices

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Romans 12:1-2 (NIV 1984)

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

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Romans 12:1-2 (NIV 1984)

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.

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C. The Power of _______ Worship:

It is all the way ____ (confession)…

…and all the way _______ (knees).

True

up

down

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Romans 14:11 (NIV 1984)

11 It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’”

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9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is

above every name,

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10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under

the earth,

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III. The First Church is committed to _____________ ___________... “doing life together” is more than a _________.

gathering together

tagline

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Acts 2:42-45 (NIV 1984)


43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

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Acts 2:42-45 (NIV 1984)

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.

45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

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A. The First Church originates from _________ rooted in the vision of God.families

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Acts 1:13 (NIV 1984)


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A. The First Church originates from _________ rooted in the vision of God.

B. The First Church originates from the “______” Ministry.

families

Attic

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Acts 1:13 (NIV 1984)


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A. The First Church originates from _________ rooted in the vision of God.

B. The First Church originates from the “______” Ministry.

C. The First Church finds _______ in the memories of new life in the Risen Lord.

families

Attic

fusion

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1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

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IV. The First Church finds _______ and ________ _____________ in prayer.

A. Corporate Prayer

unityfresh encounters

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Acts 4:32 (NIV 1984)

32 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.

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IV. The First Church finds _______ and ________ _____________ in prayer.

A. Corporate Prayer

B. Private Prayer

unityfresh encounters

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Acts 10:1-8 (NIV 1984)

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.

2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

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Acts 10:1-8 (NIV 1984)

3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

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Acts 10:1-8 (NIV 1984)

4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

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Acts 10:1-8 (NIV 1984)

5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.

6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

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Acts 10:1-8 (NIV 1984)

7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants.

8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

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Conclusion

Something unique happens…

We received the power!

Today’s Message

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