Acts 2:43-47

Church growthChurch growthPart 2Part 2

(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?

God?

What prevents us from having this kind of experience today?

Apathy? Cynicism?

Individualism? Materialism?

Preoccupation?

What prevents us from having this

kind of experience today?

Nothing OUGHT to?

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.