being an enthusiastic church

Being an Enthusiastic ChurchBeing an Enthusiastic Church

““What does it mean to be an What does it mean to be an “Enthusiastic Church?”“Enthusiastic Church?”

En-theos = “In-God” or “God in En-theos = “In-God” or “God in us”us”

““What does it mean to be an What does it mean to be an ““God-in-us church?”God-in-us church?”

Enthusiastic Church – Devoted to . . .Enthusiastic Church – Devoted to . . .

Acts 2:42 Acts 2:42

””They devoted themselves They devoted themselves

to the apostles' teaching and to the apostles' teaching and

to the fellowship, to the fellowship,

to the breaking of bread and to the breaking of bread and

to prayer.”to prayer.”

Enthusiastic Church – Devoted to . . . Enthusiastic Church – Devoted to . . .

““devoted to”devoted to”

Literal meaning: Literal meaning:

““Continuing steadfastly”Continuing steadfastly”

==

““A Commitment Lived Out in A Commitment Lived Out in Action.”Action.”

Enthusiastic Church – Devoted to Apostles’ TeachingEnthusiastic Church – Devoted to Apostles’ Teaching

Devoted to: Devoted to: The Apostles’ TeachingThe Apostles’ Teaching

==““A Commitment Lived Out in Action A Commitment Lived Out in Action

of learning more about Jesus of learning more about Jesus through his Word.”through his Word.”

““the God-in-us constancy, the God-in-us constancy, continually fed by the Word of God.”continually fed by the Word of God.”

Enthusiastic Church – Devoted to Breaking of BreadEnthusiastic Church – Devoted to Breaking of Bread

Devoted to: Devoted to:

Breaking of breadBreaking of bread

==

Sharing a meal that both Sharing a meal that both

celebrates and lives out celebrates and lives out

grace and acceptancegrace and acceptance



FellowshipFellowship

==Committed to building community, Committed to building community, fellowship [koinonia] because of our fellowship [koinonia] because of our renewed community [fellowship] renewed community [fellowship] with God.with God.



PrayerPrayer

==

Being committed to show God that Being committed to show God that we value the relationship, Jesus has we value the relationship, Jesus has won for us on the cross, by opening won for us on the cross, by opening

our hearts to him in daily our hearts to him in daily communication.communication.

Enthusiastic Church – In the Name of JesusEnthusiastic Church – In the Name of Jesus

Scripture ReadingScripture Reading

Acts 3:1-10Acts 3:1-10


At the end of Acts 2 we are given At the end of Acts 2 we are given

““a rather cozy picture of the church a rather cozy picture of the church gathered for teaching, fellowship, gathered for teaching, fellowship,

the breaking of bread and the the breaking of bread and the prayers.” prayers.” William Willimon, William Willimon, ActsActs p.43 p.43

Church can become so warm and Church can become so warm and inviting that we rather not go inviting that we rather not go

outside.outside.


In one of the church’s old hymnsIn one of the church’s old hymns

we sang:we sang:

““Sweet hour of prayer, Sweet hour of prayer,

sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,

that draws me from that draws me from

the world of care.”the world of care.”


But Luke here shows that the But Luke here shows that the church’s being devoted to these 4 church’s being devoted to these 4 things did not let them avoid the things did not let them avoid the

misery of the world.misery of the world.

Peter and John on their way to Peter and John on their way to prayer in the temple are confronted prayer in the temple are confronted

by a man lame from birth.by a man lame from birth.


William Willimon:William Willimon:

” ”The path toward significant prayer The path toward significant prayer is a way that goes straight through, is a way that goes straight through,

not around, human suffering.”not around, human suffering.”Acts, p.44Acts, p.44


Picture the scene:Picture the scene:

2Now a man crippled from birth was 2Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate being carried to the temple gate

called Beautiful, where he was put called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going every day to beg from those going

into the temple courts.into the temple courts.


4Peter looked straight at him, as 4Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at did John. Then Peter said, "Look at

us!" 5So the man gave them his us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get attention, expecting to get

something from them.something from them.


6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I 6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of you. In the name of Jesus Christ of

Nazareth, walk." Nazareth, walk."


7Taking him by the right hand, he 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became man's feet and ankles became

strong. 8He jumped to his feet and strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with began to walk. Then he went with

them into the temple courts, them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising walking and jumping, and praising

God.God.


Jesus continues his healing ministry Jesus continues his healing ministry through the churchthrough the church

Acts 1:1-2 Acts 1:1-2

When Jesus commissioned the 12, When Jesus commissioned the 12, he “gave them power and authority he “gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure to drive out all demons and to cure

diseases.” diseases.” Luke 9:1Luke 9:1


The followers of Jesus continued The followers of Jesus continued the healing work of Jesus.the healing work of Jesus.

““In the name of Jesus Christ of In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."Nazareth, walk." Acts 3:6Acts 3:6

==

Acting on Jesus’ behalf, Acting on Jesus’ behalf,

by his authorityby his authority


In the name of JesusIn the name of Jesus

People were healed People were healed [3:6; 4:7][3:6; 4:7]

Miracles took place Miracles took place [4:30][4:30]

Sins were forgiven Sins were forgiven [10:43][10:43]

The Gospel was preached The Gospel was preached [4:17; 5:28][4:17; 5:28]

This was the name for which This was the name for which believers were ready to die believers were ready to die [5:41; 9:16; [5:41; 9:16;

15:26]15:26]


In the next section Peter goes on to In the next section Peter goes on to explain:explain:

““Why do you stare at us as if by our Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had own power or godliness we had

made this man walk?”made this man walk?” v.12 v.12

““It is Jesus' name and the faith that It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given comes through him that has given

this complete healing to him, as you this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”can all see.” v.16 v.16


This isn’t magic.This isn’t magic.

This is Jesus continuing This is Jesus continuing

his work on earth his work on earth

through his body on earth, through his body on earth,

the church.the church.


Do we as church still have this Do we as church still have this ability to heal, in the name of Jesus, ability to heal, in the name of Jesus, by the authority of Jesus who is on by the authority of Jesus who is on

heaven’s throne?heaven’s throne?

When was the last time you told a When was the last time you told a panhandler with schizophrenia, “In panhandler with schizophrenia, “In

the name of Jesus be healed.”?the name of Jesus be healed.”?


Some would say that this ability was Some would say that this ability was just for the early church just for the early church

to help it get started.to help it get started.

Story of Ron VandenGrindStory of Ron VandenGrindFormer CRWM Missionary in the PhilippinesFormer CRWM Missionary in the Philippines


Jesus is still on the seat of authorityJesus is still on the seat of authority

"All authority in heaven and on "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.earth has been given to me.” ” Matt. Matt.

28:1828:18

Jesus is continuing his work Jesus is continuing his work

in this world through his church in this world through his church

until he comes again.until he comes again.


Saying Saying ““In Jesus’ name”In Jesus’ name”

is not a magic incantation.is not a magic incantation.

God is not our puppet who moves God is not our puppet who moves when we say magic words.when we say magic words.

Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8wanted to buy the power to bestow wanted to buy the power to bestow

the Holy Spirit.the Holy Spirit.


We say, “In Jesus’ name”We say, “In Jesus’ name”

not to make God do what we want.not to make God do what we want.

But,But,

we say “In Jesus’ name” we say “In Jesus’ name”

to have the ability to do to have the ability to do

what Jesus wants us to do.what Jesus wants us to do.


But that still raises the question:But that still raises the question:

Do we as the body of Christ, Do we as the body of Christ, still have the authority of Jesus still have the authority of Jesus

to heal the sick “in Jesus’ name?”to heal the sick “in Jesus’ name?”

Does our view of the world say that Does our view of the world say that God now heals only through the God now heals only through the

medical profession?medical profession?


Most of us have prayed in the name Most of us have prayed in the name of Jesus for the healing of a loved of Jesus for the healing of a loved

one.one.

What do you do with the fact that What do you do with the fact that sometimes that loved one is healed sometimes that loved one is healed and at other times the person is not and at other times the person is not

healed in the way that we had healed in the way that we had asked?asked?


Has this reality made us no longer Has this reality made us no longer believe that believe that

Jesus continues his healing and Jesus continues his healing and redemptive ministry through his redemptive ministry through his

church today?church today?


Do we still pray in the name of Do we still pray in the name of Jesus with a faith that Jesus is in Jesus with a faith that Jesus is in

control?control?

being an enthusiastic church

Documents

acceptanceenthusiastic

enthusiastic churchwhat

devoted toliteral

word of god

praising god

breaking of bread

significant prayer

sweet hour of prayer